I’m glad I found this photo from Christmas pre COVID, December 2019 to be exact. My son is a master at creating delicious and gorgeous charcuteries. (It only took my two years to pronounce that word). I will study how he put it together and try to make something similar.
Saturday we’re hosting his girlfriend’s sisters and one has offered to play viola for us. She suggested we could invite some friends. I immediately thought of our fellow California refugees who live a mile away. I then invited two couples I met working on the HOA newsletter.
I counted my RSVPs and my original thought of four to six people has turned into 16. My husband keeps asking me what we’re going to serve. I keep telling him charcuterie, veggies, chips, dips, shrimp platter, several hot appetizers.
“What about meatballs?”
“Okay. Meatballs, too.”
We went to Costco a week ago and they once again had samples after two years of not allowing them. Yay! We tried a number of different bites, and bought a couple for our upcoming party.
Here’s the stitch. My husband wants something with puff pastry. He doesn’t want me to cook. I had gotten some ideas from my Santa Barbara friend, who caters parties and makes her spanakopita and other delicious bites — using her own puff pastry. She gave me several ideas where I could buy puff pastry already made and cut it into rectangles or triangles, bake it, and fill it with savory or sweet fillings.
My husband said no. I know he’s trying to save me from wearing myself out and putting too much time and effort into this. He suggested it would be easier for me to pop things ready made into the oven and put them in a chaffing dish or platter and let it go.
For the past three or four days, we’ve been living on appetizers. Everything looks good on the box, but I wanted to know how quickly they cook and how they taste. By the way, Kroger’s makes a delicious spanakopita. Costco has really good spring rolls — and you can order a shrimp platter from them, too. We tried meatballs in the crockpot but didn’t like the sauce I found on Allrecipes. There are some things that I really like but don’t think will work for a party, like my favorite soup dumplings with pho.
Last night I was scouting for more appetizers and I swear my car took over and stopped at Burger King on the way home from the grocery store. I ended up with two Whoppers for dinner.
Any suggestions for easy appetizers? What are your favorite finger foods? Do you have a delicious sauce for meatballs in the crock pot?
Here’s the link to Alexandra Simpson’s website who will be playing viola for us. Her website has her bio and videos of her playing. She’s visiting Arizona to play with Kygo, who I never heard of before her upcoming visit. Have you heard of Kygo?
I use a red currant jelly and chili sauce mix for my meatballs. People seem to like it
That sounds interesting. I’ll give it a try.
I use that all the time, it’s a huge hit! And easy!
I don’t cook when we have people for appetizers…keeping food hot is an issue. I just do veggies, cheese, salami and such, and a dip. I’m a little crazy about food sitting out for a long time. I’m also a fan of the dessert board
That’s what I normally do. This will be one of my first attempts for hot appetizers.
What’s your set up for keeping things warm? Fondue pot? Warming tray?
I ordered two chaffing dishes and sterno that should arrive today. I can do one tray of hot appetizers at a time throughout the evening, too.
Excellent. I like a baked Brie…
I bought a whole brie and I’m thinking of baking it, or putting it on the charcuterie platter.
What time should I be over?
😆
I love appetizers for dinner! I also have a crockpot meatball recipe that’s really good. I believe it’s grape jelly and barbecue sauce? I think that’s all. It’s delicious.
I’ll try that too!
I have had meatballs with BBQ sauce and grape jelly, as Wroter MaPherson has suggested. That are delicious. We’re Polynesian, so we aren’t as apt to have BBQ meatballs at our parties, but it’s hard to beat the deliciousness and simplicity of a crockpot full of meatballs and Yoshida sauce. (It’s a brand- a teriyaki sauce)
Thank you for the suggestion!
I agree with your husband. I’ve been getting some bacon wrapped scallops from Target and having them for dinner but used them as appetizers at Christmas.
That sounds really good!
easy too. Pop it in the oven and let it go. When I use it for dinner, I add some Healthy Pasta, spinach and Alfredo sauce.
Appetizers are the best. You get to try a little bit of everything. Years ago, we used to have “Appetizer Night” every few months with neighbors. Everyone would bring their favorite and copies of the recipe. That way, we all got to test them and, if we liked them, take home the recipe. Hmmmm… maybe we need to do that again.
That sounds like a fun idea. Maybe I’ll try that in our neighborhood, once I’m through with this party.
I love wrapping the brie in crescent roll dough, baking as instructed on the crescent roll, and serve with sliced baguette. Also taquitos with El Torito Salad dressing! Delic…C
Yum! Thanks for the suggestions.