Ideas Needed for Informal Party - Hearty Finger Foods (burgers, bbq, mushrooms)

[rdlr]

I've got company coming in October, and we'll be sitting out on our big front porch watching a Homecoming Parade go by around 5-6 p.m. I think about 8 will be attending, and we are all senior citizens (not interested in burgers, heavy casseroles and such).

Definitely, we will have 2-3 kinds of wines. I'm looking for easy, no mess, hearty horderves ....filling enough to take the place of a dinner. A big plus would be recipes I can make in advance. Any ideas? Thank you for whatever you can offer.

[Threestep2]

The first thing gone Saturday were sausage balls. WallMart and other grocery stores carry one pound packages of 12 cute sausage balls in a variety of favors from plain to spicy for around $3. Bake them at 350 for 10-12 minutes. Do not fry! I add a cheese cube and a pickled pepper with a tooth pick.

[rdlr]

Originally Posted by Threestep

The first thing gone Saturday were sausage balls. WallMart and other grocery stores carry one pound packages of 12 cute sausage balls in a variety of favors from plain to spicy for around $3. Bake them at 350 for 10-12 minutes. Do not fry! I add a cheese cube and a pickled pepper with a tooth pick.

Thank You!!!! Great idea! Sounds easy and quick. That's one dish, for sure!!!

[Sgoldie]

I like a slab of cream cheese covered in red pepper jelly (walmart) served with large crackers. Tangy but not too spicy.

[JustJulia]

A little wheel of brie, slashed across a few times and sprinkled liberally with sliced almonds and raw sugar. Bake until gooey and serve with crackers and sliced tart apples.

Carrots and celery with hummus.

Drain one tin of smoked mackerel and mash into one package of herbed Boursin cheese. This is very good with crackers too. Or spinach-artichoke dip with tortilla chips.

Seasonal fruit. Lightly salted nuts. Olives.

My parents and sister have regular cheese parties. My mom will prepare a spread of different crisps and crackers, an assortment of cheeses, smoked salmon, minced onion, capers, peppadew peppers, dry herbed salami, stuff like that.

[Gorges]

How about getting those little mini-muffin-sized phyllo cups and stuffing them with chicken salad. You can get the cups in the frozen-food section of the market. The chicken salad can be made in advance or purchased, and you can stuff the cups an hour or so before serving. If you stuff them too far in advance, they might get soggy, but it takes no time at all to do it.

ETA: Also, get some frozen cocktail meatballs and heat them in a crock pot during the day in your favorite sauce (bbq or cranberry/chili sauce, whatever you like). At party time you can just serve them in a bowl with toothpicks.

[gouligann]

Take a few ready made pie crusts, spread them out on your counter, spread pizza sauce on each, top with mozzarella cheese, pepperoni, mushrooms, etc. Roll back up and slice 1 inch thick. Stick toothpicks through to hold together while baking. Arrange on cookie sheets. Bake in oven until nicely browned. Serve with extra dipping sauce (pizza sauce) optional.

[sskkc]

When not serving dinner, I go with mini sliders, cheese and crackers, roll ups (corned beef, cream cheese and pickles), glazed meatballs, deviled eggs and a veggie platter. If there are going to be kids, I'll also buy some cheap pizzas and cut them up into little squares and add some fruit or make pb&j, cut the crusts off and cut them into triangles

For something sweet, cookies, cake balls and depending on your company, mini pudding or jello cups

[jackmccullough]

I guarantee that if you make pigs in a blanket they will get eaten.

No, sorry, they will be inhaled.

[rdlr]

OOOOOOHHHHH MY!
You all are the GREATEST! I love all those ideas, and will print these off. You have saved me from fretting and working my brain. Thank You!