Appetizers for Parties

Call them appetizers, starters, or hors d'oeuvres, they are a must at every party, and usually the best part of the meal. As a host your options are many, and you can decide what appetizers you want to serve based on the time and effort you want to spent preparing them. One of the best aspects of appetizer recipes is that most can be prepared a day before the occasion, pulled out and heated or baked before serving. Alternately, many can be served cold, so they can go straight from the fridge to the serving dish. These appetizer recipes are some of my favorites, which I'm sure your guests will relish.

Appetizer Ideas for Party

Spicy Meatballs
Ingredients

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 tbsp canola oil
• 1 pound ground pork
• 1½ tsp salt
• 1 cup plain bread crumbs
• 2 eggs
• ½ cup milk
• 1 chopped chipotle pepper in adobo sauce
• 2 tbsp adobe sauce (from can of chipotle peppers in adobo)
• ½ cup finely chopped onion

Directions

To prepare the meatballs, combine all the ingredients in a large bowl, except for the canola oil. Take small amounts of the mixture and roll it between your palms to create one inch meatballs. It may be easier to make the balls, if your palms are coated with oil. Warm a tablespoon of oil in a Dutch oven over medium heat. You can saute a few meatballs at a time, or saute them one at a time, whatever you are comfortable with. Keep turning them till they are a deep brown and cooked through, which should take about 4 to 5 minutes. Use paper towels to soak up the excess oil. Serve with dip of your choice.

Mini Crab Cakes
Ingredients

• 1 (8 oz) fresh lump crabmeat, drained
• 2 large eggs
• 3 whole grain white bread slices
• 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
• ⅓ cup light mayonnaise
• 1 tsp Old Bay seasoning
• 3 green onions, thinly sliced
• Salt to taste
• Vegetable cooking spray
• lemon slices
• Garlic-Chive Sauce

Directions

Check the crabmeat for bits of shell. Tear the bread slices into small pieces and put in blender/food processor, until you have 1½ cups of fine crumbs. Combine the mayonnaise, Old Bay seasoning, Worcestershire sauce and onion in a bowl, and then add the breadcrumbs, crabmeat and salt to it. Separate the mixture into 16 portions, and form each portion into a cake. Coat a nonstick skillet with cooking spray and cook a few cakes at a time, for about 4 minutes on each side. Cook on medium-low heat till the cakes are golden brown and cooked through. Garnish with lemon slices and serve with Garlic-Chive Sauce.

Pineapple Shrimp
Ingredients

• 12 jumbo shrimp, deveined
• 12 wooden toothpicks
• ¼ fresh/canned pineapple cut into bite sized chunks

Directions

Spray a nonstick skillet with cooking spray and heat the skillet. Push a piece of pineapple into the natural curve of the shrimp, and pass a toothpick through both to secure. After getting all 12 shrimp ready, put them in batches on the hot pan, and cook on both sides for about 3 minutes each. Your shrimp should turn opaque and firm. Remove and serve.

Chicken Caesar Salad Bites
Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons crushed Parmesan pita chips
• 1 (5 oz.) package shredded Parmesan cheese
• 2 tbsp fresh lime juice
• Parchment paper
• ¼ cup Caesar dressing
• 2 cups finely chopped cooked chicken
• Freshly ground pepper to taste
• ½ cup chopped arugula

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 °F. Line the baking sheet with parchment paper and put teaspoonfuls of Parmesan cheese on it, 1 inch apart. Bake the cheese for 10 - 12 minutes or till it melts and turns golden brown. While the cheese cools, combine the chicken, arugula, Caesar dressing and lime juice. Add freshly ground pepper to taste. Top the cooled cheese rounds with the mixture and drizzle with crushed pita chips. Serve.

These easy appetizers for party are sure to be a big hit with your guests. However if you are unsure, you can always try them on your family members first. Also, it is a god idea to prepare appetizers for parties a few hours in advance, and heat them up in the oven before serving.