Secrets to Selecting the Best Appetizers For Your Event

You are planning your big event and it is time to select what appetizers you want to serve. There are so many to choose from... how do you ever decide? Do you go for healthy or ethnic? What about those appetizers you know are not good for anyone's health but they taste so good?

When you are choosing your appetizers, of course the first consideration is your budget. You may have caviar tastes and a hot dog budget. Luckily, there are so many appetizer recipes out there to choose from that you should be able to find several that will please you and your guests. Label each dish so any guests that have food allergies know which ones to avoid and which ones to enjoy.

There are so many types of appetizers. You can focus on a type of ingredient such as poultry, seafood, or cheese as a theme. For poultry, you could find recipes for small chicken quesadillas, chicken dumplings, or small kabobs. Seafood may inspire you to make bacon wrapped scallops or shrimp, crab cakes or seafood dumplings. Perhaps you want to provide several different types of finger sandwiches.

If you are looking for meatless appetizers, perhaps you would prefer asparagus rollups, filo dough filled with feta cheese and olives or a quick mushroom quiche. If you do not want to use animal products at all, try vegetable dumplings, potato puffs, and vegetable spring rolls. They are delicious!

Puff pastry is one of the great conveniences available in your freezer section at the market. Use them to make beef and mushroom turnovers, tiny beef Wellingtons, or cheese straws. You can even use it to enclose a wheel of Brie topped with delicious caramelized onions. Use it with little smoky sausages to create tiny hot dogs, forming the bun out of the pastry. Alternatively, you can form little pastry cups and fill them with seasoned chicken, sundried tomatoes or any other filling your heart desires.

If you want to wow your guests with your imagination, fill up tiny dishes with a scoop of spaghetti topped with a lone meatball. They will be amazed. If you like the cutting edge, try encrusting a chicken tender with pecans and serving it on a skewer with a sweet mustard sauce. Sliders are an extremely popular appetizer. These tiny burgers are topped with all your favorite burger fixings.

All these appetizer ideas should give you some great recipes. You can also use a single cuisine to create a party theme such as Mexican or Asian appetizers. A table full of empanadas, mini tacos and salsa with chips gives your guests plenty to eat. Likewise, you can set up a table of spring rolls, potstickers, samosas, and satay to satisfy your guests. For a unique Asian quick appetizers, try wrapping up a crispy water chestnut in apple smoked bacon. Yum!

In the end, it does not matter what appetizers you choose. Your guests will love whatever you make. Try to make most of them ahead of time so all you need to worry about before the party is reheating. You will be able to enjoy your guests and your party.

Medieval Appetizer Recipes

For the well-to-do, medieval meals were made of several courses. Displaying extravagance was very important to show others how well off you were. The main course was usually a very elaborate dish. Quick appetizers were often served between courses or at the end of a meal.

Appetizers could be sweet or savory. Meatballs were popular. They could be served in normal ball shapes or sculpted into hedgehogs or fruit. Mini pies could be made with custard or they could be savory. These tiny pasties could be filled with mushrooms, meat or eggs and bacon like a quiche.

Medieval appetizers were also very popular at tourneys and hunting parties. Each lady would have her tent set up for her comfort and convenience. She would have finger foods prepared by her cook to serve to those friends who dropped by. Again, the primary reason was to impress them with their extravagant nature, not really to feed her visitors. Using imported cheeses, wines and spices made her look good in front of all her contemporaries.

Diners were expected to bring their own cutlery, which consisted of a knife and spoon. Forks were not used until the 1600s. If you want to plan a medieval meal of your own, serve your guests with trenchers. A trencher was a deep slice of bread with the center scooped out to form a bowl. The trenchers were filled from the dishes of food served for each course. The most important people got the freshest trenchers. Servants, the poor, and the animals got the leftover trencher portions not eaten by the family and guests. Leftover meat and fruit would be saved for the next day's breakfast.

   

Recipe for Pumpes

Meatballs were often served between courses as an appetizer for the next course. While this recipe is for beef, you can also substitute pork or any other ground meat that you prefer. Serve these with toothpicks at your own parties to impress your guests, just like the medieval ladies of olde.
What You Need
For the meatballs:

• 1 pound ground beef
• 2 egg yolks
• 1/4 cup currants
• 1 Tablespoon sugar
• 1/8 teaspoon pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon mace
• 1/4 teaspoon cloves
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Pinch saffron

• 4 cups beef broth
• 1/4 cup red wine

For the sauce:

• 2 cups almond milk
• 1 Tablespoon rice flour
• 3 Tablespoons sugar
• 1/8 teaspoon mace
• 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon

How to Make It

Mix your ground beef with the egg yolks, sugar, currants, and spices. Form into small balls measuring about an inch in diameter.

Boil broth and wine. Add the meatballs and boil until done; approximately 15 minutes. Remove the meatballs from the broth and set them in a serving dish.

Using a separate pan, mix the almond milk, rice flour, sugar, and mace. Bring the mixture to a boil and reduce the heat. Let it simmer over medium until it thickens. Pour sauce over the pumpes (meatballs) until it just coats them. Serve hot.

The Ancient Amazing Dish From Minangkabau in Indonesia

Have you ever heard about 'Rendang'? Indonesian, Malaysian and Singapore must be familiar with this food. As a main course, Rendang hold out from many hundred years ago. So, what is 'Rendang'? and what is made from?


Rendang is a dish originated from Minangkabau (one of the ethnic from Sumatra Island in Indonesia) made from mostly beef, but can also chicken, duck or buffalo. This food is really important and it is often served on the ceremonial occasions, wedding celebration and honored guest. The dish will not be complete without Rendang. But it is not everyday beef dish because it is special. Not every beef Rendang are made exactly the same taste; it depends on who made it.

   

The main recipe, except beef, is milk squeezed from coconut which is cooked and stewed the meet with low heat so as to dry up and become golden and drier. There must the exclusive spices for made this from Minangkabau. Spending at least three hours to make it mixed each other and this food is so aromatic from the beef and spices.


Actually, there are two types of Rendang; the dried and the wet one. The dried Rendang can be saved for 3-4 months. There will not the different taste if you warm it up at least once for three days. While the wet one, called Kalio can be saved for 1 month with the same way of keeping. It usually is eaten with rice or ketupat.
So, can you imagine how flavorful beef Rendang is? Be sure that this is one of the unforgettable tastes from ancient origin Indonesian food. This is a dish for people who have high appetite in spice of food. Are you interested to taste it for your Asian quick appetizers?

Premade Items for a Quick Appetizer

Too many of us have little time to sit down and actually prepare a large number of party food appetizers for an event that we are hosting. That does not mean you need to turn to catering, there are some different things you can do that will give you a quick fix, without having to invest too much money into the process. It is as simple as mixing together items that are already prepared.

For example, if you want a quick and easy dip, you would simply need to take some processed cheese and chili and quickly heat them up and serve the dip hot. The goal here is being able to get some party food appetizers on the table and get back to mingling with the guests. There is no need to spend more than a few minutes creating any of these delicious items either.

  

Another great appetizer that is really easy to make is meatballs. Toss them in a Crockpot with a little chili sauce and grape jelly and let it simmer over the course of a few hours. When it is time to feed your guests, simply throw a toothpick in them and serve them hot.

Of course, you will always be able to do the quick and cracker and cheese platters if you find that you are pressed for time at any point. What you will want to be sure of is that these items are arranged in a manner where neither the crackers of the cheese pick up the flavors of the other items.

Do not feel bad about taking the premade route for your appetizers either. Since you are pressed for time, locating recipes for party food appetizers that allow you to make these quick appetizers is a great way to save time, yet win over the defined tastes of your friends. In fact, there is a good chance that most people you share your food with will have no idea that you combined these items.

Keep in mind that there are some things you can do to help cover up the fact that you use premade items if you want to put a little effort into the process. For example, you can garnish the dish with fresh parsley or other herbs and it will give them the look and feeling that you made them fresh for your guests.
No matter what dishes you make, just be sure that you put some effort into them. Even when you are combining ingredients quickly, taste will still be a factor. Take small samples and adjust the dish until it tastes remarkable and impresses your guests. The process is simple and will result in some amazing dishes being created and your guests will always thank you for the quality.

Top-Rated Baked Chicken Preparations

Just envisage the juicy and crispy baked chicken. This thought is sufficient to tickle your taste buds. Who wouldn't enjoy this? I've found very few individuals who do not take pleasure in chicken recipes and particularly baked one. Chicken is a versatile meat and it could possibly be added in any form at the time of preparing food. Baking is one this kind of process that provides the best out of chicken. This method not only creates the outer layer of the meat crispy but also creates the meat succulent and damp from inside.

Though baking is a relatively quick method, but it must be done with perfection and even more precision. Inappropriate heat may ruin your chicken preparations as chicken will get dried up very quick if overdone. Ideal baked chicken is one of many highly famous dishes served in any dining and it can be inculcated in many supplementary preparations as an ingredient. Listed below are some very popular baked chicken recipes:
Southwest Chicken pie - This is a time-tested baked chicken recipe with Southwestern technique of cooking. Shredded chicken is seasoned with herbs, garlic powder and cumin. Black beans, cheddar cheese, olives, cream and mushroom are the other components that give an increased punch to the recipe. All the foodstuffs are mixed together and stuffed in the pie crusts and baked until pie outer layer is crunchy.

  

Tuscan Chicken - This is one of the simplest baked chicken recipes. It calls for very few food items with chicken. Mushroom, orange zest and olive oil are the few ingredients which are tried to adorn this recipe. Use boneless, skinless chicken for enhanced cooking. Simply toss the chicken and mushrooms in the mentioned ingredients along with onion and herb combination in two different bowls and place for baking. While serving, dollop the mushrooms on top of the chicken.

Monteray Chicken - It is a time-tested chicken dish with the savors of bell pepper, onion and mushrooms. Cheese is added for added opulence. Chicken is first preserved in teriyaki sauce and subsequently baked till the time fully done. The veggies are sautéed in butter with bacon lengths and supplementary add-ons. While dishing up, the chicken is topped with the bacon and vegetable mixture and served with crumbled cheese.

Try this one now for your baked quick appetizers.

Great Easy Appetizers

Easy quick appetizers will help make your party a success. This does not mean they have to be cheap tasting or bland. You can make simple appetizers a day or two before your party from real ingredients that not only taste great, your guests will be impressed when they see them on the platter.

You may be shaking your head at this idea, but it is true. Serve some of these delightfully easy appetizers for parties, dinners, or holiday gatherings. Your family and friends will love the food and you will feel great. Why not try toasting pecans with a honey chipotle sauce or make some fancy olive tapenade to serve with crackers or toast points? These appetizers look like a professional made them and they deliver big on flavor.

Finger foods are fun for all ages, so why not make them look as great as they taste? Dips, baked brie, and so many other tasty foods are just waiting for you to make them. Take baked brie, for instance. There are many ways to serve this tasty, melted cheese. Top it with cranberries or nuts and Kahlua. Savory toppings also taste great wrapped with the cheese in puffed pastry. Try making these simple appetizers and see what you think. A trial run is a great way to test out recipes. Make some for a movie night that you can enjoy while you try them out.

Recipe for Baked Brie Topped with Caramelized Onions

 

This savory combination is delightful served with baguette slices, crackers, or crudites.
What You Need

• 2 Tablespoons butter
• 8 cups sliced onions (4 large onions)
• 1 Tablespoon fresh thyme, minced
• 4 garlic cloves, chopped
• 1/2 cup dry white wine
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 8-inch French Brie
• 2 French baguettes, sliced

How You Make It

 Place butter in a large cast iron skillet over medium heat. Add onions and saute until they are tender; about 6 or 7 minutes. Keep stirring them so they do not burn. Add the thyme and reduce the heat to low. Stir frequently, for about 25 minutes. Add garlic and let it saute a couple of minutes. Add 1/4 cup of the wine, stirring until it almost evaporates. Sprinkle onions with sugar and continue cooking for around ten more minutes. Add the remaining wine, again stirring until it almost completely evaporates. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Let the onions cool. (This portion of the recipe can be made up to two days ahead of time and kept in the refrigerator.)

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Unwrap your Brie. Carefully cut away the top of the rind, leaving the rest intact. Place the Brie on a baking sheet covered with parchment. Spoon onion mixture on top of the Brie. Bake until the cheese begins to melt; about half an hour.

Remove Brie from the oven. Lift it by the parchment paper and transfer it to a platter. The paper can be trimmed once the cheese has been moved. Surround it with slices of baguette and serve warm.

Best Appetizers For Your Event

You are planning your big event and it is time to select what appetizers you want to serve. There are so many to choose from... how do you ever decide? Do you go for healthy or ethnic? What about those quick appetizers you know are not good for anyone's health but they taste so good?

When you are choosing your appetizers, of course the first consideration is your budget. You may have caviar tastes and a hot dog budget. Luckily, there are so many appetizer recipes out there to choose from that you should be able to find several that will please you and your guests. Label each dish so any guests that have food allergies know which ones to avoid and which ones to enjoy.

There are so many types of appetizers. You can focus on a type of ingredient such as poultry, seafood, or cheese as a theme. For poultry, you could find recipes for small chicken quesadillas, chicken dumplings, or small kabobs. Seafood may inspire you to make bacon wrapped scallops or shrimp, crab cakes or seafood dumplings. Perhaps you want to provide several different types of finger sandwiches.

    

If you are looking for meatless appetizers, perhaps you would prefer asparagus rollups, filo dough filled with feta cheese and olives or a quick mushroom quiche. If you do not want to use animal products at all, try vegetable dumplings, potato puffs, and vegetable spring rolls. They are delicious!

Puff pastry is one of the great conveniences available in your freezer section at the market. Use them to make beef and mushroom turnovers, tiny beef Wellingtons, or cheese straws. You can even use it to enclose a wheel of Brie topped with delicious caramelized onions. Use it with little smoky sausages to create tiny hot dogs, forming the bun out of the pastry. Alternatively, you can form little pastry cups and fill them with seasoned chicken, sundried tomatoes or any other filling your heart desires.

If you want to wow your guests with your imagination, fill up tiny dishes with a scoop of spaghetti topped with a lone meatball. They will be amazed. If you like the cutting edge, try encrusting a chicken tender with pecans and serving it on a skewer with a sweet mustard sauce. Sliders are an extremely popular appetizer. These tiny burgers are topped with all your favorite burger fixings.

All these appetizer ideas should give you some great recipes. You can also use a single cuisine to create a party theme such as Mexican or Asian appetizers. A table full of empanadas, mini tacos and salsa with chips gives your guests plenty to eat. Likewise, you can set up a table of spring rolls, potstickers, samosas, and satay to satisfy your guests. For a unique Asian appetizer, try wrapping up a crispy water chestnut in apple smoked bacon. Yum!

In the end, it does not matter what appetizers you choose. Your guests will love whatever you make. Try to make most of them ahead of time so all you need to worry about before the party is reheating. You will be able to enjoy your guests and your party.