Use Appetizers to Make a Good Party Great
These little bits of meat and bread play a big role in entertaining guests. Many get intimidated by appetizers and resort to serving the microwavable kind. After all merely saying hors d’oeuvre is hard enough. This is unfortunate because the right kind of appetizer can make a party fun and memorable for guests and hosts alike.
Begin by considering the kind of theme the party has: Italian, Asian, Southwestern? Then start searching cookbooks and online references for appetizers that will express these different cuisines.
Some Asian foods have transcended their origin and go well with just about any theme. Crab Rangoon – a fried treat of creamed crabmeat wrapped in wonton – is one of these universal appetizers. Making authentic Crab Rangoon can be too much for a beginner. The easiest part is making the filling. You just mix crab meat with cream cheese and add minced garlic and onions along with a splash of soy sauce.
Crab Rangoon – A Party Favorite
You have the filling all ready. What next? Wrapping it is where it gets a little tricky. Wonton is a Chinese wrapper similar to phyllo dough used in Greek classics like Baklava and spinach pie. It is thin and delicate so you have to be careful handling it. It comes from the store in pre-cut squares. To make one Crab Rangoon, take a spoonful of filling and put it in the center of the wonton. Spread it out but take care not to spill any off the edges. Moisten the edges with water and fold the wonton in half creating a triangle – think mini turnovers. Push the edges together to seal. Keep made dumplings covered with a moist paper towel or any clean cloth until you are ready to fry. These are guaranteed to come from the fryer GBD – golden brown and delicious!
Something Simpler…
For something a little simpler, you may want to try the Italian appetizer known as Bruschetta. This favorite is made by chopping together tomatoes and basil and then combining them with olive oil, garlic, salt and pepper in a small bowl. This mixture should stand for about 30 minutes. It is now ready to top a loaf of toasted French bread that has browned on both sides for extra crunch. Bruschetta is served warm, sometimes with Parmesan cheese added, for a delectable combination.
You can also serve exotic cheeses like Camembert and varieties of Brie along with crackers. For a healthier offering, serve crudits – sliced vegetables with dip, usually salad dressings or vinaigrette. But sometimes, even these get tired and that is the time to experiment.
Sweet and sour meatballs will wow even the most uptight of foodies. Start by combining simple hamburger meat with milk, salt, egg, breadcrumbs, onions and Worcestershire sauce. Make small balls – remember, these are appetizers – and brown them in a skillet. Set these aside as you prepare brown sugar, cornstarch, pineapple, vinegar and soy sauce. Combine all these on the same skillet you used to brown the meatballs. All the goodies left behind by the frying will add intense flavor to your sauce. When the sauce has reduced a bit, add back the meatballs. Chop a green bell pepper and add it in. Keep cooking for a while. Now, isn’t that simple? The sweetness of the brown sugar will play nicely with the vinegar and pineapple giving a unique burst of flavor.
Looking for ways to spice up your next party? Complete recipes for these and lots other adventurous appetizers can be found in cookbooks as well as over the internet. Go ahead; they are worth indulging in!
Michelle really is a season writer about household food preparation. The lady simply adores expressing her suggestions and tips about creating crock pot or perhaps pot roast crock pot recipes.
