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Easy Holiday Appetizers for Any Occasion

Make hosting holiday parties look effortless with these holiday app hacks using frozen favourites from Panache and Compliments. These simple tricks will save you time, while wowing your dinner guests. ‘Tis the season to get creative in the kitchen!

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Dilly Dip

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What do you give the pickle-lover who has everything? Prepare a Dilly Dip that pairs perfectly with their Compliments Breaded Pickle Spears! Simply combine 1 ¾ cups sour cream, ½ cup mayonnaise, 2 tbsp onion powder, 1 tbsp dried parsley flakes, 4 tbsp freshly chopped dill, and finish with ½ tsp salt and ⅛ tsp black pepper. Stir, cover, and refrigerate for 30 minutes to an hour before serving.

Mock French Onion Soup Casserole

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Create a cozy atmosphere for your intimate holiday party by serving mock French onion soup. Make the Compliments Blooming Onion Pearls according to package instructions. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Place cooked onions into a casserole dish and drizzle with 4 tbsp of beef broth. Sprinkle fresh thyme, and onion powder on top. Generously cover the onions with shredded Gruyere cheese, bake in a preheated oven for 15 minutes or until the cheese is bubbly and golden. Top with some fresh thyme. Serve warm to the delight of your dinner guests!

So Cheesy

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Does your holiday party need that extra kick? Help elevate this Compliments frozen app option with a little Tex Mex flair! First, prepare the Compliments Southwest Beef Sprolls according to package instructions. While they are in the oven, start to prepare your queso drizzle. In a medium saucepan over medium-low, whisk together 12 oz evaporated milk, 1 tbsp cornstarch, ½ tsp onion powder, and ½ tsp garlic powder. Bring to a light simmer for 1 -2 minutes while stirring. Reduce heat to low and stir in 2 ¾ cup of shredded Compliments Tex Mex cheese in batches, allowing each to melt completely. Transfer to a serving dish, and drizzle over your Southwest Sprolls. It’s just that easy to spice up the holidays!

Calamari Tower

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Compliments Crispy Calamari makes a fantastic savoury holiday starter on your dinner table. For a festive touch, serve your fried golden rings as a tower on a decorative platter. To keep the fun going, offer up a few dips at the tower’s base. We recommend whipping up a simple garlic aioli using a few cloves of garlic, some fresh lemon juice, and mayo or a lemon dill aioli with garlic, egg yolks, fresh dill, lemon juice, olive oil, and salt and pepper. For a ready-made option, grab Compliments Seafood Sauce in mild or hot as well.

Breaded shrimp Crispy Rice Cups

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Combining the crunch from the golden-brown shrimp with the satisfying texture of rice makes for a delicious holiday appetizer. Create the rice cups by adding a couple of scoops of cooked sushi rice to your muffin baking pan and pushing it down with your spoon to make the cup. After you cool the rice in the freezer for about 30 minutes, you’ll pop it in the oven at 276°C (350°F) until it’s crispy. Cook the Panache Breaded Butterfly Shrimp according to package instructions and then chop them into smaller pieces. You can then toss them in a spicy mayo, add them to the cups, and sprinkle diced cucumber and black sesame seeds on top.

Sweet and Spicy Coconut Shrimp Rice Paper Tacos

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Excite your holiday guests with these rice paper tacos that are crunchy, sweet, and tangy. First, cut your rice paper into quarters, fry them in some vegetable oil, and bake your frozen Panache Breaded Coconut Shrimp according to package instructions. Add sliced mango and Panache Breaded Coconut Shrimp to the rice paper tacos, and then drizzle with a sweet chili sauce. Garnish with a sprinkle of finely chopped cilantro and a few thinly sliced red chili peppers if you want more heat.

One-Bite Buffalo Chicken Dip Meatballs

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We all know the viral buffalo chicken dip, but what if you can make the dip into an easy-to-eat appetizer for your next holiday party? All you have to do is grab a box of frozen Compliments Chicken Meatballs, bake according to package instructions and gently warm them in a crockpot with your favourite buffalo sauce. Once heated all the way through, spear the meatballs and add crumble of blue cheese over the whole tray. It’s a new take on a hot trend!

Easy Teriyaki Prime Rib Meatballs

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Help elevate your next gathering by offering Compliments Prime Rib Meatballs that are easy to throw together and eye-catching when passed around. Either use a crockpot or heat your meatballs in the oven according to package instructions, and toss them with delicious Compliments Teriyaki sauce. Add the meatballs and chunks of pineapple for a tropical twist to a skewer and garnish with some finely chopped green onions or black sesame seeds.

Hot Honey Cauliflower Sliders with Pickle Ranch Slaw

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Try this spicy sandwich with a tangy and creamy slaw for a vegetarian option. Start by baking the Compliments Hot Honey Cauliflower Bites according to package instructions and tossing them with the included sauce. To make a quick dressing for your shredded cabbage (a bag of pre-shredded coleslaw works), mix mayo, pickle juice from dill pickles, and a packet of ranch seasoning all together. Once the slaw is all mixed you can assemble everything using soft slider buns. These are sure to be a hit at any seasonal event!

Hot Honey Wings and Avocado, Lime, and Cilantro Dip

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If you plan on serving Compliments Hot Honey Wings at your next festive meal, we recommend serving them with this silky, cooling dip. All you’ll need is some cilantro, half a ripe avocado, plain yogurt, lime juice, a garlic clove, and some salt and pepper. Throw everything into a blender or food processor and blend until smooth.

Wonton Mozzarella Sticks

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Who doesn’t love Compliments Mozzarella Cheese Sticks? We’ve upped the ante with this fun new take on the classic pub app. Take the wonton wrapper and brush an egg wash onto them. Place a cooked mozzarella stick (or half a stick if they are too long) into the middle of the wrapper, fold the edges up and roll them. Heat your oil and fry the wontons until golden brown, flipping halfway. Serve them with your favourite marinara sauce, and get your phone ready to capture that cheesy pull when you take a bite.