by Chef Murph
Game Day Parties: Appetizers
Make Ahead Appetizers
Whether it’s game day, holiday parties, or family get-togethers, it’s best to try to prepare food in advance. If you are hosting a party, making food ahead of the event allows you to be more relaxed and enjoy yourself. Consider some of these ideas the next time you need make ahead appetizers and make them well-enough ahead that you will have nearly everything made and will only have to thaw, warm up or open them and place them on the serving table.
- Mini Quiches can be made and frozen up to a month or so ahead of time. Use prepared pie crusts cut into small circles and press them into muffin tins. Fill them with anything from chopped olive and mushrooms to tiny shrimp and eggs. Use your imagination to come up with sweet quiches as well as savory ones.
- Baked Beans
- Party Mix using different cereals can be made up to a month or so before needed as long as they are sealed tightly and people stay out of them until the party starts. There are many versions of this appetizer so find one your family enjoys.
- Pepper-Jack Empanadas are triangle pastries made with phyllo dough. Make these by brushing butter over single layers of phyllo dough until you have three layers. Cut these into three inch wide strips. Place a small amount of filling – cream cheese, pepper jack cheese, chopped parsley, walnuts, egg, and ricotta – on one end and fold over into triangles. Bake them in a 375 degree oven for 12-15 minutes. If you plan to prepare ahead, place each appetizer on a baking sheet and freeze. When frozen, place them in a zip top bag and put them back in the freezer. The pastry would be placed on the baking sheet seam down to bake them.
- Corn Salsa with Blue Corn Chips adds a colorful splash to your party table. This salsa can be made with fresh, frozen or canned corn. Add chopped tomato, minced jalapeno, chopped red onion, minced cilantro, minced garlic, lime juice and olive oil. The flavors become more intense the longer they are stored, up to three days in advance.
- Spiced nuts are a great make ahead appetizer. Using your favorite nuts, you can make them savory, spicy or sweet depending upon the seasonings you use.
Football tailgating and holiday parties are around the corner. Try some of these hearty party appetizers to keep your guests happy. If you want, you can make many of these types of appetizers ahead of time to make the day of the event easier for you to enjoy yourself.
- Buffalo wings are almost a staple at tailgating and holiday parties across the country. They are relatively easy to make and can be adjusted to varying tastes. Sour cream or blue cheese dressing is normally served with Buffalo wings.
- Stuffed mushrooms are also hearty enough to serve to people expecting more than mere chips and dips. Sauté the caps and then stuff them with any variety of fillings. Sausage, crumpled bacon, cheese and walnuts are common fillings but you can also use shredded crabmeat, diced prosciutto and shredded mozzarella can also be used.
- Bruschetta is another hearty appetizer you may want to serve. Bruschetta is made using crusty Italian bread which has been sliced and brushed with olive oil and roasted garlic. Tomato, shrimp and mozzarella are common ingredients but you can add anything on the top that you would like.
Mini Quiches can be made with a variety of ingredients to meet the tastes of nearly everyone. They can be made with green chilies, chicken and Monterey cheese for a Tex-Mex type taste or with pepperoni, black olives and mozzarella cheese for an Italian flavor. You can even make them with sweet ingredients and serve them as a dessert-type appetizer.- Football turnovers are made with ready-made pie crusts, meatballs, parmesan cheese and tomato sauce. These little football-shaped appetizers are the perfect size for small hands but hearty enough to satisfy a grown man.
- Spiced Cereal Trail Mix is a hit as a hearty appetizer. Add multi-grain cereal squares, oats and honey granola, pretzel twists, dried fruit of your choosing, pumpkin pie spice and honey. Mix this all together and then bake for 5 to 10 minutes.
- Meatballs can also be used as an appetizer if they are served with toothpicks. Make a smaller version of your favorite Italian meatball. You can also make barbecue or Swedish meatballs. Remember, however, that if you serve meatballs, to make sure you have plenty of napkins nearby for anyone who drops theirs.
You’ll want to prepare some of these hearty party appetizers for your guests. It is often said the food makes the party so you want your guests to be satisfied. These hearty appetizer ideas are delicious and will definitely satisfy even the pickiest party-goer.
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Chef Murph
