This might be fun as an appetizer. The frozen tiny "salad shrimp" in the grocery stores are inexpensive and one small bag is just the right amount for the recipe.

PARTY SHRIMP SPREAD

2 (8 oz.) pkg. softened cream cheese
1 cup cocktail sauce
1 1/2 cup cooked baby shrimp
1/3 cup chopped green onions
1/3 cup chopped green pepper
1/3 cup sliced ripe olives
1/3 cup diced fresh tomatoes, drained
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

On a pizza pan or large, flat round tray, spread the cream cheese evenly. Spread the cocktail sauce on top. Sprinkle the shrimp, green onions, green pepper, olives and tomatoes onto the cocktail sauce. Distribute the Parmesan cheese evenly over all the other ingredients so it looks like a pizza. Cover and chill until serving time. Serve as a spread with crackers.

if it's for pizza and beer I'd bring some raw veggies and dip.
Linda C

I'm thinking along the same lines as Linda, given what you just posted on conversations - veggies, or a salad. Congrats on the weight maintenance, keep up the good work, but pizza and beer = delicious calories!

Another vote for something veggie!
Cut the veggies into smaller "bite-sized" slabs for easy dipping in ranch, dill dip or whatever you like!

Another option might be a lighter dessert. Angel food cake with berries and whipping cream?!?!

I dunno.....dessert and beer just don't mix for me, but then the beer isn't something I drink anyway!

Have fun!
Deanna

My personal preference would be veggies or salad, but that's not fun. :)

What about buffalo/hot wings? or a fruit platter/skewers with vanilla yogurt sauce for dipping? (I love the recipe at cooks.com!) or brownies?! brownies go great with beer!

Here is a link that might be useful: Fruit w/ vanilla yogurt sauce

I was thinking something veggie because with beer and pizza the starch category is pretty well covered!! And probably the meat and definately the cheese category! I'm not a beer drinker so I don't know what desserts go good with beer. No one is going to want to fuss with eating salad but a veggie tray maybe, but that's so boring!! I have some leftover spinach so I'm almost thinking of doing spinach stuffed mushrooms that I could pop in the oven. Spinach phyllo turnovers would be good and FUN to eat but I'm not going to have the time for that!!
I was thinking some kind of brownies.
Also, I have a TON of carrots, since I accidentally got two big bags. How about carrot cake cupcakes. Does carrot cake go with beer??
Fruit skewers and yogurt dip sounds good to me with pizza.
Shrimp dip sounds good too, or a big platter of shrimp, but I'm not that flush, lol!

Carrots? Ruthanna's Marrakesh carrots. NOT muffins, very high calorie.

Edamame.

Jim

Oh he!!, L, I'm not any help at all. I detest pizza and I don't think anything goes with beer, I don't like beer either, LOL, so I'd be bringing my own supper!

How about hummus and fresh vegetables to dip? I really like celery with hummus.

Annie

I'd bring an unusual beer and/or wings.

For beer, I'd bring Allagash or Hoegarden (white) or Sam Adams Chocolate Bock (dark). For salad, spring mix and romaine, red onion, black olives, pepperoncini, tomatoes and a little feta with balsamic vinaigrette.

How about an antipasto platter? Heavy on the marinated veggies , olives and pepperocini pickles. Omit or add only a few cheeses. I'd omit the salamis altogether.

Maybe an alternative to beer for the non-beer drinkers? Some wine, maybe? Some good tea?

Actually, as for desert, it might be a good idea, since people *should* be slowing down on the drinking of beer towards the end of the party, and some desert with some tea or coffee could be good. Some people make fruit pizza. The one I've tasted was way too sweet, but if done right, it doesn't have to be so sweet. There's also chocolate pizza. Sorry, I don't have any recipes up my sleeve, but I don't think they would be difficult to make.

Sally

Something that always disappears at any party is deviled eggs. Pretzels and mixed nuts go fast too, and they go quite well with beer. As does Chex Mix. Hokey but TNT.

Brownies cut in tiny squares would work for me. I just want a little bite when I ever drink beer, not a whole plate full of some yummy but fattening treat.

Nancy

Given the casual theme (my fave!) I would bring chicken wings and dip or maybe a 7 layer mexican dip with chips. A shrimp or veggie tray would be good too and at the holidays the honey roasted cashews went fast..too fast...I didn't get enough!

Duane

Oh! What about the veggie pizza?
Crescent roll crust, cream cheese/mayo/dill "sauce" and lots of veggies chopped up small.
It's fun, sticks with the pizza theme and you could sneak in the lower fat rolls and cheese. No one will even notice!

Deanna

Just make the brownies.

Lots of great suggestions! When we have a pizza party at my office, we always order a huge antipasti salad (a big pan layered with lettuces, sliced tomatoes, pepperoni, pepperoncini peppers and lots of shredded mozzarella cheese.) Serve with a good Italian dressing. It's nice to have some vegies or salad along with pizza. You could also do garlic bread sticks.

I didn't make carrot cake because my recipe calls for applesauce and what applesauce I had was in the freezer, plus I didn't feel like grating all those carrots. I had the ingredients for making brownies on hand and had been meaning to make them for the holidays, so that's what I did. I was also going to bring a tray of crudites/antipasta with hummus but I ended up feeling under the weather with an infection so I just brought the brownies. Luckily I am not a huge brownie fan so I can resist overindulging on those.

Boy that turned out perfect! Somebody else brought hummus and crudities, and nachos with bean dip and salsa, and a big bowl of cut up fresh fruit. And lots of other stuff too but no dessert!

Glad that everything worked out good for the party, isn't it funny when we fuss and worry, then everything turns out just fine:)

Stacie

That's great, LPink. I hope you're feeling better.

Sally