If you go to allrecipes.com and type 'pumpkin fluff' into the search engine you will find a easy dessert type dish which is best served with cinnamon graham crackers (the 'sticks' work well if you can find them). It can be made several days in advance... put it in a empty pumpkin shell to serve if you like.

If you don't like pumpkin, 'Valerie's Fruit Dip' is easy and can be made ahead of time. It is so good that my nephews will just eat it right out of the bowl.. no fruit needed!

'Cowboy Caviar' which is a bean salsa served with tortilla chips can also be made a couple days in advance. I take this more than any other appetizer when i am invited to parties.

All of these recipes are at the site in the link.

If I think of more, I'll post again. My friends call me the 'Appetizer Queen'. lol

Here is a link that might be useful: All recipes

Pecan crescents that Glenda posted. I make them as bite sized cookies(have for years)..or a cheese ball, can both be made ahead. You could hard boil eggs ahead of time then make them into deviled eggs the night before...a raw veggie tray with ranch dipping sauce takes NO prep at all. Chips & salsa...set out seconds before guest arrival...

Heat a wheel of Brie in the oven at 350 for approx 10 minutes. Top with peach jam or marmalade and serve with crusty baguette slices. Really really good!

This has been a big hit on the Cooking Forum - I believe they freeze well.

Here is a link that might be useful: Sharon's Spanakopita

Sausage, cheese and crackers are always easy. Here is a hot bread recipe that can be prepared earlier in the day (except for the melted butter which needs to be added right before you pop it in the oven).

Here is a link that might be useful: Savory Party Bread

Meatballs! Make now and freeze until needed.

get a block of cream cheese and what ever topping you want, we have used from Tiger sauce to apricot preserves, to chocolate and caramel(ice cream toppers), put the block of cream cheese on a dish let it get to room temp, then pour your topping on top of the block serve with your fave crackers,as a spread, so good. I mean really cream cheese is good with anything!

One I use a lot that is very quick and you can partially prepare it ahead of time, buy some smoked sausage or kielbasa like hillsire farm or eckridge, slice it into bite size rounds (this you can do ahead of time and refridg) then when ready to use put those in a microwave safe bowl and microwave them for 10 mins then stir and microwave another 10 mins (it is fully cooked so you are basically heating it up and letting it release excess fat) drain off the liquid and pour a jar of sweet and sour sauce over it mix up well and heat another 10 mins, put out toothpicks to spear them with. You can also do it using a sweet bbq sauce.
Never have any left overs.
Smoked Sausage

Another one we love is that olive salad mix like they use on muffalattas you can buy it prepared in a jar.
take some of those little cocktail bread slices(mini loaves)
and spread the olive mix on them, melba toast works too. so simple.

I was going to suggest meatballs, too. You can serve either sweet and sour with green peppers and pineapple, Swedish with sour cream sauce, Greek with a lemon sauce, or Italian with a marinara sauce. There are all kinds of chicken appetizer you can make and freeze on a cookie sheet and put into plastic bag when frozen. Mini crab cakes can be made ahead and frozen. Just brush with butter and bake before serving. Spanakopita triangles can be made and frozen. Dips can be made a day or two ahead of time and served with crackers or crudites. A pkg. of Velveeta, a can of Rotel tomatoes and a can of refried beans mixed together takes as long as it takes to open a can and melt cheese and is a good dip with taco chips or Frito scoops. I'm making meatballs today for our Wine and Dine group meeting on Nov. 8th. Have a great time.

Dottie

I make a simple Mexican bean dip with a can of refried beans, a half a jar of salsa, and a handful of shredded cheese. Add a few shakes of chili powder and heat until it's bubbly, then serve with tortilla chips. If I have sour cream, I'll spread a layer of that on top after it's cooked.

This party sounds fun! I used to have an indoor Christmas carol party every year, complete with fancy appetizers and desserts and with dozens of candles around the house. I miss that.

Have you looked into "Our Recipes" lately, you may find somthing there.

Here is a link that might be useful: Our Recipes

Do you have a Costco or Sam's nearby? They have tons of different frozen appetizers you just heat up. I recommend "Pigs in a Blanket" because just about everybody likes those. And mini cheesecakes, mini chocolate eclairs (those are great, trust me), spanakopita, plus stuffed jalapenos. They have lots of other stuff, too. Their cheese trays look delicious as do the shrimp trays. If your freezer space is limited, it may be a problem.

Hope you have a great time at your party.

Bloody Mary Bites are good and different.

1 pint cherry tomatoes
vodka, to cover
coarse kosher salt

Turn this recipe into a puzzle! [click]

Directions:

The day before, peel the tomatoes by dipping in boiling water for 10 seconds then plunging into ice water. The skins will easily slip off. Place peeled tomatoes in a plastic container with a tight snap-on lid. Cover with vodka and refrigerate overnight.

Serve with a small dish of coarse, kosher salt for dipping. Don't toss the leftover vodka. It is flavored with the tomatoes and tastes delicious!

Instead of kosher salt, I use a mixture of lemon pepper and kosher salt for dipping. I also have had green onions and cocktail onions, on the side that everyone can can secure with cocktail picks.

Really a hit at parties.

I meant lemon pepper and CELERY SALT combined for dipping.

THANK YOU for all the great suggestions!! I don't know how I could have forgotten about the brie....I made that one two years ago for Christmas Eve at my daughter's house, and everyone loved it. I think maybe I'll try the cream cheese version this time to save money--especially since I quit my job. :-)

I haven't figured out which of the others I'll try, but I do know I'll save the Bloody Mary Bites for this Christmas Eve with my daughter. I don't think anyone I know has ever heard of them.

Yes, I have a Sam's, and yes, I have freezer space!

Joann, your Christmas Carol party is exactly what Jill and I used to do--except for the candles, which I love but am nervous about in this old house with its low ceilings and wood walls. This time I'm telling everyone they're allowed to sing anything but Christmas carols. I used to say my fortune was in sheet music. I have shelves full of song books of every type--except one that a friend is bringing: "Songs of Work and Protest." LOL

Another good appetizer is a pkg. of cream cheese, softened with a little milk, press in a 6" glass pie plate or on a small serving plate, top with some lump crab meat and then cocktail sauce. Sprinkle with green onions chopped small. Serve with triscuits. Easy and good.

Another easy but good appetizer...1 8 Oz. pkg. cream cheese softened with a little milk. Spread on serving plate, top with lump crab meat, top with cocktail sauce, sprinkle with green onions chopped small and serve with triscuits. Very easy but very good.

sausage rolls,or pigs in a blanket work up quickly and freeze well

Mini Party Pizza Variations and Spinach Balls both freeze well too.

Alisande, I don't have a recipe for you, at least not this early!, but do have another suggestion.

You say you are nervous about the candles. You can buy battery operated tea lights that you could put in any pretty container and have almost the same effect, without the open flame. They are not too expensive, tho you would need to buy extra batteries. But for special occasions they are great. And you don't need to worry about anyone bumping one and starting a fire.

Have fun. And sorry to hear you quit your job.

Tami

We were at a reception last week and one of the appetizers was simply a plate of assorted salamis thinly sliced served with Italian olives. We also had another plate with fresh basil leaves, sliced mozzarella and grape tomatoes. These 2 are so simple, they can be plated ahead and just stacked in the refrigerator and you don't even need silverware, just toothpicks. It's always handy to have a couple of items that don't need any last minute prep so you can concentrate on the warm hors d'oeuvres.

How many people do you think will come?

Tami, thanks for the tip. I do love the look of candles.

Maire Cate, it'll be small--about a dozen people, plus me.

My stove has a warming drawer, BTW. I've never used it, but I figure this will be my big chance! With any luck, I won't find a mouse in it. LOL

Along the lines of maire cate's idea... you could serve a lot of that stuff in a kabob form too... Anything from olives to fruit, to cheese and meats squares.

One a side note, I don't know if you're planning on serving alchohol, but you may want to consider offering a specific signature drink or even a make ahead non-alchoholic punch. I think a nice drink offering can really add to a party.

Here is a link that might be useful: Signature Drinks

Interesting link, Carla--thanks! Only Martha could come up with serving drinks in jelly jars.

I got excited when I saw the White Russians, remembering them from when I lived in NYC. But at the age my friends and I are now, I don't dare serve us heavy cream......we'd all be getting chest pains. :-)

This time around, I think I'll stick to wine and beer. My wine rack could use a transfusion, so I won't have to buy anything except a couple of bottles of white. (I tend to accumulate reds.) I love the signature drink idea, though, and look forward to trying it another time. My daughter had a party with cucumber mojitos one year. The fact that I still remember them says something!

These are OH-SO-GOOD! I have made these dozens of times and everyone loves them:

Tortilla rollups

These tortilla roll-ups are very popular, especially for holiday entertaining. Serve with salsa, Ranch dressing, sour cream, guacamole, or use your own favorite dip ideas.

Ingredients:

â¢5 large flour tortillas
â¢1 bunch green onions, chopped
â¢4 ounces chopped green chiles, drained
â¢8 ounces cream cheese, softened
â¢8 ounces sour cream
â¢1/2 pound Cheddar cheese, shredded
â¢salt and pepper to taste
â¢salsa, sour cream, guacamole, or your favorite dip ideas.

Preparation:

Have tortillas at room temperature. Place the remaining ingredients in a bowl mix with an electric mixer on low until well combined.

Spread mixture thinly and evenly over tortillas to within 1/8-inch of edge. Roll up jelly-roll fashion and wrap each tortilla in plastic wrap.

Refrigerate overnight. When ready to serve, slice in 3/4 inch rounds and arrange on serving plate. Serve plain or with salsa. Note: tortillas will dry out if cut too far in advance.

Serve with your favorite salsa or a few different dips, Ranch dressing, guacamole, sour cream, your choice.
Makes about 60 appetizers.

NOTES : These are good with crab meat or most any other meat, too!

I forgot to add:

I have used canned pie filling and cream cheese, too - YUM!

I'm making these this weekend for football watching

Mexican Munch

1 3-oz. can French-fried onions
3 c. bite-size shredded corn squares (CRISPEX)
3/4 c. Spanish peanuts
1 4-oz. can potato sticks
1/4 c. butter (or oil)
1 t. taco seasoning mix

In a 13x9x2-inch baking pan, combine onions, cereal, peanuts, and potato sticks. Melt butter over low heat; drizzle over mixture in baking pan and stir well. Sprinkle the seasoning mix evenly over mixture, mixing well. Bake in 300ðF oven for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Allow to cool. Makes about 8 cups.

I vote for the Tortilla roll ups recipe. I make those, pretty much the very same recipe. Called Appetillas.

Susan, check out the www.andesrecipes.com There are really some great things there. I made the Surprise Pillow Cookies last Christmas and they were so good... Hope your party goes well and you all have a terrific time..

Susie

I love those tortilla roll ups I always add the diced up black olives to mine or the olive mix you can buy in a jar.

Try to do something different besides the usual fare.....Everywhere we go I see the same old over used and over served appetizers......I just feel like walking away and getting something on the way home...

There has to be some new things out there in the world....

The one thing that I love is Bruschetta, done often yes but at least there are a million different toppings. and the toppings all look beautiful arranged around the bread.

If I were doing a party right now I would make some big sandwiches using a loaf of fabulous bread with all fresh ingredients...make a big Italian sandwich and slice it in nice finger sized sandwiches...or and of the wonderful deli sandwiches like ham and cheese and pastrami.....or corned beef ...buy big round loaves or something eye catching....guys appreciate an appetizer they can sink their teeth into and the big sandwiches look beautiful on the table....