Spicy Low-carb Crab Canapes

The 81st Academy Awards ceremony will be celebrated February 22. Hollywood will be throwing celeb-centric galas and fetes. And celeb-hungry viewers will be hosting festive Oscar parties featuring appetizers or full-feast spreads. Are you one of them? While you are planning your Oscar party favors and printing those Oscar nomination forms for an in-house voting, include these savory Academy Awards-worthy low-carb nibbles.

Makes 24

Ingredients:
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened at room temperature
1 cup shredded pepper Jack cheese
1 small garlic clove, minced
Sea salt to taste
8 ounces cooked crabmeat (try Phillips claw meat)
24 slices whole grain cocktail bread, lightly toasted

Directions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. In a large mixing bowl, beat butter, cheese, garlic, salt and crabmeat until well-combined. Spread on toasts and place on a baking sheet. Bake until bubbly, about 8 minutes. Transfer to a platter and serve warm.

Smoky Stuffed Mushrooms

Makes 24

Ingredients:
24 same-size button mushrooms, stems removed
1 tablespoon olive oil
12 ounces turkey sausage, casing removed, crumbled and cooked
1/4 cup crumbled blue cheese
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
3 to 4 drops of liquid smoke
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tablespoon lemon juice
Salt and ground black pepper to taste

Directions:
1. Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F. Arrange the mushroom caps on a baking sheet with Drizzle with olive oil. In a large bowl, mix sausage, blue cheese, Worcestershire sauce, liquid smoke, garlic, lemon juice, salt and pepper.

2. Fill the mushroom caps with the sausage mixture. Bake for 15 minutes or until mushrooms are tender and the sausage mixture is hot. Let sit for a few minutes before transferring to a serving platter.

Marinated Olives and Cheese
Makes 24

Ingredients:
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 tablespoon dried Italian seasoning
Pinch of crushed red pepper flakes
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
1/2 cup olive oil
24 whole, pitted green olives
1 pound buffalo mozzarella cheese, cut into 24 cubes

Directions:
Place all ingredients in a large bowl, tossing to coat. Cover and marinate for at least 1 hour or refrigerate overnight. To serve, place an olive on top of a cube of cheese and skewer with a cocktail toothpick. Place on a serving platter to serve. Use the leftover marinade to drizzle on vegetables or seafood.

source
sheknows.com