Mixed cured meats at Cul De Sac, Chicago. Photo Courtesy: Whitney

In the days before refrigeration was developed, curing was the only way that meat and fish could be preserved to be used at a later date. The process usually involves the addition of salts, nitrates or sugars and may also involve a smoking process.

Curing in some form or another dates back to ancient times. American Indians used to hang meat at the top of their teepees so that it came into contact with smoke from the fire, helping preserve it for the winter when hunting was more difficult. In the days of sailing ships, meat was preserved in barrels of salt for long voyages. Over the years, techniques have become more refined and although the technique isn’t needed for preservation in the modern world, cured meats are valued for their flavours.

Salt of the Earth

One of the main ingredients used in curing is sodium chloride or common salt. By removing moisture and adding a concentration of around 20% salt, water is drawn out of micro-organisms, retarding their growth and slowing the rate at which the meat goes off.

Originally meat would have been packed in salt or had it rubbed into the surface but in modern processes it’s often injected with a salt solution in order to speed up the time taken.

Curing with salt does affect the flavour of the meat and sugar, in the form of honey or syrup, is often used in the process to help remove the harsh flavour of the salt. In some meats like bacon it can also be used to contribute to the flavour – you’ll often find bacon cured using maple syrup for example. Nitrates became a popular addition to the curing process in the 19th century as they help the meat retain its red colour rather than it going grey, although today their use is strictly controlled.

Right: Jalapeño cured chicken-fried bacon with country gravy by David Bender (owner of Caliente, Richmond, Virginia) – Photo Courtesy: Eli Christman

Smoke and Mirrors

Meat and fish can be cured by exposing it to the smoke from burning or smouldering wood. The smoke slow cooks the meat and helps to keep it tender. The smoking process also seals the surface of the meat, making it harder for bacteria to enter.  Various different woods are used in the process to give alternative flavours; often these will be hardwoods or fruit woods such as apple and cherry.

Types of Cured Meat

If you are South African you know all about biltong. This is something most of them grew up with and today it is just as popular as ever. A rugby game would just not be the same without some biltong. Image Courtesy: Arnold Goodway

Bacon:

The most common type of cured meat you’ll encounter is bacon. It is first cured by packing it in salt or brine and is then dried in cold air; it can also be smoked. Although bacon is most commonly made from pork, it can be made from other meats.

Jerky:

Jerky is also cured using salt, cut into thin strips and dried using a low heat – though originally it would have been sun dried. The drying needs to be done slowly so that the meat doesn’t become brittle. Jerky can be stored for long periods without refrigeration. It’s usually a savoury snack, although sugar is sometimes added to provide a sweeter version.

Biltong

Biltong is another common form of cured meat. Invented by Dutch settlers in Africa in the 17th century, it came from a need to preserve meat quickly in a hot climate. Nowadays it’s usually made from beef but can be other meats too. It’s made by soaking in vinegar, then rubbing the meat with a mixture of salt, herbs and spices. It is then air dried, traditionally outdoors but these days more likely in an oven on a low heat for several days. Biltong is typically thicker than jerky; it can be eaten as a snack or added to stews and other dishes.

Emily Starr is a freelance writer who has recently been exploring different food varieties and has come across biltong. She recommends that you should begin tasting the food exported by other cultures, if you don’t already, to ensure you don’t miss out on some great food.

Peanut butter quesadillas recipes are delicious, quick, and easy to cook. We feature one for the classic PB & J (Peanut Butter and Jelly) , an Apple one and a Banana Chocolate version as well! Yummy!

For a delicious and easy snack, why not try one of these peanut butter quesadillas recipes? Move over, cheese and salsa – you can actually make some very delicious and unusual variations of the quesadilla with peanut butter.

Number of Servings: 2
Prep Time: 5 minute
Cooking Time: 6 minutes

Recipe Ingredients

2 Flour or Rice Tortillas
4 tablespoons of peanut butter
4 tablespoons of jelly – This is best with grape or strawberry jelly (in our opinion at least!) but any type of jelly, jam, or fruit spread will do.

Recipe Directions

1. Spread the peanut butter on one side of the tortilla, then spread the jelly on top. You can use more or less peanut butter and jelly if you want; it is up to your own individual preferences.

2. Place the second tortilla on top to make a “sandwich”.

3. Grill It! If you have a quesadilla maker, you can just place it in and cook according to the manufacturer’s directions. If you do not have one, don’t worry, you can still make these! Simply heat up a skillet with a small amount of butter and grill the tortilla for 2-3 minutes on each side or until browned.

4. Cut into wedges and serve.

Variations

There are a number of delicious variations for this recipe to consider as well.

Add some crunch and fiber with apples:

Apples also go really well with peanut butter, so this is another variation on the above recipe. The apples add a little crunch and a nice flavor. Simply substitute jelly with 1 medium apple, peeled, cored, and sliced.

Banana Chocolate Peanut Butter Quesadilla:

Another yummy variation is to use chocolate and banana instead of jelly or jam. Simply use 1/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips and 1 small-medium sized banana cut into slices.

Do you have any peanut butter quesadilla recipes you would like to share? What’s your favorite way to make them? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below!

Spicy shrimp appetizer recipes are easy to make and are always a favorite amongst guests as party snacks. You may even want to consider doubling our recipes, as all of these are sure to disappear quickly!

Spicy shrimp appetizers are easy to prepare and are a tasty treat for you and your guests to enjoy. Flavorful and mouth tingling, you’ll notice these three recipes below will always disappear rather quickly!

Kicking Hot Sauce Spicy Shrimp

You Will Need:

2 pounds of shrimp, peeled and deveined
1/4 cup olive oil
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 tsp minced garlic
2 tbsp hot sauce of your choice (Use less for less spice!)
1 tsp crushed red chili peppers

Directions:

Mix olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, hot sauce, and crushed red pepper together. Toss and coat over shrimp and allow to marinate in the refrigerator for no more than 30 minutes. (Marinating shrimp too long will cause it to have a bitter flavor). Bake at 400 degrees for 10 minutes or until shrimp are no longer translucent.

Spicy Cajun Shrimp Recipe

You Will Need:

1/2 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning
Fresh lemon juice from 1 lemon
1/4 tsp of cayenne pepper
1 tablespoon minced garlic
2 pounds shrimp, peeled and deveined

Directions:

Mix the olive oil, Cajun seasoning, lemon juice, cayenne pepper, and garlic together. Toss and coat over shrimp and allow to marinate for no more than 30 minutes in the refrigerator. Bake for 10 minutes in a 400 degree oven or until shrimp is no longer translucent in color.

Spicy Stuffed Shrimp

You Will Need:

2 pounds of shrimp, peeled and deveined
1/4 cup Italian Dressing
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1/2 cup Italian bread crumbs (You can also substitute with crushed snack crackers or crushed croutons)
1/4 teaspoon olive oil
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

Directions:

Toss and Coat the shrimp in Italian dressing and allow to marinate refrigerated for 30 minutes. (Remember: No more than 30 minutes or it will change the flavor!) Discard dressing when finished marinating. Mix bread crumbs, garlic, crushed red pepper flakes, and olive oil together to create the stuffing mixture. Carefully slice shrimp lengthwise no more than half way and spoon in stuffing mixture. Bake in a 400 degree oven for 8 minutes or until shrimp are no longer translucent.

Serving Suggestions:

There are many different ways to serve shrimp as an appetizer. Here are some ideas for presentation and serving your shrimp:

• Layer green leafy lettuce on the bottom of the tray and garnish with cherry tomatoes

• Serve surrounded by fresh fruits such as orange, lemon, strawberry, and lime slices

• Serve with triangle shaped pieces of fresh crusty bread

• Thread 3 uncooked marinated shrimp on three to four inch wooden skewers (soak them in water before baking!) and bake and then arrange on tray.

There are many different ways you can present your appetizers as party snacks, so don’t be afraid to be creative!

Do you have any suggestions for spicy shrimp appetizers? Want to leave a review of the recipes we’ve included above or changes you made? We’d love to hear your ideas in the comments below!

These 4th of July Appetizer Recipes taste great and all play on a red, white, and blue foods theme for your summer picnic or party.

These 4th of July Appetizer Recipes are perfect for entertaining guests at a Fourth of July picnic and gathering around with family and friends. We’ve included some American themed snack recipes as well as a few classics, such as Deviled Eggs.

Fresh Fruit Kabobs

Fresh fruit kabobs are healthy and delicious and are easy to prepare. You can use any fruits that you like, slice into chunks and then slide onto 4 inch skewers. Just be careful when you are poking the skewers through the fruit – it is very easy to accidentally stab yourself! Never take your eyes off the skewer!

Here are some ideas for different fruits you can alternate on each skewer:
Cantaloupe
Pineapple
Strawberries
Apples
Kiwi
Grapes
Bananas

You can serve with your favorite flavored yogurt as a dip for this light and refreshing appetizer.

Red, White, and Blue Party Mix:

You will need:

3 cups Chex cereal
1 cup miniature marshmallows (white)
2 cups Blue and Red M&M’s (You can either look for specially marked packages that are red white and blue, or buy 1 big bag and enlist some kids into sorting them all out!)
1 1/2 cup mini pretzels
1/2 cup dried cranberries

Toss all ingredients together in a large bowl and serve.

Red, White, and Bleu Chicken Bites

This is an easy to make appetizer using pre-cooked chicken tenders. The red, white, and “Bleu” comes from the dipping sauce.

You Will Need:

1 Large Bag Pre-Cooked Frozen Chicken Tenders
Skewers or Toothpicks
Barbecue Sauce, Ranch Dressing, and Bleu cheese dressing

Directions:

Bake chicken tenders according to package directions. For larger appetizers, you can skew each tender directly onto a skewer, or for smaller bite sized appetizers, you may want to cut each into about 1 inch sections and then stick a toothpick through the middle. Serve with the sauces each in their own dish for dipping.

American Flag Taco Dip

This is a creative appetizer idea that will be sure to have others smiling and thinking to themselves “Isn’t that clever?” It’s not too difficult to do either.

You Will Need:

1 Bag Blue Tortilla Chips, with 1 cup of crushed chips set aside
2 cups diced tomatoes
1 Can Re-fried Beans
1 cup Sour Cream
2 Cups Shredded Cheese
1 pound ground beef, cooked with taco seasoning added

Directions:

Layer beans, then meat, then shredded cheese in a 9 x 13 casserole dish. Lightly spoon sour cream over entire pan. Use the crushed blue tortilla chips to form the blue part of the American flag in the top left hand corner. Then, carefully spoon tomatoes over to create 13 stripes going across.

Deviled Eggs

Fourth of July and deviled eggs seem to go hand in hand, so we’ve included this recipe. Some people have dyed the eggs blue or red colors with food coloring to go with the “red, white, and blue” theme, but that’s entirely optional.

You Will Need:

12 hard-boiled eggs, peeled and cut lengthwise in half
1/2 cup Mayonnaise or Salad Dressing (Miracle Whip)
1 teaspoon dry mustard
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Paprika

Directions:

After slicing the eggs in half lengthwise, remove the yolks and smash in a bowl with a fork. Once the yolks are mashed up pretty good add mayonnaise or salad dressing, mustard, salt, and pepper and mix until blended and smooth. If needed, you may need to slowly add 1 teaspoon of mayonnaise at a time, depending on the size of the egg yolks and the consistency you want to have. Spoon the mixture back into the eggs and then sprinkle paprika to taste to add color. Keep refrigerated.

Red, White, Blue Cheese Spread

You will need:

1 package cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup dried blueberries
1 red bell pepper, chopped finely
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/8 teaspoon onion powder
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder

Directions:

Mix cream cheese, lemon juice, onion powder, and garlic powder together. Add dried blueberries and pepper and mix. Serve with your favorite crackers.

Do you have any other favorite Fourth of July Appetizer Recipes to share? We’d love to hear about them in the comments below!

Marshmallow Fluff Fruit Dip is a classic appetizer dip for fresh fruits. We share some of our favorite recipes for orange, chocolate, and pineapple dip variations.

Marshmallow Fluff Fruit Dip is a classic for many parties. Assembling a fruit tray takes very little prep time, and a dip is the perfect compliment to your favorite fresh fruits such as pineapple, strawberries, blueberries, and honey dew.

There are many different variations and combinations for creating fruit dips, so we’ve included a few that you may try. All of them are great tasting and we’ve listed a variety because you may or may not have the different ingredients on hand or you may not like the ingredients in all of them. You can also experiment using different juices and fruits in the dip itself for many flavors or to give the dip a different natural color.

Super Easy Orange Fluff

You will need:

1 package cream cheese, softened
1 small jar marshmallow fluff (about 1 cup’s worth or so)
1 cup orange juice

Directions:

Combine the softened cream cheese, jar of marshmallow fluff, and orange juice in a large mixing bowl. Using a mixer, blend the ingredients together at medium speed until light and fluffy.

Whipped Topping Fluff

You Will Need:

1 package of cream cheese, softened
1 cup frozen whipped topping, any flavor (ie: Cool Whip)
1 small jar marshmallow fluff

Directions:

Mix the softened cream cheese, whipped topping, and small jar of marshmallow fluff together in a large bowl. Use a mixer on medium speed to blend until light and fluffy.

Cherry Marshmallow Dip

You Will Need:

1 package of softened cream cheese
1 small jar marshmallow fluff
1 small jar of Maraschino cherries

Directions:

Cut the cherries into very small pieces and combine in a bowl along with the cream cheese and marshmallow fluff. Use mixer on medium speed to blend until light and fluffy.

Pineapple Fruit Dip

You Will Need:

1 package softened cream cheese
1 small jar of marshmallow fluff
1/2 cup pineapple juice

Directions:

Using a mixer, blend all ingredients together in a large mixing bowl until smooth.

Chocolate Fluff

You Will Need:

1 cup chocolate frozen whipped topping (ie Cool Whip)
1 package cream cheese, softened
1 small jar marshmallow fluff
2 teaspoons chocolate syrup

Directions:

Mix all ingredients together until light and fluffy.

Serving Suggestion Ideas:

Now that we’ve given you some great recipes for marshmallow fluff fruit dip, here are some ideas for different ways to present it to your guests.

Skewers:

Putting fruit on skewers to make fruit kabobs are always a favorite at any party. Using 3 or 4 inch wooden skewers, slide fruit on alternating colors or types. Serve dip in a bowl with spoon and plates.

Edible Bowl:

Who says that you have to put the dip into a regular glass or plastic dish? You can use anything from a pineapple or cantaloupe shell to hold the dip, or even use a bread bowl or waffle cone bowl.

Waffle Cone Bowl:

Speaking of waffle cone bowls, this is a great idea – simply mix all the fruits together for a fruit salad. Layer the fruit dip and fruit salad together into the bowls.

Tray:

Arranging fruit on a tray is the most common way to serve fruit and dip as an appetizer, but there is no need for it to be boring! Use a melon scoop for making cantaloupe balls, cut fruits into different shapes or sizes (though don’t make them too big or your fruit tray will be gone in minutes!), and arrange the colors in different ways.

Have any other recipes for marshmallow fluff fruit dip or other serving suggestion ideas? We’d love to hear them in the comments below.

Bruschetta is a delicious Italian appetizer that consists of toasted bread and a tomato mixture of garlic and herbs. Here’s a very simple recipe with many different ideas for variations as well.

Bruschetta is a delicious and wonderful tomato based spread or dip commonly served as an appetizer with bread. Though it originated only as toasted bread, it is most commonly associated as the tomato dip that is so common in Italian restaurants or others. It is very easy to make and is a fantastic appetizer for an Italian themed dinner or to accompany other appetizers.

You can use any types of tomatoes to make Bruschetta, but in general it is recommended that it be made with plum tomatoes. This is because plum tomatoes have softer peels and have less seeds than others. They also have a nice flavor that well compliments the mixture of garlic and basil. Some may insist that the tomatoes be peeled prior to dicing, but it is not uncommon to see it with the skins on, and it is still just as good either way.

Basic Bruschetta

6 plum tomatoes (You can also substitute 1 drained can of diced tomatoes if you are in a pinch, but won’t be as flavorful tasting as using fresh tomatoes!)
2 cloves garlic, minced finely
1 Tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil leaves, chopped.
Salt and pepper to taste

For Serving:

1 loaf French Bread
1/4 cup Olive Oil
Grated Parmesan cheese and garlic powder to taste

Directions:

Dice the plum tomatoes into small little pieces, mix with the garlic, 1 tablespoon of olive oil, balsamic vinegar, basil leaves, and salt and pepper until all ingredients are evenly distributed.

Slice the bread into 1/4 inch slices and arrange on a large baking pan. Lightly brush on olive oil and if desired add garlic powder and Parmesan cheese lightly to top. Toast in a 350 degree oven for 5-10 minutes or until tops have lightly browned.

You can either serve with the bread arranged on a platter and the bruschetta in a dish with serving spoon or immediately before serving, scoop and spread a spoonful of the tomato mixture onto the bread. (If you do this too early however you run the risk of the bread soaking up all of the juices from the tomato and becoming soggy!) Freshly grated Parmesan cheese and parsley makes for a nice garnish on the top.

Variation:

Another variation to this recipe is to bake the slices of bread with the tomato mixture on top of the bread and topping with shredded mozzarella cheese. This is also very good – if you decide to go this route you’ll only want to bake for about 7-8 minutes in a 350 degree oven or until the cheese has become melted on top.

Do you have any favorite bruschetta recipes, suggestions, or reviews? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below.

With these cheese cracker tray ideas you’ll be able to take your cheese display from average to a gourmet platter sure to impress and please your guests.

These cheese cracker tray ideas and tips for creating a cheese tray will give an old party standard a new life with unique display options when making a gourmet cheese platter.

Choose a Variety of Cheeses

There are many different varieties of cheese available, so don’t be afraid to break free from the usual ones you serve. Ideally you will want three cheeses for a platter – having many more than this will have a lot of people guessing what is what or make it too cluttered.

Check with your local deli and you may be surprised to find many different types and specialty flavors there are available! Ideally you want a balance of flavor and consistency, especially since different guests will all have different tastes and preferences. Some cheeses are hard and dry while others are softer and moist. Choosing ones that compliment each other will give you and your guests a nice variety of textures and flavors.

Here are some ideas for different types of cheeses you can serve:

Brick Cheese
Blue Cheese
Cheddar
Colby Jack
Cranberry Orange Cheese
Horseradish Cheese
Gouda
Monterrey Jack
Mozzarella Cheese
Muenster Cheese
Pepper Jack
Swiss

Pick the Right Crackers

Most grocery stores have an entire aisle dedicated to crackers, which can be quite overwhelming for some! There are the classic buttery snack crackers and thin wheat crackers that are usually a hit with everyone. Flavored onion, sesame, or other crackers also go very well with most cheeses. For something a little different or unique you can try Tuscon toast or small fresh bread slices.

Different Ways to Serve Cheese:

There are several different ways you can slice and serve cheese. You can cut in up into cubes, serve in in triangle shapes, square shapes, or slender shavings. You can also get creative with softer cheeses and use miniature cookie cutters for all types of different shapes. The most important thing is to make sure the cheese is proportionate in shape and size with the crackers.

Another idea is to serve the cheese in large blocks and offer shaving or cutting tools for guests to carve their own piece. It will depend on the size of your party and the ability of your guests – obviously a party with many children, this would not be a good idea since they would require adult assistance.

Add Garnishments

A cheese and cracker tray can go from ho-hum to spectacular with just a few garnishments. Popular garnishments include green or black olives, grapes, strawberries, or fresh pineapple chunks. Apples and Pears are popular as well. Apricot or grape jams can be a nice accompaniment, as well as nuts such as almonds. It’s important to not go too overboard with the different additions, but they can all take your cheese tray from average to gourmet and create an impressive and aesthetically pleasing array.

Choose a Unique Platter

There are many different platters and trays that can give a cheese and cracker display a creative and attractive presentation. There are many themed trays available, such as a football shaped dish for a Super Bowl party or a Christmas tree shaped dish for a holiday party. Cutting boards and other trays can add a nice decorative touch for an appetizing dish.

Below are some unique ideas you can consider:

The possibilities are endless with cheese and cracker trays – and with a little creativity you can go from having an average platter to a gourmet cheese tray that’s sure to impress and please your guests.

Have any suggestions or ideas? We’d love to hear them in the comments below.

This Baked Brie recipe appetizer uses a puff pastry dough to wrap the cheese and is sure to be a crowd pleaser and add an elegant touch to your occasion.

This Baked Brie recipe is an elegant cheese appetizer that adds a bit of luxury to any spread of appetizers. While it may seem a bit intimidating to make yourself, you’ll be surprised how easy it actually is to bake and prepare and serve to your party guests.

Basic Recipe for Baked Brie

Here is a very basic recipe for Baked Brie in a puff pastry crust and below we’ll give you some ideas for different variations and serving suggestions that are widely popular and unique.

You will need:

1 Round Wheel of Brie Cheese
2 Sheets of Refrigerated Puffed Pastry Dough (You can also optionally use refrigerated crescent rolls or pie shells)
1 Egg, beaten

Directions:

Roll out one sheet of puff pastry dough and place wheel of cheese on top. Place second sheet of dough on top and cut any excess trimmings of dough off and save for decoration. Use a basting brush to spread the beaten egg on top of the dough. Bake in the oven preheated to 375 degrees for 12-15 minutes, or until crust is a golden brown.

Serve with raspberry jam, apple slices, pear slices, or pita triangles.

Additional Ideas and Variations

There are so many possibilities to make with puff pastry baked Brie. You can add just about anything in the center of the cheese or on top beneath the dough, from savory jams, cranberry sauce, dried fruits, and chopped nuts.

To Place Ingredients in the Center of the Cheese:

If you want to add dried fruit or nuts to the center of the cheese, it is very easy to do. Simply slice the cheese halfway lengthwise to make two large circles. This can be done with a large knife or you can also use a piece of strong thread or even dental floss, which may be easier depending on the size of the wheel. Place one of the circles on top of the rolled out pastry dough and then spread raspberry jam, dried fruits such as cranberry and apricots, or nuts in the middle. Then place the second wheel of cheese on top and push down as hard as you can without smashing it entirely. Then cover with the top crust layer of the pastry puff dough and bake as directed for 10-15 minutes in a 375 degree oven or until the dough is a golden brown color.

To Place Ingredients on Top:

Follow above directions for basic baked brie and then before placing the top shell spread jam, nuts, or maple syrup in a thin layer on top of the cheese. Bake as directed.

Brie should be served hot and with crackers or flat-bread or pita wedges. Be sure when serving that you have a couple of spreading knives. You can optionally garnish with parsley or fruit wedges such as apples, pears, or dried cranberries and apricots. Apricot, fig, and raspberry jam also all make nice accompaniments to this popular and delicious crowd pleasing elegant appetizer, perfect for all occasions.

Have any ideas or suggestions for a baked brie recipe? We’d love to hear from you in our comments section below!

These marinated shrimp appetizer recipes are elegant and sure to please for any occasion. They are also surprisingly easy to prepare.

We’ve collected some of our favorite marinated shrimp appetizer recipes below for you to enjoy. You may also like our spicy shrimp appetizers, which have a little more kick to them.

When cooking marinated shrimp appetizers, you’ll want to remember one very important thing about marinating: you never want to allow the shrimp to marinate in the refrigerator for more than 30 minutes. While it is true with steaks or meats that the longer it soaks in the marinade the better, with shrimp it is different. Leaving it in the mixture for too long can cause it to become acidic or have a bitter flavor. Due to their small size, shrimp can soak up the flavor very quickly – so if you only have 10-15 minutes to allow it to soak, that is perfectly fine and much better than if you were to leave it in the refrigerator for hours or worse, overnight.

Cooking Tip: Cooking shrimp is very easy and can be done in a variety of ways. Simply discard the marinade before cooking. You can serve on skewers if using pre-cooked shrimp, grill on a charcoal or gas grill, or bake in a 350 degree oven. Shrimp is fully cooked when it is no longer translucent in color and the inside has turned a white color.

Now that we’ve shared that very important cooking tip with you, here are some of our favorites.

World’s Easiest Instant Marinade

You Will Need:

2 pounds shrimp, deveined and peeled
1 cup Italian Dressing

Directions:

In a plastic bag or large bowl, coat the shrimp with Italian dressing and allow to marinate for up to 30 minutes before cooking.

Lemon Garlic Shrimp Marinade

You Will Need:

2 pounds of shrimp, peeled and deveined
3 tablespoons of minced garlic
1/4 cup olive oil
3 tablespoons lemon juice
Salt & Pepper to taste

Directions:

Mix olive oil, garlic, and lemon juice, and salt and pepper together. Coat shrimp evenly in mixture and allow to marinade for up to 30 minutes before cooking.

Lime Cilantro Shrimp

You Will Need:

2 pounds shrimp, peeled and deveined
Freshly squeezed juice from 1 lime
2 tablespoons freshly chopped cilantro
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1/2 cup olive oil
Salt & Pepper to taste

Directions:

Mix the lime juice, olive oil, cilantro, garlic, and salt and pepper together in a large bowl. Stir in shrimp to evenly coat. Marinade for up to 30 minutes before cooking.

Shrimp and Artichoke Appetizer

You Will Need:

1 Cup Artichoke Hearts
1 pound Cooked Shrimp
1 tablespoon parsley
1 tablespoon Cilantro
1/8 cup Balsamic Vinegar
1/8 cup olive oil
1 tablespoon lemon juice
Lemon wedges
Salt & Pepper to taste

Directions:

Combine the shrimp, artichoke hearts, balsamic vinegar, olive oil, lemon juice, salt, pepper, cilantro, and parsley together until shrimp is evenly coated. This can be served either in a large serving bowl as a salad, or it can be divided into individual serving dishes, such as wine glasses or plates. Refrigerate for 30 minutes before serving and garnish with lemon wedges.

A cold crab dip recipe is always a favorite amongst guests. Here are three of our favorites that are easy to prepare as well as unique serving suggestions beyond crackers.

These cold crab dip recipes are easy to make and will be a favorite amongst your guests. There are many different variations and types out there, which is why we included a few for you to choose from.

Cold Horseradish Crab Dip

You will need:

1 package cream cheese, softened
1 1/2 teaspoons Dijon mustard or prepared horseradish
2 tablespoons minced garlic
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 green onion, minced
1 can of flaked crab meat
Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

Beat cream cheese, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, and lemon juice together until blended and creamy. Add in crab meat and green onion, season with salt and pepper to taste.

Super Easy Cold Cocktail Sauce Crab Dip

You Will Need:

1 package cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup cocktail sauce
1 can flaked crab meat

Directions:

Beat crab meat, cream cheese, and cocktail sauce together until ingredients are blended and smooth.

Artichoke Crab Dip

You Will Need:

1 package cream cheese
1 can artichoke hearts
1 can flaked crab meat
2 tablespoons horseradish or Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon lemon juice
2 tablespoons minced garlic
Salt and Pepper to taste

Directions:

Beat cream cheese with horseradish, lemon juice, and minced garlic. Combine with artichokes and crab meat until smooth. (You may want to put in a food processor if you are having trouble getting it nice and creamy with a mixer or fork).

Serving Ideas and Suggestions:

Crab dip is delicious and part of the fun is the different potential combinations possible in ways of serving it! Here are some ideas for things to serve for dipping it with or using it for other appetizer recipes:

Tortilla Chips:

Tortilla Chips are great with crab dip. You can use white tortilla chips, blue tortilla chips, multi-grain chips, or corn tortilla chips.

Tortilla Wraps:

Spread crab dip on a small tortilla and wrap. You can optionally add other things to the wrap such as lettuce, tomato, bacon crumbles, or other favorites. Slice into wedges and serve.

Veggies:

The crab dip recipes above are fantastic when paired with grape tomatoes, carrots, celery, red and green pepper slices, and other vegetable favorites. They also make for a nice garnish to the plate.

Buttery Crackers:

There are many different crackers available that can go fantastic with any of the above dips. Our personal favorite are buttery snack crackers paired with recipe #2 above – can’t get enough of it, even if it is so simple! Sesame and onion crackers also work well with these types of spreads.

Do you have a favorite cold crab dip recipe to share? Would you like to leave a review or suggestion for any of the ones we’ve included here? Share your thoughts in the comments below.