Olive Penguins Appetizer Recipes

CREAM CHEESE PENGUINS

Steps:

• Cut a slit from top to bottom, lengthwise, into the side of each jumbo olive. Carefully insert about 1 teaspoon of cream cheese into each olive. Slice the carrot into eighteen 1/4 inch thick rounds; cut a small notch out of each carrot slice to form feet. Save the cut out piece and press into center of small olive to form the beak. If necessary cut a small slit into each olive before inserting the beak.
• Set a big olive, large hole side down, onto a carrot slice. Then, set a small olive onto the large olive, adjusting so that the beak, cream cheese chest and notch in the carrot slice line up. Secure with a toothpick.

IGLOO SPREAD WITH CREAM CHEESE PENGUINS

Steps:

• Line 1-quart bowl with plastic wrap. In food processor, place Cheddar cheese, blue cheese, 1 package softened cream cheese, the bacon bits, onions and pepper sauce. Cover and process, using quick on-and-off motions, until thoroughly mixed. Press cheese mixture into bowl. Cover and refrigerate at least 4 hours but no longer than 48 hours.
• Invert cheese mixture onto upside-down glass plate or pie plate, forming igloo shape. Remove about 2 tablespoons cheese mixture from one side to make 2x2 1/2-inch arched doorway.
• Cut two 3/8-inch slices from end of block of firm cream cheese; reserve. Beat remaining cream cheese and the milk with electric mixer on medium speed until blended and smooth. Frost glass plate and igloo with cream cheese mixture; smooth with spatula. Draw lines across igloo, using toothpick, to look like ice blocks. Cut each reserved cream cheese slice into 4 rectangles. Use 6 to 8 rectangles to form door canopy. Cover loosely and refrigerate until ready to serve.
• To make penguins, cut a slit from top to bottom on each jumbo olive on one side only. Insert about 1 teaspoon cream cheese into olive to fill cavity. Cut carrot into 1/4-inch slices; cut small notch out of each carrot slice to form feet. Press cutout notch piece into center of small olive to form beak (if necessary, pierce olive with small paring knife or toothpick to make a hole). Using a frilled toothpick, stack head (small olive), body (jumbo olive) and feet (carrot slice), adjusting so that beak, cream cheese breast and notch in carrot slice line up. (Penguins will stand better if olives are stacked with larger holes facing downward.)
• To serve, cut flag shape from carrot curl and secure on toothpick; insert into top of igloo. Garnish igloo with rosemary, bell pepper and cream cheese penguins. Serve with crackers.

PERKY OLIVE PENGUINS

Steps:

• Cut a slit from the top to bottom of 12 jumbo olives; set aside. In a bowl, combine the next six ingredients; mix well. Fill a small heavy-duty plastic bag with cream cheese mixture. Cut a small hole in the corner of the bag; carefully pipe mixture into jumbo olives. Set aside. Cut a small triangle out of each carrot slice; press triangles into small olives for a beak. On a each notched carrot slice, position a jumbo olive so the white chest is lined up with the notch. Place the small olive, hole side down, over the jumbo olive so the beak, chest and feet are aligned. Carefully insert a toothpick through the top of head into body and carrot base. Wrap a pimiento around neck for a scarf.

OLIVE PENGUINS APPETIZER

Steps:

• 1. Cut a slit from top to bottom into one side of jumbo olive. Carefully insert 1 tsp. cream cheese into olive.
• 2. Cut carrots into 1/4 inch thick rounds. Cut a small notch out of each carrot slice to form feet. Save the cut out piece and press into center of small olive to form beak. If necessary cut a small slit in olive before inserting the beak.
• 3. Set a big olive, large hole side down, onto a carrot slice. Then set a small olive onto the large olive, adjusting so that the beak, cream cheese chest, and notch in the carrot slice line up. Secure with a toothpick.

PERKY OLIVE PENGUINS

Steps:

• Cut a slit from the top to the bottom of 12 jumbo olives; set aside.
• In a mixing bowl, combine the next six ingredients; mix well.
• Fill a small heavy-duty plastic bag with cream cheese mixture.
• Cut a small hole in the corner of the plastic bag; carefully pipe mixture into jumbo olives.
• Set aside.
• Cut a small triangle out of each carrot slice; press triangles into small olives for a beak.
• On each notched carrot slice, position a jumbo olive so the white chest is lined up with the notch for the feet.
• Place the small olive, hole side down, over the jumbo olive so the beak, chest and feet are aligned.
• Carefully insert a toothpick through the top of the head into the body and carrot base.
• Wrap a pimento around the neck for a scarf.

CREAM CHEESE PENGUINS

Steps:

• 1. Cut a slit from top to bottom, lengthwise, into the side of each jumbo olive.
• 2. Carefully insert about 1 teaspoon of cream cheese into each olive.
• 3. Slice the carrot into eighteen 1/4 inch thick rounds; cut a small notch out of each carrot slice to form feet. Save the cut out piece and press into center of small olive to form the beak. If necessary cut a small slit into each olive before inserting the beak.
• 4. Set a jumbo olive, large hole side down, onto a carrot slice. Then, set a small olive onto the large olive, adjusting so that the beak, cream cheese chest and notch in the carrot slice line up. Secure with a toothpick.
• 5. Cut roasted red pepper strips into a long thin slice and wrap around the penguin's 'neck' to form a scarf, and/or add a dab of cream cheese to the penguin's head, and put a dollup of red pepper on top to make a hat.