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Hello Darlings! Along with swinging night clubs came the cocktail. And you can’t have a proper cocktail party without appetizers, the colorful, tasty foods on tiny, crunchy foundations. It takes ingenuity and an eye for color to make up a set of mouth watering appetizers. Add to the platter a few pickles, stuffed olives, bits of well-seasoned vegetables, some wrapped in bacon and grilled, some vegetables or fish tucked in a cornucopia of cheese, and you will have a plate of appetizers that will make the cocktail hour truly enjoyable.

Below you will find a few recipes to tantalize the tongue during your cocktail hour…

TRUFFLE DEVILED EGGS

Makes 12 servings

Ingredients

• 6 eggs
• 1 1/2 cups mayonnaise
• 2 tablespoons truffle oil
• Pinch of cayenne pepper
• Pinch of truffle salt

Directions

1. Place eggs in a large pot and cover with water; bring water to a boil then turn off heat and cover pot. Let eggs sit for about 12 minutes then remove eggs from water and refrigerate.
2. When eggs have cooled peel off shells carefully and slice eggs in half lengthwise.
3. Remove yolks from eggs and place in a bowl. Mix in mayonnaise and truffle oil. Stir until yolks are mashed and well combined.
4. Carefully spoon yolk mixture back into whites and sprinkle with cayenne pepper and truffle salt. Chill until ready to serve.

APPLE AND BRIE CHEESE BALL

Makes 12 to 16 servings

Ingredients

• 16 ounces Brie cheese, rind removed
• 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 2 teaspoons fresh chopped rosemary
• 1 whole apple, peeled and diced
• 1 cup chopped pecans

Directions

1. Mix Brie with cream cheese, rosemary, and apples until well combined.
2. Shape mixture into 2 balls and roll in pecans.
3. Chill until ready to serve.

CHICKENS IN A BLANKET

Makes 32 servings

Ingredients

• 1/2 pound whole-wheat pizza dough, room temperature
• 1 1/2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
• 8 low-fat chicken dogs, cut in half
• 1 large egg
• 1 tablespoon water
• 1 1/2 tablespoons poppy seeds

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F and line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.
2. Divide dough into 16 pieces and roll out into small rectangles on a lightly floured surface.
3. Spread mustard onto each piece of dough and top with one chicken dog.
4. Roll dough to wrap dog and seal then place on prepared baking sheet.
5. Gently whisk egg with water and brush egg mixture on dough and sprinkle with sesame seeds. Bake until golden, about 10 to 15  minutes.