Don’t you just love appetizers? What’s more fun than a bunch of tasty little bites that can easily add up to be a full meal? After hosting and catering years of dinner parties and cocktail buffets, I find that a table of unpretentious nibbles make for the most fun events. My husband Vince and I entertained a handful of our closest friends last week. We served the hors d’oeuvres featured in this Gift Guide along with the hors d’oeuvres featured in my regular Lowcountry Weekly column, Celebrate Every Day. Be sure to pick up both papers to get all six delicious recipes. Don’t put off having a party until next year. It’s not too late to host a holiday gathering. This is the time of year to hold family and friends close and tight. Celebrate Everything! Vince and I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a healthy, safe, and happy 2025!
Chipotle BBQ Meatballs
Cocktail meatballs in a sweet and spicy chipotle BBQ sauce! An easy appetizer for holiday entertaining.
2 cups bottled BBQ sauce
1 (12-ounce) jar grape jelly
2 chipotles in adobo sauce, minced
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
4 dozen frozen cocktail-size beef meatballs, thawed in the refrigerator
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, whisk together BBQ sauce, grape jelly, minced chipotles, and Worcestershire sauce. Add meatballs and stir gently to coat. Pour meatballs and sauce into a baking dish. Cover and cook for 60-70 minutes. Serve in a crockpot or chafing dish. Serves 12 to 15.
Pepper Jelly Hogs in a Blanket
Paired with sweet and spicy pepper jelly and everything bagel seasoning, these mini sausage rolls are sure to please. I guarantee they’ll be gone in minutes. So much flavor for such a simple recipe!
1 sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed in refrigerator
1 (12-ounce) beef smoked sausage or kielbasa
2 tablespoons whole grain mustard, divided
1 egg, beaten
½ cup pepper jelly
Everything bagel seasoning
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and spray with baking spray. Unfold puff pastry sheet and place on a large cutting board. Cut it in half. Wipe the sausage with a paper towel making sure it is dry and then cut it in half. Spread 1 tablespoon of the mustard on each piece of the puff pastry. Add sausage to each piece of pastry and gently roll the dough to secure. Stretch pastry gently as you roll the sausage and pinch together at the seams. Slice each roll into 10 pieces and place on prepared baking sheet. Brush individual appetizers with beaten egg. Bake for 15 to 18 minutes or until pastry is puffed and golden. In the meantime, heat pepper jelly in microwave for about 30 seconds or until it is melted. Remove appetizers from oven. Brush with melted pepper jelly and sprinkle with bagel seasoning. Return to oven and bake for an addition 5 minutes. Serve warm. Makes 20.
Spinach Parmesan Dip
A favorite recipe from Betty Waskiewicz, this delicious dip has graced many a Covington Christmas party buffet table!
1 (10-ounce) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
1½ cups parmesan cheese, divided
1 (8-ounce) cream cheese, softened
1 cup mayonnaise
1 onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, chopped
3 tablespoons diced pimentos
Paprika, to garnish
Combine spinach with 1 cup grated parmesan cheese. Add cream cheese, mayonnaise, onion, and garlic. Mix well to combine. Gently stir in pimentos. Spread mixture evenly in a serving dish sprayed with cooking spray. Top with remaining parmesan cheese and garnish with paprika. Bake in a preheated 350-degree oven for 30 to 45 minutes or until warmed through. Serve warm with crackers. Serves 8 to 10.
The writer owns Catering by Debbi Covington and is the author of three cookbooks, Celebrate Beaufort, Celebrate Everything! and Dining Under the Carolina Moon. For more great recipes and to view her cooking demonstrations, visit and subscribe to Debbi’s YouTube channel. Debbi’s website address is www.cateringbydebbicovington.com. She may be reached at 843-525-0350 or by email at dbc@cateringbydebbicovington.com.
