The foremost thing that is to be done when you host a party is to decide the appetizers. These are some easy-to-make and tasty appetizers for a crowd. Appetizer recipes must be such that they require less preparation time, so that you will get more time to do the other preparations for your party.
The number of appetizers, served as a party foods, are totally dependent on the number of people invited. It is also dependent on the time when you are planning to serve these appetizers. If you have decided to serve the dinner one or more hour after the appetizers, you must increase the number of appetizers per person.
If your party is a more of a casual type, more number of appetizers per person must be considered, because in such parties, appetizers are the center of attention. On an average, you must calculate four appetizer pieces per person.
Party appetizer recipes also include beverages and two or more types of drinks can be served. On an average approximately 500 ml of a drink is consumed by a single person in the party.
►Easy Appetizer Recipes
Bruschetta
Bruschetta is an Italian recipe that can be easily prepared, when you are busy with the other party arrangements. The best part is that the preparation time for this recipe is very little, and yet bruschetta make absolutely yummy appetizers!
Procedure For Making Bruschetta
Ingredients •12 slices of small Italian or French bread, toasted •3 large tomatoes (chopped) •1 tablespoon olive oil •3 tablespoons chopped fresh basil •¼ teaspoons salt
♨ How to Make ♨
Do not be intimidated by the Italian name, bruschettas are very easy to make! Add tomatoes, oil, salt and basil in a bowl and marinate it for four hours. It is advisable not to refrigerate this mixture, because tomatoes may lose their original taste. With the help of a slotted spoon, layer the bread pieces with this mixture and serve them immediately.
Chili Cheese Toast OR Chips
The main ingredient of this recipe is the dip - it has to be of the right consistency and flavor.
Whether served with tortillas, or bread-toast, if the dips isn't right, it won't taste good! However, once the dip is ready, you may either spread it on toasted bread and serve, or you may serve the dip along with tortilla chips of assorted flavors.
Procedure For Making Chili Cheese Toast OR Chips
Ingredients •12 slices of small Italian or French bread, toasted •1 pack of tortilla chips •1 can of chili (with no beans) •2 packs of cream cheese •1/2 cup of grated cheddar cheese •1/2 cup of chopped green onions
♨ How to Make ♨ Like I said before, the preparation goes only into making the dip, and here's how. Combine the cheese, cream cheese and chili in a bowl and keep it in a microwave oven. Keep the mixture in the oven for about ten minutes.
When the mixture becomes bubbly, remove it from the oven and add the green onion and stir the mixture to mix it properly. Serve immediately with either toasted French bread or assorted tortilla chips.
Guacamole Recipe
A traditional Mexican recipe, this one is bound to leave your guests licking their fingers!
The typical flavor of a Guacamole comes from the mashed avocados that go into it. The best part about this one is, you can easily use ingradients like fresh tomatoes, red onions, chili, or even yogurt, and any of the different varieties of seasonings to spice it up and add a special flavor to the recipe.
Procedure For Making Guacamole
Ingredients •3 avocados, peeled, pitted and mashed •2 small tomatoes (diced) •1 lime, juiced •1 teaspoon salt •3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro •1 teaspoon minced garlic •1/2 cup onion diced
♨ How to Make ♨
Take a medium-sized bowl and combine avocados, lime juice and salt together and mix this mixture with the help of a fork. Add tomatoes, onion, cilantro and garlic to this mixture. Keep it in the refrigerator if desired. Otherwise serve immediately with chips. Veggie chips dipped in this rich and creamy guacamole can be a perfect appetizer for a crowd.
Party Cheese Balls
Everybody likes starters that are yummy and yet NOT messy.
Hence, it will be a very good idea to have at least one starter recipe on your table, that can be easily picked off the plate (by means of a tooth-pick or a fork) and popped into your mouth! Party Cheese Balls make for one such recipe. It is also very easy to make!
Procedure For Making Party Cheese Balls
Ingredients •2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese •2 cups shredded cheddar cheese •2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce •1 tablespoon each of finely chopped onion, pimento and green pepper •1 pinch salt •1/2 cup finely chopped pecans-style
♨ How to Make ♨
First, soften the cream cheese. Mix the softened cream cheese and cheddar cheese in a bowl. Add green pepper, onion, Worcestershire sauce and salt to the cheese mixture. Shape this mixture into a ball with your hands.
In a dish, spread the chopped pecans so that they form a thin layer in the dish. Now, gently roll this ball on the layer of chopped pecans. Refrigerate overnight.
Choco Chip Cheese Balls
No ensemble of party starters can be complete without a single starter that has chocolate as one of its ingredients!
Choco Chip Cheese Balls are the perfect recipe that play with your taste buds - with the chocolate chips adding to the 'sweet' taste, while the cheese providing the 'salty' taste to the recipe. They will especially be a hit among the kids!
Procedure For Making Choco Chip Cheese Balls
Ingredients •1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese (softened) •1/2 cup butter •1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract •3/4 cup confectioners' sugar •2 tablespoons brown sugar •3/4 cup miniature semi-sweet chocolate chips •3/4 cup finely chopped pecans-style
♨ How to Make ♨
Take a medium-sized bowl and beat butter and cream cheese until it becomes smooth. Add sugar, brown sugar and vanilla extract along with chocolate chips. Refrigerate the mixture for about two hours. Make a ball out of this chilled cheese, cover it with plastic and again refrigerate it for one hour. Before serving the cheese ball, roll it in chopped pecans.