Delicious and Healthy Holiday Appetizers

Bar-B-Q Glazed turkey meatballs are great appetizers that are sweet, delicious, and healthy! The appetizer requires combining 1 1/4 pound of Butterball Fresh Ground Turkey, 1 cup of finely chopped sauerkraut, and 1/4 cup of light or original barbecue sauce in a medium bowl. Then, the mixture gets shaped into 1 inch meatballs and placed on a 15 1/2" X 10 1/2" jelly-roll pan sprayed with Light Cooking Spray.
The turkey balls then get baked for 12-15 minutes or until they are no longer pink in the middle.
While the turkey is baking, heat 1/2 C of sugar-free currant jelly and 3 TB of the light barbecue sauce in a large skillet over medium heat or until all the jelly has melted. Once the meatballs are done, toss them into the sauce and let them be coated with glaze. Meatballs should continue to cook in the sauce until they are glazed.
These will be a rolling hit at your holiday part, without all the unnecessary calories. The mixture should make about 50 meatballs and serve approximately 20-25 people.

Pinto Bean Dip is another light recipe that will delight your guests without adding to their waistlines.
Simply take 2 15oz. cans of drained pinto beans, 8 slices of canned jalapeños, 1tsp salt, 12 tsp onion powder, 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper (or to taste), 1/2tsp paprika and 1/4 tsp of garlic powder. Puree all of it in a food processor on high speed until it is a smooth spread. The dip will need to be refrigerated for an hour. It is great on corn chips, tortilla chips, or on tortillas with lettuce and tomatoes, and rolled into mini roll-ups!

Just blend a package of softened fat free cream cheese with 2 TB of lemon juice. Then stir in 10 minced green onions, 2 lbs of Boiled, peeled, and coarsely ground shrimp along with 1 cup of low-fat mayonnaise or light Miracle Whip. Add a tsp of Tabasco sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and salt and pepper to taste.
The shrimp dip is high in protein, low in carbs and fat. It can be served with low fat wheat crackers or Triscuits. Shrimp Dip is also a delicious appetizer that is perfect for Holiday Parties!

Mango Salsa is also a delicious treat that goes well with baked chips or low-fat wheat crackers. It can also be served as a smothering for grilled chicken or turkey.
Stir together 1/2 C of chopped peeled mango, papaya, peaches, plums, and/or pineapple. Add 1/2 C sweet bell pepper and 1/4 C thinly sliced green onions. Then add 1/4 C of snipped fresh cilantro or parsley.
Next, add 2TBS of lemon or lime juice and 1 jalapeno or Serrano pepper, finely chopped. The salsa needs to chill for at least 2 hours before serving. Diced strawberries also go well with this salsa.
Another idea is to take pita bread and spread butter and cinnamon sugar on top, then bake the bread for about 15 minutes at 350 or until golden brown. The mango salsa will complement the sweet bread. The salsa also may be chilled for up to 2 days before serving.
Mini Calzones are also a great appetizer for holiday parties. You will need to cook 4 C of thinly sliced fresh mushrooms and a fourth of a cup of green onions in a large nonstick skillet that has been sprayed with light cooking spray.

Wait until the mushrooms are heated thoroughly and are tender, and then add 8 oz. lean chopped Canadian bacon. Cook the mixture for an additional 2 minutes and stir in 2 TBS of fresh minced oregano. Remove the skillet from heat. Then take two packages of frozen pizza dough and place each square on a greased baking sheet. Place 1 TBS of light pizza sauce in the center of the square. Top the scares with the mushroom mixture and 1 TBS of Mozzarella cheese.

Then, roll up the pizza squares and brush on some egg white. Bake the Calzones for 12-15 minutes or until the calzones are golden brown and puffed.

The calzones are best when the pizza dough is broken into smaller squares, especially for appetizer purposes.

These can also be made with low-fat Pillsbury biscuits, just fill the biscuits with the pizza sauce and mushroom filling and top with cheese.

Each of these appetizers are healthy and delicious options for the holiday season.