Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with appetizers

What do I do with artichoke hearts?

otherwordlyglow — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 14:06:59 -0800

I have a can of artichoke hearts and would like some thoughts on using them in a green salad or another appetizer-y idea. I am an artichoke heart novice. Are canned artichokes straight out of the can any good in salads? I have some nice greens and homemade Caesar dressing already and was thinking about adding the artichoke to the salad for a dish at a dinner party. Do they just get rinsed and thrown in? Sauteed? Chopped up? If that sounds gross, what else can I do with the artichoke hearts that would be a quick and easy appetizer? Normally I'd just experiment and see what happened but since I'm making dinner for friends, I'd like to have a better idea of what would be yummy to others.

Can I make a ceviche a day ahead?

deinemutti — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 16:41:38 -0800

Can I make a ceviche a day ahead? I am going to a potluck dinner party tomorrow and I'm thinking about making a ceviche as an appetizer. I've never made a ceviche before (but have eaten it many times), but I was wondering if I can get away with making in a day in advance? Or will it be a dodgy, soupy mess if I do it that way? Should I make it a couple hours before instead (if I have time)? The recipe includes coconut milk being added after the tuna is cured with lime juice, I don't know if that complicates anything. I can give you a fuller recipe if needed.

Looking for a Bruschetta recipe similar to Gia Russa's Calabrese Bruschetta.

pghjezebel — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 13:57:56 -0800

Foodies: I'm looking for a recipe for "Calabrese Bruschetta", similar to the Gia Russa brand sold in stores. I'd love to make a homemade version of this Bruschetta for an upcoming Christmas party - but I haven't been successful in finding a similar recipe. I've tried creating my own version, but nothing has come remotely close to how theirs tastes yet.

I don't have the jar handy, and couldn't find a listing of ingredients online, but I know it contains roasted red peppers, a ricotta looking cheese, spices and olive oil.

Any suggestions? Thanks! :)

Debate party ideas?

Lizc — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 16:00:16 -0800

Need help/ideas on politically inspired appetizers for the upcoming 2008 Presidential Debates. Like the previous two threads (which were great!) - I'm looking for themed easy appetizers/finger foods for the Obama/Mccain & Biden/Palin debates. No special dietary requirements either, just tasty and funny.

Thanks!

Make ahead appetizer ideas?

smalls — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 17:12:26 -0800

Looking for some good make-ahead appetizer recipes for an upcoming afternoon get-together. We're having a small get together of ten people, and I am looking for items that can be made a day or two before, and just be put out when it's go time. Things that we can bake just before putting out are okay, but cold or room temperature items are preferred.

We're not really into the olives/spiced nuts/cold cut platter type of things, and are trying to avoid items that are heavy on the dairy. Bonus points if you happen to know of any high-carb/low-fat recipes.

So far I've come up with some maybes:
Shrimp cocktail
Cherry tomatoes w/roasted garlic filling
Homemade bread with some type of spread (ideas welcome)
Parmesan, rosemary, and walnut shortbread
The requisite fruit/veggie and dip platter

Super Tuesday party ideas?

joshuaconner — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 17:19:10 -0800

We're having a Super Tuesday party at our house, and we're looking for funny politically-related finger food ideas (half-moon cookies anyone?) as well as some good party names (like Super Booze-day). People of all political stripes will of course be welcome, but we're all Obama supporters, FWIW.

What foods to pair with whiskey?

schroedinger — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 09:41:54 -0800

I'm having a whiskey party tonight. There will be a mix of scotches, bourbons, and other whiskeys, single-malt and blended. It will not be a dinner party but I'd like to provide some hors d'oeuvres and possibly desserts. I've heard sushi is good with whiskey so I thought lox might work, and this Honey and Whiskey ice cream looks good, but does anyone have any other ideas?

Fabulous food for a hip party?

lychee — Thu, 31 May 2007 13:44:18 -0800

I need recipes and ideas for appealing appetizers and cool party food for a hip get-together! I'm going to throw a (town)housewarming party this summer. My roommate and I are hip, young people, and the townhouse is going to be decorated in a retro modern style. Since this will be my first grownup party ever, I want the food to be as fabulous as we are.

I'm thinking food that's somewhat simple to prepare, has affordable ingredients, will look great presentation-wise, and is of course tasty. I'm open to any cuisine, and we will have a lot of vegetarian guests. Thanks!

Accessible minty appetizers

jennyb — Fri, 25 Nov 2005 14:33:58 -0800

Every year at Christmas, my husband's family has a cooking contest. I don't expect to win, because Grandma is generally a lock. However, I'm a good sport and generally try to make a respectable showing. This year's theme is "appetizers with mint in them," and I am looking for tasty recipes. There's a catch though... We live in Chicago. My in-laws live in very rural North Carolina. The judging for the contest takes place on Christmas Eve, and we are flying down two days prior to that. Therefore, unless I make something very long-lasting, I'll have to cook it there. I am willing to bring some ingredients with me if they are small and easily packable, but am not trying to drag a cooler through O'Hare and onto a plane around the holidays. So the first restriction is that the majority of ingredients and all fresh or large items must be purchasable at the IGA.

The second is that most of my culinary audience has probably not had much exposure to non-US food besides Chinese and Mexican. Most of these folks are, if not exactly comfortable with strange foods, at least good sports about trying new things*, but I think I'd fare better if I made something that was at least arguably in the realm of southern cooking.

My second idea after spring rolls (leading me to imagine being teased for serving raw egg rolls) was an altered samosa-type thing, maybe a potato croquette-esque item, with a traditional mint chutney, but I thought the MeFoodies might have some better ideas.

* A cousin in cooking school's sauteed green beans got a few raised eyebrows for not having been boiled with fat back. (Not to knock boiled green beans with a little flavoring pork - I'll take them over "haricot verts" almost any day.)

Need appetizers for a wedding

stonerose — Wed, 01 Sep 2004 18:05:32 -0800

Foodies, two MeFites need advice about what to make as appetizers for the wedding of two friends... come on into the kitchen if you want to know more... The wedding is in mid-September. It's to be held in a backyard, and it's going to be an eccentric, casual, almost anti-ceremonial ceremony. But the brides (there are two!) are fans of good food, and we've offered to make a couple of appetizers for 30 guests as our gift. The main dish will be bbq'd chicken marinated in lemon/garlic/rosemary, and there will be numerous salads. There will be a few vegetarians, but most guests are fearless Quebecois eaters of entrails and such. We'll be cooking several miles from the reception, and transporting the appetizers there. What would you suggest?