You can make some pulled pork with rolls or meatballs, both are easy (and not expensivo). I like to offer something substantial whenever I have friends over and drinking is involved...

Have fun!!!!

There's a great thread on Recipe Exchange about party appetizers - some amazingly yummy ideas! : )

recipeexchange.tribe.net/threa...3c568f

Proscuitto and Spinach Pinwheels! I always roast the pepper myself, but you could save a lot of time by picking up some jarred roasted red pepper.

www.foodnetwork.com/food/rec...5,00.html

I did a party a few years ago where my guest that was suppose to bring the apps forgot. I busted out some tortillas and made a bunch of quesadillas. I did some with plain cheese, other's w/ cheese and salsa, chopped up deli ham and turkey, etc.

My huband is Argentine and it seems like all of the women make ham and cheese sandwiches on crossiants that are then heated up and cut in half. Best place to buy ingredients is at a Costco or BJ's.

Oh! Taco Wheel.

2 can Refrigerated crescent rolls
1 pounds Ground meat, turkey or chopped up chicken breasts.
1 pack Taco seasoning mix according to directions My fave is the Chipolte mix from Ortega.


1 cup Sour cream
8 ounce Cheddar cheese
½ cup Black olives; sliced
1 Bell pepper; (sits flat)
1 cup Mild salsa


Cook meat, drain, add taco seasoning and cook until liquid is absorbed. Add cheese. Arrange crescent rolls on a flat baking stone in a circle with bases overlapping in center and points to the outside - (unroll the crescent rolls and place the pointed triangle part on the stone overlapping each one) Spoon meat around in a circle and pull the square part of the crescent rolls over the meat, sealing it to look like a wreath. Bake at 375 for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown.

Take everything listed from sour cream on down and put in bowls for guest to dress up as they like.

This dish is AWESOME from a lot of stand points. You can sub your fave broccoli and chicken mixture or anything you can think of for the filling for that matter. But my fave part is that the day before the party you can cook up the meat and throw it in the fridge. Assemble and throw in oven as your guests start to arrive. And its pretty cheap for the most part.

Do you have a slow cooker? You can make all kinds of dips in it. Spinach & artichoke, Rotel Cheese Mess...

Tapenade's pretty easy, and olives are pretty cheap.

For cheap dippers, a bag of masa is a couple of bucks, add some water and make a ton of tortillas (plus it's gluten-free).

Tomorrow we're having a b-day/housewarming BBQ party and I'm making the following appetizers:

spinach and bleu cheese dip - I use the cook's illustrated recipe, but found there was too much parsley last time so will use 1/2 the amount and I'm omitting bacon for the veggie friends

jade hummus - someone posted the recipe here, it's "hummus" with edamame instead of garbanzo

coleslaw

baked beans - in the crockpot. with bacon (meat counter was closed so i couldn't get hamhock). my first time making this, hope it turns out! been soaking beans since last night

scotch eggs - hard boiled eggs wrapped in banger sausage, breaded and deep fried served with sweet hot mustard (all from scratch). not for the faint of heart


for the main course we've got a keg and beer butt chicken. can't wait for tomorrow!

Wine party! I love a nice crudité platter with a yummy cheese fondue!

Sliced ham wrapped around cantaloupe slices is good, with a toothpick through it to keep the ham from sliding off. Also, little salads on a stick: basil leaf, piece of mozzarella, and a grape or cherry tomato. Put a little olive oil on it for flavor.