From the name alone, appetizers make known its intentions—to tempt the appetite in the beginning of a meal. Usually, they are easy to eat, light, and come in bite-size pieces. Appetizers are also known as finger foods and hors d’ouveres, served while guests wait in a reception or attend a cocktail party.
Dips made from soft and cream cheeses, yogurt, sour cream, beans, and vegetables are crowd-pleasing appetizers. They lend a flavorful base and texture for plain crackers, bread toasts, and crudités (vegetable sticks such as carrot, courgette, jicama, beets, and turnips). Try the beer and cheese dip as well as the Christmas cheese in this collection.
Fried finger food, thoughtfully served with a table napkin to hold the grease, is another classic appetizer. Many ingredients can be made into deep-fried delights, which are usually battered and dipped in egg then cooked to a crisp. Try the cheese sticks using good melting cheese like mozzarella or your favorite cheese. Cut into sticks, the cheese are encased in a bread crumb shell that opens to a melting, chewy core.
Vegetables also make for interesting fried finger foods, providing your guests with little pockets of nutrients. Onion rings, cauliflower, potatoes, and spinach are some of the vegetables you can use for deep frying. Add a little bit of surprise by deep-frying squash blossoms as well as the crusty peach flower in this collection, especially when these blooms are in season. For those who may want a bit of protein, chicken tenders, crab cakes and pork cutlets are perfect finger foods.
Mini sandwiches and canapés may be served for afternoon tea but they also function well as dainty appetizers. They are pleasing to look at when arranged on a platter and even more delightful to eat.
