I always try to be ready for unexpected guests, when it comes to mealtime. Not everyone has a couple of hours beforehand to think about what to make for an extra mouth or two at the table. Having teenagers, I’ve become very good at whipping up a quick snack or meal in a moments notice. It’s usually more than just one kid that makes his way over during meal time, when it comes to my boys’ friends. Here are 7 quick recipes for unexpected house guests.
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7. Cheesy Tortilla Snacks
These can be made with a can of chicken or shredded turkey to make them more filling. As long as the meat is already cooked when it's added to the tortilla, you won't have to adjust the cooking time at all. Mix a can of refried beans with a cup of chunky salsa. This mix will cover up to 6 tortillas that are 8 inches in diameter. Once you spread the bean and salsa mix around on top of each tortilla, cover with another tortilla and add a little bit of salsa with cheese and toast each tortilla in a 350 degree oven for around 10 minutes. Garnish with sour cream and/or guacamole.
6. Butter and Herb Snack Strips
If you are looking for a quick appetizer to tide the crew over so you can figure out what else to cook for all your unexpected guests, then give these a try. Brush melted butter and herbs of your choice over the top of a 10 inch tortilla. Lay another tortilla on top and repeat process. Once you have a layer of 4 tortillas, use a sharp knife or a pizza cutter to cut each round into thin strips. Sprinkle the strips onto a cookie sheet and bake at 400 for 8 minutes. Serve with a dipping sauce of your choice.
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5. Biscuits with Sausage and Spices
Finger foods seem to be a hit with most people and these tasty biscuits are a meal in themselves. Cook a pound of sausage or use pre-made veggie crumbles. Mix the meat with a cup of both onion and diced green pepper. Stir in a quarter cup of mayo, a dash of salt, a teaspoon of garlic powder, and black pepper to taste. Take a tube of refrigerated biscuits, place them on a baking sheet, and make a hole in the center of each biscuit. Into the center of each biscuit you will place a spoonful of the sausage or meat substitute mix. Sprinkle shredded cheese and dried thyme on top of each biscuit and bake at 400 degrees for 10 minutes.
4. Quick Soup
You can throw together this soup in a matter of minutes. Take a can of V8 juice and pour it into a large pot. Add a can of each; diced carrots, diced potatoes, peas, green beans, and corn. Use whatever veggies or canned beans you have. Keep adding an assortment of vegetables and/or beans to the pot of V8 juice, just until it is the consistency you wish it to be. Heat until it's almost boiling and simmer for 5 minutes. Let guests season their own bowl of soup how they wish.
3. Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
If you have a griddle, you can make these 4 at a time. I like to add tomato, turkey slices, and a dash of spices on top of the tomato before placing the sandwiches on the griddle. They don't take long and can be served with the soup mentioned earlier.
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2. Skillet Tacos
Brown a pound of ground beef and drain. Using the same skillet, add a can of tomato soup, a half cup of chunky salsa, a half cup water, and 6 small flour tortillas that have been cut into chunks measuring an inch in size. Bring the mix to a boil and then simmer for 5 minutes. Top with shredded cheese right before serving.
1. 3 Bean Salad
In one bowl mix the following ingredients together; a half cup of sugar, a half cup of canola oil, and a half cup of vinegar. To this mixture add a can of green beans, a can of garbanzo beans, and 2 cans of kidney beans. You can serve this right away or place it in the freezer to chill for about 10 minutes.
I hope you can find something you like among the 7 quick recipes for unexpected house guests that I've listed above. What is your favorite recipe to make when you have unexpected guests?
Top Photo Credit: Epiventures
