The word Appetizers meant nothing to me in the beginning. I was very young and my mother had to stay in bed for several months after my youngest brother was born. We set her up on the couch every morning with her feet propped. She was surrounded by a newborn in a basket, a one-year-old in a playpen, bottles, a stack of diapers and supplies, the phone, a jug of water, and some lunch. The Neighbor checked in on her. Dad went to work and we went to school. It did not seem to be a hardship it was just the way things were. It was the late 50’s. My sister and I came home from school and did chores. Daily we washed and hung up diapers on the line set at our level by Dad.
The Magic Word
Magic words were heard. “One of you get in there and practice the piano and the other help me get dinner on.” I hated the piano and to this day my sister can barely cook. My mom would break down the steps and have me bring her things to cut. She was confined to the couch with her feet up for about 6 months after my youngest brother was born. On the whole, I was “cooking dinner” for the family at the age of six, or at least I thought I was. Cooking became my way of sharing time with Mom and when she could come to my Grandma.. I know that company in the kitchen when I cook is required. This is Family time. Time to just visit and share moments with those you love.
I like to have things that everyone can help with. Even the smallest children get to help. Pulling grapes off the stems for fruit salad is usually my most basic job or putting a napkin at each place setting. We all work together and help. Everyone makes something to share.
I set up a small table with Appetizers for those helping or waiting to help. Menu is written out and taped onto pantry door with each person’s name beside an item they are responsible for.
Setting up the Appetizer table
Peel and prepare the vegetables ahead of time. Make it as easy as you can.
Baby carrots -Open a bag put in a strainer to rinse then put in a bowl. Into a bowl place zucchini sticks. Then celery strung and trimmed into sticks go in their spot. The Jicama is so hard to peel and cut into sticks but so good.
Finish off with some wheat thins, Ritz crackers, a bag of Tortilla Chips
Now the dips: Diabetic Friendly Appetizers
Start with the ones that need to sit for a few hours to bring out the flavor.
Spinach Dip Made Diabetic Appetizers Friendlier
Package of Knorr Vegetable Recipe Mix
- 1 package of frozen chopped spinach (10oz.) Thaw it out but remain cool place on a clean dish towel wrap it around the spinach and twist all the moister out. Move it around and twist it again. Place in bowl.
2. It said 16oz of sour cream but instead SUBSTITUTE 16 oz. of plain Greek yogurt
3. 1 cup REAL Mayonnaise
4. 1 package Knorr Vegetable Recipe Mix
5. 8oz. Package called for Water chestnuts drained and chopped but instead SUBSTITUTE I cup chopped Jicama
6. 3 Chopped Green Onions
7. 1 can Black pitted Olives (chop)
Mix and let sit in Refrigerator for 2 hours
Fast and Dirty Appetizers and Dips:
Pick and Choose 2 or 3 Dips is Plenty
South of the Border Dip
- Nice bowl 1 block cream cheese pour your favorite chucky Picante sauce over it. Place butter knife on bowl.
Flavor of Thailand Dip
- Nice bowl 1 block cream cheese pour Mae Ploy Sweet Chili Sauce over it. Place butter knife on the bowl.
Homemade Pimiento Cheese Spread/Dip
- 2 Cups shredded Cheese (your Choice, 1 4oz. Jar Diced Pimientos, 1/4 cup Real Mayo mix and add 1 Tablespoon Plain Greek Yogurt mix and repeat as needed to right consistency. Drier Cheeses will need more Yogurt.
Fake Ranch
Mix up a Batch of Seasonings Place in a container and keep on Hand Just Mix it in Plan Greek Yogart to Taste. If you Have it can add a little Butter Milk to Thin and add flavor. Make about 8 batches of Spice Mix at once to be handy for many things later. Store in a sealed container.
- 2 teaspoons Dried Chives
- ▢½ teaspoon Dried Dill
- ▢½ teaspoon Dried Parsley
- ▢½ teaspoon Garlic Powder
- ▢½ teaspoon Onion Powder
- ▢¼ teaspoon Salt
- ▢⅛ teaspoon pepper
Taco Seasoning
Mix up several Batches and store in a sealed container Mix a bit into Yogurt for a dip or season your taco Meat You can thicken with a little Corn Starch to Thicken. Spice it up or down. Salt it up or down depending on your need. Store in a Sealed Container
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 ½ teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon ground paprika
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- ¼ teaspoon dried oregano
Are we Ready?
Lets finish it off with a pitcher of Sparkling Water for the kids and a bottle of Tanya Pinot Grigio or Tanya North Coast Rose to share with my older helpers.
