Friday 24 July 2015

Simple & Traditional Appetizers & Finger Foods

Tempt guests' appetites with a vegetable tray.


When planning your party's appetizer menu, stick with simple and traditional snacks to please everyone on your guest list. You don't have to spend a lot of money or time in the kitchen to create finger foods that will satisfy party goers' appetites and palettes. Tried-and-true appetizers will never go out of culinary style. Add this to my Recipe Box.


Vegetable Tray


Vegetables make healthy and filling appetizers. Make an eye-catching vegetable tray by including a variety of colorful produce. Place a dip, such as ranch or hummus, in the center of the tray and arrange bite-size vegetables around it. Use bright red cherry tomatoes, carrot sticks, green, yellow and red bell pepper rings, purple cauliflower florets and cucumber slices to create a vibrant, well-rounded vegetable platter.


Mini Sandwiches


Mini sandwiches will satisfy guests' hunger pangs without ruining their appetites for dinner. When planning the mini sandwich menu, include both meat and vegetarian options. Tea sandwiches, which are traditionally filled with ingredients such as egg salad and cucumber and cream cheese, make elegant finger goods. Other sandwich fillings include tuna salad, curried chicken salad and ham and cheese. Cut the crusts off of the bread and slice the sandwiches diagonally for a decorative presentation.


Cheese Spreads


Savory cheese spread appetizers will allow guests to easily munch while they mingle. Create a tray filled with several types of cheese spreads, such as blue cheese, sharp cheddar and horseradish, port wine and garlic and herb-infused cream cheese. Serve the spreads with a variety of crunchy snacks, including pretzel rods, bagel chips and crackers.


Deviled Eggs


Deviled eggs are classic appetizers appropriate for any occasion. To create the finger foods, simply hard-boil eggs and scoop the yolks into a mixing bowl. Create a smooth and creamy filling by combining the yolks with mayonnaise, mustard, and salt and pepper to taste. Pipe the filling into the centers of halved egg whites using a pastry bag equipped with a decorative tip or a plastic bag with a snipped corner. Top the eggs with sprinkles of paprika or sliced black olives.

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