Creating an Appetizer Feast

If you've read any of my other articles, then you know I love to entertain. I also love to give tips to make entertaining easy, as this is appreciated even by those of us that love to wow our guests as a hobby. I'm certainly no Martha Stewart, but I am a work from home mom who values her time and needs to multitask and get things done quickly and easily. That being said, I started thinking about what I'm going to do when we host a party next weekend. Sure we could do a barbecue or a more formal dinner, but why? When you think about it, most people eat appetizers and are then so full that they only graze or pick at their entree. I've done it before and I'm going to do it again--a full meal of appetizers galore. People love it as they can pick at the food all night, but never have to have that overly full feeling.

Dips go along way and are usually quite easy to make. Go for a vegetable dip and keep it simple by just using sour cream with dry vegetable soup mix. Then do the same for an onion dip, there are some great dry onion soup mixes out there that I use for this purpose and also for recipes. Serve vegetables (think carrots, cucumber, peppers, etc.), cut up pita, and crackers of a wide variety--these can be the basis for these dips and others on the table, Keep it simple and be prepared by keeping a family sized box of crackers in the house, we always have Wheat Thins and Triscuits for entertaining.

A couple of hot appetizers always impress and if you prepare them ahead of time are super easy. Prepare something to spread on party sized breads like a pesto spread (sun-dried tomato pesto with mayo, garlic, and Parmesan cheese), then just spread on the party breads and pop in the oven until golden. You could also prepare an artichoke dip (there are a million recipes out there) which for me is as simple as a brick of softened cream cheese, cup of mayo, cup of Parmesan cheese, and can of chopped artichokes. I swear that this one is a crowd pleaser every single time and it's so easy!

Cut up a variety of cheeses--you can either get fancy with your choices or keep it simple with cheddar, provolone, and Monterrey jack. These can be used with the crackers you already put out. Include some hummus that can go well with the pita, as well as a store bought or simple made spinach dip. Once you have the crackers out, you can pair up so many different dips with them and really make it look like you fussed and made a ton of food.

I always like to balance out the table with a few simple munchies like pretzels, mixed nuts, and even some simple candy like M&M's. It gives a nice balance and is easy for people to pick on while they talk away the evening. Finish off with some brownies or chocolate chip cookies and you've got a feast to impress the masses!

You don't have to go crazy to put out an appetizer feast that is sure to impress. With a bit of planning and preparation, this can be easy and make a nice spread for your guests. We always serve a signature cocktail or punch, along with beer and wine--you've got a perfect party for everyone!