Easy Appetizers: Olive Tapenade

I received free product in exchange for my honest review.

The Holiday season is upon us and that means... FOOTBALL! and appetizers galore.  With a husband, three growing boys and all their friends huddled around the big screen tv on game day it's vital we have snacks on hand.

Moi being moi is always on the hunt for new recipes to wow the crowd and what better audience to experiment on, I mean try out my new creations.

This year our high school football team is undefeated and heading to the state championships.

We're also ranked #10 in the nation.  GO CHARGING WILDCATS!

pic courtesy of Max Preps

The game is sure to draw a crowd and will be televised live on TV.  It IS the State Championship after all.  To celebrate we picked up a couple of Hormel Gatherings Party Trays and let the kids invite their friends over to watch the game.  

Hormel Gatherings Party Trays always satisfy.  Everyone loves the stackable, pre-cut meat and cheese and tasty crackers.  I love that they're packed full of protein and calcium.  

Each Hormel Gatherings party tray comes with crackers, Sargento colby jack cheese and cheddar cheese and either hard salami and pepperoni or honey ham and turkey.

Hormel Gatherings Honey Ham & Turkey Party Tray

Hormel Gatherings Hard Salami & Pepperoni Party Tray

The Hormel Gatherings Supreme Party Tray comes with Hormel hard salami, Hormel Genoa salami, Sargento pepper jack cheese, Sargento Harvarti cheese and crackers and Peloponnese pitted olives.

Got a larger crowd?  Check out the Hormel Gatherings Supreme Party Tray because the saltiness of the Peloponnese pitted olives pairs so well with the bite of the pepper jack cheese and the savory salami.  Oh, and because it gives me a jump start on my tasty Olive Tapenade easy appetizer.

Olive Tapenade is like an olive hummus. The Hormel Gatherings Supreme Party Tray gives me a headstart because it contains the right amount of black and green Peloponnese pitted olives. A little garlic, a little olive oil and a squeeze of lemon and you've got a fancy schmancy party tray.

Ingredients:
  -1 container Hormel Gatherings Supreme Party Tray olives (approx. 1 cup)
  -2 cloves garlic
  -2 tbsp. olive oil
  -2 tsp. lemon juice

Directions:
  Pour all ingredients into blender and pulse blend to desired consistency. Save the olives 
  container. Don't blend too fine or it will be mushy

  Spoon tapenade into the olive serving container that comes with the party tray and
  serve with your Hormel Gatherings Supreme Party Tray.

There's also a great recipe for Hormel Pepperoni and Olive Tapenade on the Hormel website http://www.hormel.com/Brands/PartyTray.  Ooh, that sounds yummy doesn't it?

Here's your chance to win a Hormel Gatherings Party Tray just in time for your holiday entertaining.  

What's your favorite game day appetizer?