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Finger foods for special days

This time you can serve a really all American selection of finger foods.

Celebrating Memorial Day or the Fourth of July with friends and family is always fun and can be a great time for family reunions. I know I'm always trying to come up with easy ways to feed everyone, without it costing a fortune or taking hours to prepare. So here are 10, easy to make, inexpensive, finger foods that you can serve at your Fourth of July celebration!

Pigs in a blanket

Using refrigerated crescent rolls and hotdogs, roll each hotdog in an unbaked crescent roll. Place in a 9X13 pan, bake according to crescent roll package directions. Serve with ketchup and mustard, or ranch dressing.

Easy boneless hot wings

Bake up some plain, breaded chicken chunks according to package directions. Then dip them in a mixture of your favorite bbq sauce, hot sauce (like Frank's or Tabasco), Mexican seasonings (i.e. Cayenne pepper, cumin, or Mrs. Dash Extra Spicy or Southwest Chipotle). Serve with blue cheese dressing and celery sticks.

Cucumber pita sandwiches

Mix softened pkg. of cream cheese and pkg. of dry Italian dressing powder mix until smooth. Refrigerate overnight. Spread on top of flat pita bread (not pockets). Place slices of unpeeled, patted dry cucumbers over spread, top with pita bread with cream cheese spread. Cut into triangles using pizza cutter and serve.

Taquitos

Warm some corn tortillas, just until flexible. Place some already prepared taco meat and shredded cheese in each of them and roll. Baste with vegetable oil and bake on 350F until crispy.

Fried zucchini

Cut zucchini into 1/4 inch slices. Heat 1/4 inch frying oil in skillet; sprinkle each slice with garlic powder, lemon pepper and parmesan cheese. Fry until golden brown and flip; repeat steps. (Hint: wipe out oil with paper towel after each batch of zucchini to avoid blackening)

Cheese puffs

Put 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese and 1/2lb. butter in food processor and mix until smooth. Add a cup of flour and mix well. Roll out to 1/4 inch thickness. Cut dough into 2 inch squares. Wrap a pimento olive with each square, sealing the seams. Place on cookie sheet and bake on 350F until golden brown and crispy.

Easy nacho cups

Using Tostitos Scoops, place a spoonful of already prepared warm taco meat in each scoop and top with shredded cheese. Top with your favorite nacho toppings such as: sour cream, salsa, sliced black olives, jalapeno slices, chopped onion and chopped tomatoes.

Pizza roll-ups

Unroll refrigerated crescent rolls into triangles. Sprinkle each crescent roll with garlic and Italian seasoning. Place 4 slices of pepperoni on each triangle. Place 1/2a piece of string cheese on each triangle. Roll up, sprinkle with garlic and Italian seasoning again and bake according to the crescent roll package directions or until brown. Dip in warm pizza sauce.

Sweet turkey wraps

Soften 1/2pkg. cream cheese and mix with 2 tbs. apple sauce and 1 tsp. dried thyme until smooth. Spread evenly onto fajita size tortillas. Place thin sliced turkey on each tortilla and roll. Wrap each roll up in plastic and refrigerate for 2 hours until firm. Cut into one inch slices and serve.

Goldfish crusted chicken fingers

Pour 1 bottle of buttermilk ranch dressing in a large bowl. Crush 1 pkg. of cheddar goldfish crackers in another bowl. Using chicken tenderloins, dip in dressing, allowing excess to run off, then dip in the crushed crackers. Place in foil lined pan, sprayed with non-stick cooking spray and bake for 10 to 15 minutes or until chicken is done inside at 350F. Dip in additional dressing if desired.