What would be a quick and easy meal for a Xmas cocktail party, (not snacks)?!
Answers: I hate to cook but I need to serve something besides snacks. its a late afternoon party
Finger foods/ Heavy Appetizers
Make it easy for people to eat. Lots of take with you finger foods....
Finger sandwiches:
Turkey with cheese with dijonaise
Ham with cream cheese and olives
Apple with sunflour seeds and cheddar
Roast beef with garlic aoili
Quiche: ( full size or mini)
Ham and Cheese
Broccoli and Cheddar
Bacon and Mushroom
Fruit Skewers
Veggie tray
Deviled Eggs
Bread Bowl with dip
Stuffed Mushrooms
Bacon Pasteries:
8 strips of bacon, cooked 3/4 C grated cheese
1 sm onion, chopped 1/2 C mayo
1 med tomato, chopped 1T Fresh Basil Chopped
1 Large can refrigerated biscuits( Flaky Style)
In a mixing bowl combine bacon, onion, tomato, cheese, mayo and basil. Seperate each biscuit into 2 to 3 layers and flatten slightly in your hand. Press the flattened section of biscuit into mini muffin pans. Spoon filling mixture into each biscuit. Bake at 375 for 15 minutes
Mushroom Puffs:
4 ounces cream cheese, cubed
1 can (4 ounces) mushroom stems and pieces, drained
1 tablespoon chopped onion
1/8 teaspoon hot pepper sauce
1 tube (8 ounces) crescent roll dough
In a blender, combine the cream cheese, mushrooms, onion and hot pepper sauce; cover and process until blended. Unroll crescent dough; separate into four rectangles. Press perforations to seal. Spread mushroom mixture over dough.
Roll up jelly-roll style, starting with a long side. Cut each roll into five slices; place on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake at 425° for 8-10 minutes or until puffed and golden brown.
French Onion Tartlets:
Olive oil cooking spray
12 very thin slices white bread, crusts trimmed (recommended: Pepperidge Farm)
2 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
2 large onions, very thinly sliced
1 bay leaf, fresh or dried
2 teaspoons ground thyme or poultry seasoning
Salt and black pepper
1 pound Swiss cheese, shredded
Heat oven to 350 degrees F.
Spray both sides of bread and press bread into small 12 cup muffin tin. If you do not own a muffin tin, disposable tins are available on the baking aisle of market. Place bread in oven and toast until golden, 7 or 8 minutes. Remove and reserve.
In a skillet, melt butter into oil. Add onions and bay leaf, season with thyme, salt and pepper. Cook onions until caramel colored, 15 to 18 minutes.
Turn broiler on.
Place spoonfuls of cooked onions in toasted bread cups. Discard bay leaf. Cover onions with cheese and set tarts under hot broiler to bubble and brown cheese. Serve hot
spag bol ... any pasta dish is quick n easy really ..or a curry just get the sauces for dishas were u only av to add meat n simmer or pasta
or a salad
I think I'm confused a little. If it's a late afternoon cocktail party, it seems that you should have light appetizers or bite sized foods. If you're looking for something a little more substantial add more protein to your party.
When I have a cocktail party I like to do a vegetarian option, a seafood option, a red meat or pork option and a chicken option.
For example, the last party I had I did stuffed mushrooms. It was really easy and can be made the night before. Simply stuff the mushroom with a high quality bleu or gorgozola cheese and top with a little bit of panko. Bake on 400 for about 10 minutes. If you want to get really fancy reduce some balsamic vinegarette by half and drizzle over the top. If you make these the night before just lay them on papertowel on a sheet pan and cover with plastic wrap. Right before you are about to bake remove the paper towels.
For my seafood option I did a simple shrimp cocktail, but instead of traditional cocktail sauce I did a chipotle aioli. Basically I put 1 chipotle pepper in a food processor with 1 cup of mayo. It was a hit.
For my red meat dish I toasted thin slices of french bread with a little garlic infused olive oil brushed on it. I topped it with a thin slice of medium rare tenderloin and a horshradish cream. Really easy. Everything except the toast can be made ahead of time. Just assemble the bites before your guests arrive.
For my chicken dish I simple cubed chicken breasts, seasoned with salt and pepper. Then I served it with a Thai peanut sauce, ranch dressing and dressed up bbq sauce. Just poke them with cocktail toothpicks. Easy as pie.
On the side I had a few dishes of gourmet olives, a few loaves of crunchy french bread with olive oil and balsamic as well as some flavored butter, and a cheese and fruit tray.
how about a taco bar or a big batch of chili in a crock pot!
Marinaded pork tenderloin is great for a party. There are tons of great recipes out there. No muss. No fuss. Just pop them in the oven for 30-40 mins, depending on the size of the tenderloins, slice and serve.
Serve with a wild rice salad and maybe some sort of asparagas spears served room temperature. Those items are all easy to eat without sitting down at a table.
make some burgers and have christmas cookies.
A cocktail party doesn't include a meal! That is why snacks/finger food is always served with cocktails.
Is it a "cocktail party" or a "dinner party"?
