Choosing and Preparing Appetizers for Your Dinner Party

One of the first impressions at any dinner party is the appetizer. But what do you serve, and how much? There are some simple considerations to take into account which will allow you to serve delicious appetizers, with enough for everyone.

Select a favorite recipe, or, try a new recipe at least one day before the event. It is great to have some never fail favorites, but if you do want to try something different, be sure to make a test batch beforehand. You don't want to be forced to serve a flop at the last minute. Trying a recipe beforehand will also allow you to make any necessary adjustments to baking times, ingredients, etc.

Include make-ahead appetizers. This way, you will only have to use last-minute preparation or heating before your event, leaving you more time to concentrate on other courses, or on greeting and mingling with your guests.

Make sure you have enough space for your appetizers. For cold appetizers, make sure you have enough fridge or freezer space. For warm appetizers, make sure you have enough room to warm the appetizers and keep them warm until they are served.

Choose appetizers with contrasting flavors, temperatures, and textures. Be sure not to serve appetizers which are all rich, spicy, or light. You can pair different types of appetizers to offer variety and color at your gathering.

Plan appetizers from different food categories. Different people have different tastes, and variety keeps things interesting. Try offering appetizers from different types like meats, cheeses, vegetables and breads.

Now that you've got some tips for planning your appetizers, here are some guidelines for planning how much to prepare:

For smaller gatherings, try to prepare 3 or 4 types of appetizers, if you have anywhere from 10 to 45 guests, aim for six different appetizers, and for over 45 guests, plan on eight types of appetizers

For cocktail parties, make 12 appetizers per guest. Hot appetizers tend to go the fastest, so be sure to provide plenty.

You can also keep extras in your freezer, or kept some ingredients on hand if you run out and need to make some quick appetizers. Some good options for quick appetizers include crackers, cheeses, nuts, candies, smoked meats, olives and vegetables with dip.

With these tips, you will be prepared to serve your guests an appropriate amount of delicious and beautiful appetizers. All you need to worry about from here is making sure the rest of the meal is just as good.