Here are some tips, ideas -&- recipes to help with your
New Years Eve cocktail party!?!
When you host a cocktail party it is a very entertaining way to have so great time with your family and friends. But when you serve alcohol your guest are sure to appreciate a few bites of food. As you are thinking about what to serve you should also think about how many people so you can have an idea on how much food you will need. As a rule of thumb, estimate six bites per person for every hour. However depending on the guests I would calculate a bit more then that.
Finger foods are good for cocktail parties. They can be prepared prior to the cocktail party and they require little clean up.
It is a wise choice to have some napkins or paper plates also. Your guests will have an opportunity to walk around and talk while they snack. Little clean up will be involved.
Appetizers as a rule are small in portion usually bite size. Sausage rolls, mini cheesecakes, chocolate dipped strawberries are all awesome ideas for cocktail party food. Pair up smoked salmon or caviar with martinis. Or you may choose to go simply with cheese trays paired with wine.
You need to enjoy yourself so be sure that the cocktail party food that you choose is simple and will not require a lot of running back and forth from the kitchen. If the host can be no wheres to be found then some of the guests may begin to feel a bit uncomfortable. Make sure that you have chosen a food that you are familiar with, and a food that can be made ahead of time. The last thing that you need to be doing is slave in the kitchen when there is a fabulous cocktail party going on right on the other side of kitchen door.
Crock Pot Party Dips
Party dips are fast and easy to make in a small crock pot. Here are a few recipe ideas for your next party. Use a smaller crock pot for these recipes such as a 1 1/2 qt. or a 3 1/2 qt. crock pot. The dip can be served right in the crock pot to keep it warm.
Bacon Cheese Dip
What You Need:
16 slices bacon, diced, fried and drained
2 8-ounce packages cream cheese, softened and cubed
4 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1 cup half-and-half
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon dried minced onion
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
1/2 teaspoon salt
dash hot sauce
How To Make It:
Put all the ingredients except bacon in a small crock pot and cook on low, stirring occasionally until cheese melts, about 1 hour. Taste and adjust seasonings, add bacon, and keep on low to serve.
Artichoke and Mozzarella Dip
What You Need:
1 lb. shredded Mozzarella
1 c. grated Parmesan
1 c. (8 oz. jar) mayonnaise
1 c. (8 1/2 oz.) artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
minced onions
How To Make It:
Combine ingredients in a lightly buttered 3 1/2 quart crock pot on high for about 1 hour. Serve with broken up French bread or wheat crackers.
Broccoli Cheese Dip
What You Need:
2 (10 oz.) boxes of frozen chopped broccoli
2 cans cream of mushroom soup
1/4 c. sour cream
1/2 lb. Mexican Velveeta cheese
1/2 lb. reg. Velveeta cheese
1 tbsp. garlic salt
How To Make It:
Cook the broccoli as per package instructions and drain. Put the cubes of cheese in a small crock pot and heat to melt. Mix soups, sour cream, broccoli and garlic salt into melted cheese. Serve as dip with tortilla chips.
Chili Cheese Taco Dip
What You Need:
1 lb. hamburger
1 can chili (no beans)
1 lb. mild Mexican Velveeta cheese, cubed or shredded
How To Make It:
Cook hamburger in a skillet, drain well and place in a small crock pot. Add chili and cheese; cover and cook on low until cheese is melted, about 1 to 1 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally to blend ingredients. Serve warm with taco or tortilla chips.
Chili Dip
What You Need:
1 lg. jar (16oz) picante sauce, mild
2 cans refried beans
8 ounces sour cream
1/2 tsp. chili powder
1 lb. ground beef
1 onion, chopped
salt and pepper to taste
8 oz. Cheddar cheese, shredded
several jalapenos or mild chili, chopped finely, to taste
How To Make It:
Cook ground beef in a skillet with chopped onion; drain well. Combine everything together in crock pot and cook slowly until cheese is melted. Serve with favorite vegetables or chips.
Today I am thankful that I'll probably be asleep when 2012 comes a knocking!?!
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