Appetizers to Tease everyone

The holidays are around the corner and my children loved the finger foods!  Every Christmas Eve we would have clam chowder with numerous finger foods (appetizers). We would have shrimp cocktail, piggies in the blanket, coconut shrimp, Jalapeno Jelly over cream cheese with crackers, mozzarella sticks and much more.  As our tastes changed, we have added new appetizers and two that were recently added were grilled stuffed jalapenos and BBQ Kielbasa.

The grilled jalapenos consists of 15-20 jalapenos, sliced in half with ribs and seed removed (more heat, leave some seed in)  In a small bowl I will mix up 1/2 bar of cream cheese (softened), 1/2 cup of shredded pepper jack cheese, shot of texas pete sauce, 2 T of real bacon bits and about 1/4c of shredded Mexican cheese.   Once it's all combined, fill each half of pepper with a scoop of the mixture.  Place them on a hot grill and cover for about 3-5 mins, until the cheese is bubbly and the skins are bubbled and charred.  You won't be able to have just one.

The BBQ Kielbasa contains the following:
1C of onion, sliced
1C of celery, chopped
2 T butter
1/2 C Ketchup (I prefer Heinz)
1 t. Worcestershire Sauce
1/4 C vinegar
1/4 C Sugar
1 T Honey Mustard
1/2 C favorite BBQ Sauce (I prefer Sweet Baby Rays Honey Chipotle)

1lb Kielbasa, sliced into bite size pieces

In a medium fry pan saute your onion and celery in the butter until softened.  Add the remaining ingredients, except BBQ and Kielbasa.  Mix well, move the sauce to a medium size crock pot and set on low.  Add the BBQ Sauce and Kielbasa. Warm for about 1/2 hour and it will be ready whenever you are.

Take the time to research some more fun appetizer to start your own holiday traditions.  After the years and years of spending time together, you will realize you created the best traditions over the good food you created for your family!  Cook On! Enjoy your holidays!