Wheat-free * Dairy-free * Gluten-free *  Paleo *

These easy-to-make hors d’oeuvres are perfect for family gatherings.  They don’t require much muss or fuss.  I made them mostly out of stuff I had around the house – but then I keep and obscene amount of food and foods around the house : )

The hors d’oeuvres I made today are:  Melon Stuffed Genoa Salami – a take on melon and proscuitto; Stuffed Heirloom Cherry Tomatoes; Eggs and Green Ham; Bacon Wrapped Almond Stuffed Dates; and Cucumber Slices with Smoked Salmon and Caper Sauce.  Along with today’s recipes, I invite you to browse the “appetizer” category for even more ideas/recipes.

Happy Holidays to you and all of yours.  Enjoy!

Cucumber Slices with Smoked Salmon and Caper Sauce

Multiply this recipe to make as many as you need.  If you want to be fancy, you can use a zester to remove only some of the cucumber peel.

 

For 6 appetizers:

1 tablespoon mayonnaise

1/2 teaspoon chopped capers

1/4 teaspoon chopped scallion

1/4 teaspoon Dijon mustard

6 slices cucumber

6 (1-inch) squares smoked salmon

Dill for garnish, optional

1.  In a small bowl, stir together the mayonnaise, capers, scallions, and mustard; set aside.

2.  Arrange the cucumber slices on serving plate.  Top with pieces of salmon.

3.  Dollop some of the mayonnaise mixture on each piece of salmon.

Garnish with dill if desired.

Serves:  1 to 3 depending on how many other hors d’oeuvres you are serving.

Melon Stuffed Genoa Salami

If you can eat cheese, I would spread a little cream cheese over the salami half before forming the cone.

4 slices thinly sliced Genoa salami

1  to 2 thinly sliced wedges honeydew (depending on how large melon is)

1.  Cut each of the slices of salami in half.  Roll each half into a small cone.

 

 

2.  Remove the rind from the melon.  Cut into triangles.

 

3.  Insert one melon triangle into each salami cone.

 

Place on serving platter.

Makes:  8 hors d’oeuvres

Bacon Wrapped Almond Stuffed Dates

Don’t forget to tell your guests there are nuts in the appetizer or they will think you forgot to remove the pits.

8 dates

8 roasted salted almonds

3 to 4 slices of bacon cut into 8 pieces (smaller slices of bacon will need 4 slices; larger – 3)

1.  Preheat oven to 450F.  If using dates with pits; remove and discard the pits

 

2.  Place an almond into the date and enclose the almond with the date.

 

3.  Place the date on one end of the bacon and roll.  Fasten with toothpick.  Place on rack in a baking sheet.

4.  Bake 12 to 15 minutes or until bacon is cooked to your taste.

5.  Place on serving plate.

Makes:  8 hors d’oeuvres

Eggs and Green Ham

You can use chopped ham salad instead of the ham with guacamole.

2 hard cooked eggs

chopped deli ham

Guacamole

1.  Peel the eggs; cut in half lengthwise.  Discard the yolk (I used it to fill the cherry tomatoes).

2.  In a small bowl combine the chopped ham with enough guacamole to hole the mixture together.  Fill the hollow of the eggwhites with the salad.

Makes:  4 hors d’oeuvres

Stuffed Heirloom Cherry Tomatoes

12 cherry tomatoes

Stuffing:  whitefish salad; tuna salad; egg salad; chopped ham salad; chopped liver; guacamole.

1.  Cut the tomatoes in half;  scoop out and discard the seeds.  Scoop out as much liquid as possible.

 

 

2.  Spoon your favorite salads into the hollows in the tomatoes

Makes:  21 hors d’oeuvres

 

Here are some more ideas for you:

Empanadas

vegan empanadas

Tapenade

Indonesian Eggplant

Indonesian Eggplant Dip

Best Ever Gluten Free Crackers

Tahini