Recipe: Snacks Recipes and Ideas from 389 Ways To Use California Ripe Olives, 1970's

SNACKS AND NIBBLES
From the recipe booklet: 389 Ways To Use California Ripe Olives by The California Olive Industry, 1976


1. On a diet? Munch pitted ripe olives right out of the can - they're low in carbohydrates, and best of all, they average only 7 calories each. You can't beat them for a fast snack.

2. Spread a generous 1/2 tablespoon whipped cream cheese on each of 4 slices of boiled ham. Cut each in six strips. Wrap a strip around a small pitted ripe olive; secure with a wooden pick.

3. Sprinkle chopped ripe olives onto triangular corn chips covered with shredded Monterey Jack or sharp cheddar cheese. Broii till cheese melts and bubbles.

4. TRY SCANDINAVIAN STYLE OLIVES
Drain 1 1/2 cups pitted ripe olives, reserving liquid. Combine the olives and 1 small sliced onion. Combine 1 teaspoon prepared mustard and 1/2 teaspoon dried dillweed. Gradually blend in 3/4 cup olive liquid. Pour mustard mixture over olives, adding more olive liquid if needed to cover olives. Cover and chili overnight. Drain to serve. They're great with rye crisp.

5. Fill the center of a pitted ripe olive with a baby sweet gherkin or radish stick.

6. Thread tiny pickled ears of corn through the center of pitted ripe olives.

7. Press canned liver, chicken, or ham spread or your favorite homemade pate into the hole of a pitted ripe olive.

8. Fill the center of a pitted ripe olive with a bit of crunchy peanut butter.

9. Stuff the center of a pitted ripe olive with crab meat.

10. Fill the centers of pitted ripe olives with flavored processed cheese food from an aerosol can or a squeezable plastic container for a spur-of-the-moment treat.

11. Thread thin sticks of zucchini through pitted ripe olives. Give to the kids as a quick and easy snack.

12. For a California accent, fill pitted ripe olives with a peppy guacamole dip. Start with homemade or the convenient frozen dip.

13. Stuff a tuna or salmon mixture into pitted ripe olives. For a special occasion use smoked salmon.

14. For Mexican flair, stuff pitted ripe olives with refried beans or bean dip.

15. Accent pitted ripe olives with a blue cheese center.

16. Pack added crunch into a pitted ripe olive with a blanched whole almond or water chestnut center.

17. Blend together a 3-ounce package cream cheese, 1/2 teaspoon prepared horseradish, 1/4 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce, and a dash hickory smoke salt. Use to fill the centers of pitted ripe olives.

18. Stuff large pitted ripe olives with anchovies or slivers of ham. Marinate in French dressing overnight. Drain to serve.

19. Center a pitted ripe olive with a pickled cocktail onion. It's a delight in black and white.

20. Put a tiny apple wedge into the center of a pitted ripe olive.

21. Carve a melon ball to size and pop it into the center of a pitted ripe olive for a refreshing summer snack.

22. Thread a pitted ripe olive with a carrot or celery stick for a nutritious snack the kids will love.

23. Pack a fresh pear slice into the center of a pitted ripe olive.

24. Stuff a smoked oyster or clam into the middle of a pitted ripe olive. It's a special party treat you can put together in a snap.

25, Cut off the tops of cherry tomatoes; hollow out. Place a cream cheese-filled pitted ripe olive right in the center.

26. Marinate pitted ripe olives three to six hours in your favorite Italian dressing. Drain and serve.

27: MARINATED OLIVES, ITALIAN STYLE

1 1/2 cups pitted California ripe olives with liquid
1 medium clove garlic, peeled and quartered
1 teaspoon mixed Italian herbs
1 bay leaf
1 tablespoon finely chopped pimiento

Drain olives, reserving liquid. Heat 1/4 cup of the liquid with the garlic, herbs, and bay leaf to simmering; cook 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat; add pimiento and remaining olive liquid. Pour over olives; chill overnight.

28. Add a small sliced clove of garlic to a can of the pitted undrained ripe olives. Cover and refrigerate till the olives reach the desired
garlic level. (Usually overnight will do it.)

29. On a circle of white bread or a cracker, layer a piece of smoked salmon, a slice of hard-cooked egg, and a half of a pitted ripe olive. It's a real party pleaser.

30. Smooth cream cheese onto a pumpernickel bread triangle. Garnish with tiny shrimp, ripe olive wedges, and a sprinkle of dill.

31. Start with a strip of whole wheat bread, then layer on a piece of ham, radish slices, ripe olive wedges, and a sprig of parsley.

32. Spread a layer of cream cheese on a whole wheat circle. Cover with smoked salmon, ripe olive slices and a sprig of watercress.