Make-ahead appetizers?
My aunt is hosting a post-wedding get together for the out-of-towners, after her daughter's afternoon wedding (yes, she is crazy, but its' daughter #3 and there is no discouraging her from this plan). She's looking for some relatively easy cocktail nibbles she can make on Thursday and just heat up and and/or serve on Saturday evening. I'm coming up blank - what have you got?
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10 Comments:
Peppadew Peppers stuffed with Fresh Mozzarella Cheese.
Martini Me at 1:01PM on 09/25/09
Tortilla spirals. Mix together goat cheese, cream cheese, chopped basil, garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, black olives & pine nuts. Spread a tablespoon or two over a tortilla, top with another tortilla and another layer of filling. Roll, wrap tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate (or make ahead even sooner and freeze). Before baking, cut into spirals and brush the top of each spiral with a little of the oil from the sun-dried tomatoes.
This is something a little different that's always well received.
http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Dill-Cured-Pork-Crostini-with-Sweet-Mustard-Sauce-108220 They can be assembled in the kitchen for bite-size hors d'oeuvres or arranged on a platter for guests to put together themselves.
memt77 at 2:12PM on 09/25/09
Gougeres! they can be baked, bagged, and reheated. Pretty resilient little guys.
any sort of cold dip and crudites, hummus (always best when a few days old), refrigerator pickles, caprese skewers.
LiveToEat at 2:38PM on 09/25/09
Feel like I should offer something for those who seek similar inspiration.
Olive Cheese Spread
1 - 8oz pkg cream cheese, softened
1 stick butter, softened
1 jar Kraft Old English Cheese Spread
1/4 to 1/2 cup green olives, chopped
Mix all together well. Serve with french bread slices or breadsticks.
Our family also takes this on picnics, with a loaf of french bread, not that there is much picnic time left in the Midwest!
sarajane at 2:40PM on 09/25/09
Empanadillas! (Waaay easier to make than spell) - they can be made ahead and frozen until you need them. People love these things and even those who claim they are too full for a sandwich find some excuse to put one in their mouth. Plus they're festive and different!
8 oz bulk pork sausage
1 med onion, finely chopped
1 tsp chopped garlic
1/4 c finely chopped raisins
1/4 c finely chopped pitted green olives
1 tsp ground cumin
1 pkg frozen puff pastry
1 egg
1 tsp water
Heat oven 350. :Line a large cookie sheet with foil or parchment; spray with Pam.
In 10" skillet, cook sausage, onion and garlic over med high heat, stirring occasionally til sausage is no longer pink. Drain. Stir in olives, raisins and cumin.
On lightly floured surface, roll 1 sheet puff pastry into a 12x9" rectangle, then cut into 3" squares. Don't obsess.
Place 1 TBSP sausage mixture on each square. In small bowl, beat egg and water with fork til blended; brush on edges of squares. Fold pastry over to make triangles. Press with fork to seal. Place on cookie sheet. Repeat with all squares, then brush tops with remaining egg mixture.
At this point you can cover and freeze, then when the guests come pull them out and bake 20-25 minutes or til golden brown. Serve warm, piled on a beautiful platter. Makes 24 appetizers.
(I totally understand about her wanting to keep feeding the guests; my east European relatives are the same way and it's really just an extension of their love for everyone. Sit! Stay! Eat! Drink! Do it again! I love it.
moibec at 3:02PM on 09/25/09
-cocktail meatballs (crock pot)
-fruit and cheese tray, crackers
-cold cuts and sliced cheeses, assorted cocktail sized breads and rolls, -- butter, mustards
-nuts and other small nibblers
-salmon mousse or spread
-spinach dip or spinach artichoke dip (heat just before serving)
-stuffed mushrooms
-hot wings or bbq wings, reheat just before serving
-hummus and dippers (vegetables, pita crisps)
-smoked salmon, mini bagels and softened cream cheese
Spinach-&-Brie-Topped Artichoke Hearts
Prepare one 9-ounce box of frozen artichoke hearts according to package directions. Stir 1 teaspoon lemon pepper and 1/4 teaspoon salt into 2/3 cup cooked chopped spinach. Top each artichoke heart with spinach and a small slice of brie. Broil until cheese melts, 1 to 2 minutes. Makes 18 servings
Asparagus Fingers (These are awesomely delicious)
Asparagus, trimmed, steamed until bright green, yet still tender-crisp. Cooled. Spread a thin layer of herbed goat cheese, boursin or herbed cream cheese on prosciutto or very thinly sliced deli ham. Sprinkle with a very thinly chiffonade of fresh basil, roll up and chill. Serve whole or cut into bite size.
Cucumber Shrimp Bites
Cucumber slices topped with herbed cream cheese or dill spread and a cooked shrimp. Garnish with fresh dill sprig.
Steak-&-Boursin-Wrapped Bells (Use different colored bell peppers to make these pretty.) Roll thinly sliced grilled steak (or deli beef strip 1-1/2 inch wide, 1/8 inch thick), such as filet mignon, around a small dollop of light Boursin cheese and thin slices of bell pepper. Roll and secure with a pick. Chill until serving time.
CJ McD at 5:25PM on 09/25/09
When considering make-aheads, thing things that can be prepped and frozen too. Like mini quiches, spinach-sausage balls, cocktail meatballs, little phyllo dough triangles filled with spinach and feta or ground lamb, etc.
Quesedillas can be prepped ahead and heated right before serving.
Don't forget an assortment of cookies, brownies and small slices of sweet or nut breads too.
Found some nice make ahead and freeze appetizers here:
http://www.recipelink.com/mf/9/1468
CJ McD at 5:34PM on 09/25/09
One little word...
Costco.
Seriously. I'm normally a big ol' fan of showing people how yummy homemade appys can be, but really... it's right after a wedding. Her own daughter's wedding. She's gonna be bushed. Her guests will be bushed. And they'll presumably have done nothing but snack (and possibly drink) at the reception. So, if they're even hungry, they probably won't care where the heck the snacks came from.
Costco's refrigerator and freezer sections both have some very acceptable snacks, small plates, appetizers, etc. Also, try Trader Joe's for similar items.
Seriously.
RouxTheDay at 7:02PM on 09/26/09
Roux, I totally agree with you, but she's determined and only asked me for some suggestions. She did say she had all day Thursday set aside for said task and has some help in the form of her daughters and friends.
Trader Joe's and Sam's are on the radar, alas I am a Costco minion and cannot advise her there.
Excellent suggestions, everyone, as usual.
sarajane at 8:49PM on 09/26/09
Anything that can be assembled in advance and baked just before. I really never buy puff pastry, but people love it and it's great for baked canapes. The pastry rises around whatever you put on it, making a little cup. I recently made a very simple canape using puff pastry cut into small circles, brushed with pesto and topped with a little sliced grape tomato, and goat cheese.
Similarly, she could also make a kind of cheesecake dessert canape with puff pastry topped with a cream cheese, sugar and egg mixture and a dollop of jam.
Dips are always great to make in advance because the flavors meld in the fridge.
yayfood at 9:10PM on 09/26/09