Do you know there is special secret for hosting the perfect last-minute gathering without getting your panties in the bundle?
Before my dear older and wiser sister had this little chat with me, my panties would have been wound up so tight I would not be able to come up for air. I used to spend weeks in advance prepping and getting my over extravagant menu ready for my “Type A” personality day. Now, I have that party preparation time down to one hour or less.
Over the years, I have become a very laid back host. I have learned your guest do not come to visit your house or just to eat your food but they have come to visit YOU and spend some quality time with YOU. I have decided to do just that and spend less time in the kitchen and more time with my guests.
After all, I am down to 9 fingers (BAM vs Evil Mandolin and the mandolin won) and everything must be simplified. Today, I am going to share with you a fantastic easy and fun appetizer that you can make with 9 fingers or less. H and P Bacon Wrapped Shrimp and Diggity Dogs are the perfect low carb diet snack, gluten-free and are a fun way to celebrate any gathering around this holiday season.
H and P Bacon Wrapped Shrimp and Diggity Dogs are fun to eat off a stick which is very convenient if you are holding a drink in your other hand. You have the smokey and crunchy flavor of the bacon with the juicy and succulent shrimp and topped off with the delicately sweet and tang of the H and P sauce. I also added some sweet red peppers and little diggity dogs to add to the fun of the skewers. If you wanted, you could cook these on the grill in advance and then just keep warm in the oven until your guests arrive.
My older and wiser sister taught me these very valuable lessons about hosting any gathering.
1) Greet your guests with a big warm smile and make it your mission to spend some quality time with them.
2) Offer your guests something to drink and make sure they know where to go refill their glass as you want them to feel like your home is their home.
3) Choose easy appetizers that you can make in advance so you spend LESS time in the kitchen and MORE time with your guests. Another option is to have a fun theme and let your guests help make their own treats such as a TEX MEX bar, roll your own sushi station, salad bar, ice cream sundae bar, or make your own pizza evening. You can also just make some fun and easy pre-made appetizers chilling in the refrigerator or hot ones that you can pop in the oven or on grill and serve.
4) Clean the house only AFTER after your guests leave. Yes, you heard me correctly. Less neurotic time cleaning and prepping makes for a happier host or hostess and this makes for happier guests. (dim the lights, light a candle, close all the bedroom doors and pick off the lego blocks off the main pathway in the living room and you are good to go)
5) Have fun!
H and P Bacon Wrapped Shrimps and Diggity Dogs
Serves 8 adults or 1 hungry teenager
- 16 wooden skewers pre-soaked in water for at least 30 minutes
- 48 large shrimp cleaned and deveined
- 24 slices of bacon cut in half
- 48 miniature gluten-free turkey hotdogs (optional)
- 48 slices of sweet red pepper (you could also add pearl onions, zucchini or whatever your little heart desires as long as it takes about the same time as the bacon wrapped shrimp to cook)
- drizzle of olive oil
- cracked black pepper
- sprinkle of dry basil
- H and P sauce to glaze
Step 1: Wrap 1/2 bacon slice around each shrimp and set aside. Line up all your ingredients for the assembly line process.
Step 2: Pre-heat your grill. (Alternatively you can make these in a grill pan or griddle inside)
Step 3: Take one skewer and pierce one bacon wrapped shrimp followed by a slice of red pepper and then followed by a diggity dog and repeat this process until your skewer is full. Set aside and finish with the rest of the skewers.
Step 4: Brush your skewered bacon wrap shrimp and diggity dogs with a little olive oil and season with pepper. (You can do this part in advance and place in the refrigerator until just before your guests arrive)
Step 5: Place your skewers on medium heat on the grill and cook for about 4 minutes on each side until the bacon is crispy and the shrimp are pink and no longer translucent. Brush your skewers with a dollop of H and P sauce during the cooking process on both sides.
Step 6: Serve H and P Bacon Wrapped Shrimps and Diggity Dogs to your guests with smile. You may also cook skewers just prior to your guest arrival, clean up your mess and keep your skewers on a low oven setting to keep warm.
Delightful finger food . . . . I just wonder why we Aussies are so much more vulgar and say ‘knickers in a twist’?
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Hello Eha, that is an awesome name. Maybe I should add it as a synonym for people to look up the recipe? Wishing you a super 2013! BAM
Your sister is very wise! Stick or finger food is the way to go
Hello Tandy, you would love my sister she is funny, wise and so down to earth. I just came back from my followup appointment for my finger due to the mandolin incident and at least 14 more days of not getting wet…. uggh. So I guess lots of simple recipe recipes coming your way that I can make with 9 fingers or less. Take Care, BAM
Love it! Looks yummy!
It is so good to hear from you. I am so glad you stopped by so that we could hook back up again. Love those crescent cookies you make. Take care, BAM
I learned that trick about cleaning only after a get together a few years ago. At first it horrified me (Type A person here too), but then I grew to love it. It makes so much more sense to clean after the party which you always end up doing anyway. Great looking appetizer. It’s a good combination of flavors. Happy New Year BAM!
You have a very wise sister. I dust and pick up a bit before a get together and clean after the gathering, My best friend, the freezer, helps tremendously, so much more relaxing. You are doing very well with 9 fingers.
Yeah – I gave up fussy entertaining a long time ago…and we never have large gatherings anymore, just a few close friends.
These sound perfect!
And so tasty! I love this idea .. I have had quiet a few dinner parties in the last few weeks and it is so true, people come to visit with you, not the kitchen, plus i always say well it is not as if this is the only meal they will ever eat.. a little that is good is plenty! have a lovely new year bam!! c
Excellent words of wisdom! Love it! You have a wise sister
First, I hope your finger is better. And second, I love this recipe. This has everything on a stick! Great idea with a drink in your hand
I love this combination of flavours!
I totally agree a good host is the one who makes her guests comfortable with good food and spending some quality time with them. The shrimp skewers is a wonderful idea for cocktail.
I am hosting a party tomorrow, keep your sister’s tips in mind.
You’re a marvel with only 9 fingers, BAM, these apps look pretty and like great fun to eat! I love your sister’s truly wise tips, especially the cleaning part!
Your older sister is wise indeed. You just helped me with a New Year’s resolution: I vow to clean the house after the party, and not before! Great idea!
And these appetizers sound terrific! Really nice recipe. Thanks. Oh, and Happy New Year!
Loved your post and the diggity dogs on a skewer looked delicious! Happy New Year!
H and P sauce slathered on anything make everything taste better. Wishing you a safe and happy 2013. Take care, BAM
Mmm, those look fantastic. Great tips for entertaining too
Happy New Year BAM!
Thanks Korena, Wishing you a super 2013! Take care, BAM
I love your philosophy to having guests over – we are hosting for NYE, so I am going to take a cue from you!!
My sister’s ideas are really right on when it comes to entertaining. Are you making some pre-made little appetizers this year? Wishing you a fabulous 2013!
All your sister’s tips are very good. I try to stick to them as much as I can myself when hosting (which I don’t do enough of). Especially about preparing ahead and cleaning after. Very crucial.
You would love my sister. She makes everyone feel at home and her little tips really do take the stress out of entertaining. Wishing you a very safe and happy 2013. BAM
This makes my mouth water, BAM. Wishing you a very Happy New Year!
You have to love H and P sauce. Thanks and wishing you a very happy and healthy 2013. BAM
I wish my sister was wiser! These look yummy!
Buongiorno, BAM! Obviously you are the product of a great hosting gene pool. You sister’s further proof of that.
Love the idea of these skewers for a party. No one wants to fumble with a cocktail, plate, no matter how small, a fork and, heaven forbid, a knife. A skewer in one hand and a cocktail in the other is the way to go.
Buon Anno, John!!!
You know it all is in the plans. I have to keep my injured finger high and dry for another 10 to 14 days, I do not want to have to do the dishes, so food on a disposable stick is perfect. Wishing you a very happy and healthy 2013! BAM
I love it – 9 finger finger food! They look great Bam. I’ve got one other suggestion somewhat related to cleaning after the guests leave, just in case there’s some lingering guilt over dust – dim the lights or just use candles. It’s amazing how clean my house looks that way.
Indeed candles set the mood and hide the dust, it is a double bonus. Close all the bedroom doors and you are in business. Lots more 9 finger fast foods coming your way as I have to keep my injured finger high and dry for at least 10-14 more days. Yep I did a number on it. Take care, BAM
No way! Another 10-14 days? That has got to interfere with life but I’ve always thought if you’re going to do something, do it BIG. Do you know yet if you’re going to lose any feeling in that finger? I remember taking a rotary cutter to my left index finger and I still get a little numbness every now & then. Glad that I didn’t hit anything important so it’s perfectly usable.
I like to do things BIG! The nice little doctor in the ER did not think I will have any issue after the finger has time to heal. I shared with him that the loss of the finger was due to making something for Bam’s Kitchen and directed him to my site, so who knows maybe I will have a new follower. Take Care, BAM
All this talk about diggity (digit!) dogs and finger foods, BAM! Aside from that, hope you recover quickly and continue feeding us all these delicious ideas.
Kathleen you are cracking me! You are so fun and I am so looking forward to keeping in touch in 2013 and reading all of your delicious recipes. Just came back this week from a followup visit from the doctor and I am just fine but I have to keep my injured finger high and dry for another 10-14 days. Do you know how hard this is for me? Mr. Anonymous calls me stubby. Wishing you a very safe and happy 2013! Take care, BAM
Looks delicious! Will surely try out this recipe one of these days!
Thank you. One of these days you can show me how to make a cute little octopus out of a diggity dog for a bento box. Wishing you a great 2013. Take Care, BAM
You are doing so well with just nine fingers. Finger foods are great for parties and your skewers have to be a big hit.
Finger foods for the 9 finger chef! That has sort of a nice ring to it. However, it is really difficult loving to cook and not being able to get my injured fingers wet for at least another 14 days. More simple recipes coming your way. Take care, BAM
I hope I don’t have to make that statement ever again. I’m looking forward to your ten fingered recipes. Bring on your most complicated dish and I’m ready to try to duplicate it half as good as you.
Thank you Karen. Have a super day! BAM
Thanks for your hospitality tips
The more I have people over, the easier it becomes. These appetizers look amazing – how can you go wrong with bacon? 
mmm these look oh so good!