I still cannot believe my little girl is now two years old! (And she acts like she is going on 22!) And of course I’m already planning her outdoor party this weekend and am on the hunt for Appetizer Recipes that will suit an outdoor event!

Since I love throwing parties for my kids, we are doing a big Disney “Frozen” themed party! Cannot wait to show you the after pictures, but right now I am in planning mode. I just ordered the cake and balloons. I’m also getting a complimentary vegetable crudite from a local company based here in MA called Crudite Creations that looks like a bouquet of flowers.

OMG, right?

Now I need to plan the rest of the food!

I’m working with Hood (one of my favorite brands I worked with last year too!) and I’m going to use some Hood products to create a kid-friendly yummy appetizers for everyone to nosh on while people are getting settled.

Appetizer Recipes for Outdoor Parties

First, I’m just going to get some Cucumber Dill Hood Cottage Cheese. The flavor is already there so all you have to do is put it in a pretty serving bowl with some ice underneath or in one of these serving dishes you can freeze, so the Cottage Cheese stays cold.

I’m going to serve it along side some baked Pita Chips. I’m going to theme it up so it matches my Frozen birthday party theme and I will have a little sign next to the Cottage Cheese that says “Arendelle Snow” and the Pita Chips will have a sign that says “Sleds”. (I think my nieces and nephews are going to love this one.) I even have a picture of Olaf that I might use next to the Crudite Creation, and make it look like he is smelling flowers. (Like the last scene in the movie.)

Then the adults can use the veggies from Crudite Creations to dip into the Hood Cucumber Dill Cottage Cheese. (Love the protein content (13g for 1/2 cup)!) Healthy appetizers!

After this party is over, I need to start thinking about what I want to bring to a Fourth of July Barbecue just 5 days later. I’m always looking for something unique to bring that no one else will have brought, and has a bit of the wow factor. I think this suits both.

Love the modern elegance of it, served on a bright white plate. I think it is going to be a hit. Plus, it is also easy to make. (If you have little kids running around at home like me, you know that easy is essential too!)

Cottage Cheese Cucumber Cups
Makes 27 cucumber “cups:

3 large cucumbers
3⁄4 cup Hood Cottage Cheese with Cucumber and Dill 1⁄4 cup Hood Light Sour Cream
1⁄4 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
3 dashes hot sauce (optional)
5 tablespoons 50% Less Fat Real Bacon Pieces

Trim the ends from each cucumber. Using a vegetable peeler, peel three evenly- spaced strips of peel from each cucumber. Cut each cucumber crosswise into nine, 1-inch thick slices. To make cups, use a teaspoon to remove the seeds from the center of each piece of cucumber; avoid scooping through to the bottom. Reserve. Place cottage cheese, sour cream, black pepper, and hot sauce in a medium bowl and mix until well combined. Spoon equal amounts of the cottage cheese mixture into cucumber cups. Sprinkle with equal amounts of bacon pieces. Serve immediately or refrigerate.

Seems rather yummy for an outdoor party in July, right! So stay tuned for my party recap posts, and I’ll fill you in on all the details!