Party Appetizer Recipes?

[Anniet222]

I have a couple large parties each year and am always looking for different appetizer recipes that can be served cold or cooked ahead of time and served in a crock pot or on a warming tray. My standbys seem to be meatballs in sauce; bacon-wrapped dates or water chestnuts, and fake crab; mini pizzas; shrimp with cocktail sauce; and artichoke dip. I usually have a tray of tapenade, olives and peppers and candy; mini ham sandwiches and beef sandwiches; and a platter of store-bought mini cream puffs. They all work well, but it seems like it is the same old same old. I need to find something new to serve. Oh---to keep the mess factor down--i shy away from spreads and dips.

[Csara]

I posted these in your other thread too....just some ideas off the top of my head: mini quiches, pita chips and vegetables w/ hummous, bruchetta, deviled eggs, fruit and cheese cubes, stuffed mushrooms, pigs in a blanket, grape tomatoes w/ mozzerella balls on toothpicks......

[Anniet222]

I have never made bruschetta for a party, only b/c I wasn't sure if it had to be made at the last minute or not. Is that something that could be made ahead of time or do you think that would become soggy if it was prepared in advance?

[Csara]

I would make the topping in advance and just do the bread at the last minute so it doesn't get soggy.

[meliz]

Can you get those mini pita bite-sized pita breads where you are? Those stuffed with crab or lobster are always nice.

Also, was reading a girly mag in the checkout line the other day (does that mean nudie mag? what I mean really is a Elle or Good Housekeeping or something ) ... anyway, funny you should mention them C, but apparently pigs in a blanket are all the rage and are considered to be rather haute couture these days, when served with fancy mustards for dipping. Go figure?

My fave thing is to just get a variety of different cheeses and let guests slice their own.... with crackers and sliced apples on the side.

Another option it to get some phyllo (sic) pastry and wrap small pieces of brie and walnuts in little satchels, bake them, then serve them with maple syrup. Awfully tastey.

Meatballs on tooth picks are simple: buy meatballs and cook them up with 1 jar of grape jelly and one jar of chile sauce. Delish!

And my guilty pleasure... grilled pepperoni! Grill it, slice it, and serve with mustard.

[Anniet222]

I have been seeing pigs in blankets at parties lately and was surprised. I haven't seen them in years. My husband loves them----hot dog that he is.

That brie in phyllo sounds interesting. I have done that with a wheel but never individuals. That would probably be a make and serve item, don't you think? I souldn't think that would hold too well.

[Sexy Strawberry]

How about croquettes? I love them :lick:
Spanish (potato) omelette is another very good appetizer, especially because it tastes better when you eat one day after cooking it.

[Anniet222]

Croquettes is one thing I have never made. Are you talking chicken? How would the "hold" on a warming tray for 2-3 hours---or is that something that should be served right away?

[Sexy Strawberry]

My mom makes them with canned tuna fish, she has also made them with ham or chicken before but the tuna ones are my favorite.
You can cook them and put them in a warming-tray to eat them 2 or 3 hours later, they don't need to be eaten right after being fried.

[Anniet222]

Do you serve them with a dip of some type or do they work well plain?