I think there is “appetizer” as in snacks - veggies and dip, bowl of nuts, cheese and crackers ….and then there is “appetizer” in terms of more filling, including hot items, etc. -sort of a light grazing meal. So I think it depends what you’re looking to have.
I love charcuterie but it is not inexpensive. Good quality nuts, cheese, meats, olives - not a drop in the $ bucket!
And while it should go without saying, chose items that are easy to eat while standing or without utensils, etc. !
Beautiful!
Interesting how the presentation adds so much to the dish.
The whole spread was created by the mom of the junior realtor who does this “for fun.” I’m sure she got a modest compensation for the materials but it was just very pretty and surprising—nicest plating I’ve ever had at any open house.
Here is a VERY easy one.
Ingredients
1 block of cream cheese
A jar of apricot jam
Some horseradish
Mix the apricot jam and add horseradish to taste. Put the block of cream cheese in the center if the plate, and put the jam mixture spread on top of it.
Surround with wheat things!
It’s delicious and very easy.
I do this too, but I put hot pepper jelly (my own) on top.
Hot pepper jelly works too…and is a lot easier.
Do you only want finger food type things? Sometimes I think that is more work. What about doing three kinds of salads and some bread? A fruit salad, a pasta salad (maybe a tortellini salad), and a green salad (or maybe a broccoli salad).
While I think the presentation of many of the things suggested and pictured is lovely (the little cups and skewers) and they are easy for guests to pick up, I personally find some of those types of things difficult to eat. Fork friendly salads seem easier to me.
So could be, “Salads, Sips, and Smooth Jazz - In honor of Jane Doe’s Service”
After hosting a bridal shower last spring, the other woman who also prepared finger food apps commented that an actual lunch would have been easier–far less labor intensive.
I tend to keep things simple grapes, other fruit, vegetables, hummus, cheese. I usually have a some gluten free stuff (labeled) and make sure I have things for the vegans and vegetarians. Things you can eat with one hand and have a drink in the other. We also make sure now that we have a wide variety of non-alcoholic drinks - zero beer or hop water, interesting flavored seltzer etc. In my fancier days I’d use puff pastry shells and fill them with sweet and savory things.
A friend brought this over last night and I would have never guessed it was those ingredients. Very different from when you spread the jelly over a cream cheese dip. Really, really good.
She served with crackers, bagel chips, raw veggie dippers
Sounds delicious, except:
He suggested eating them with Bugles
Big no to Bugles. Fritos, OTOH…
Definitely stealing this! 
Me too!
I’ve perfected my deviled egg recipe. Big thing is cooking the eggs in the Instant Pot. Shells just slide off.
I start with this recipe: Million Dollar Deviled Eggs (I add a bit more mayo and a little less mustard).
Pipe the filling using this: https://a.co/d/goVzlcu and they come out so pretty!
Now I’m required to bring them to parties, and it’s always the first appetizer to be finished.
Delish requires a subscription. Any chance you can c&p the wonton cups recipe? Very interested! Thank you!
Copying came up with weird gobblegook interspersed so I did screen shots. It was my last free article!
Peanut Chicken Wonton Cups
YIELDS: 24
PREP TIME: 20 mins
TOTAL TIME: 35 mins
I made these sausage bites that I served with a good mustard or hot honey dip and they were a big hit.
I made these for a Xmas party I had – totally make ahead – they were tasty! Smoked Salmon Appetizer Bites
