Appetizer Ideas
Party Appetizer Ideas
By Brady Smith
Party appetizers are so much simpler than full menu dinner planning. Simpler foods mean simpler party planning, and what party host doesn't appreciate that?
Appetizers are basically snack foods. They are not intended to provide a full meal, although some guests often think differently. That is why you should plan appetizer quantities carefully to be sure you have plenty.
Cocktail shrimp are always a great hit. You can prepare them the night before and keep them well chilled until time to serve. Do not place all of your shrimp on the buffet table at once. Put out a few, keep an eye on them, and as they disappear, simply add more. Be sure to provide cocktail sauce near the shrimp.
Pasta salads are an excellent choice for the appetizer table. These are also easily prepared ahead of time and chilled until needed. While some folks are die-hard onion fans, take heed of a word of caution. Onions have a strong odor. The odor becomes more noticeable at room temperature. Consider replacing onions in your pasta recipe with a bit of onion powder or onion salt instead.
Always include chips, dips, pretzels, and nuts. Another great appetizer inclusion is "mini-sandwiches." These also can be made ahead of time, however it is best to make them the day of the party rather than the night before to avoid stale bread. First take regular bread slices and make a sandwich as you normally would. Good choices are sandwich fillings such as egg salad, pimiento cheese, chicken salad, ham salad, and tuna salad. These fillings are easily prepared by you, and homemade usually tastes far better than the plastic container fillings in your grocery store.
After placing the filling onto the sandwich, cut off the crusts. You do not have to, but it makes for a better appearance. After slicing off the outer crusts, cut the sandwich into quarters. Place the quarters in a single layer in a large plastic container that has a lid. Place a sheet of wax paper over the first layer, and you can then begin a new one.
As you make the sandwiches, use different fillings for each sandwich. That way when you pull the sandwiches from the container to place on the buffet table, there will be a variety rather than all of one sandwich type.
Crock pot appetizers are another easy finger food idea. Small size crock pots can be filled with miniature sausages. You can then add some store bought barbecue sauce, and let them heat up. Make sure to have plenty of toothpicks near the crock pot so your guests do not have to eat them with their fingers and get all messy from the barbecue sauce.
These are just a few party appetizer ideas. There are many, many choices when it comes to appetizer and finger foods. Just let your imagination run wild, and you'll come up with plenty of your own appetizer ideas. Happy party planning!
Brady Smith is a party planning enthusiast. For information on Food Party Planning, visit http://www.planningpartyideas.com.
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