I need a simple finger food recipe?

Question

I'm living out of a college dorm room this summer so my access to a stove or oven is quite limited. Unfortunately people are already bringing veggie trays and cheese & crackers. Any other ideas?

Answer 1

Here are some recipes for easy cold or room temperature finger foods. Good Luck : )

Spinach Dip in Hawaiian Round Bread
This is the one dip everyone asks for the recipe....
Makes 4 cups

1 pkg. (10 oz.) frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained
1 container (16 oz.) sour cream
1 cup mayo
1 pkg. KNORR Vegetable Soup and Recipe Mix
1 can (8 oz.) chestnuts, drained and chopped
3 scallions, chopped
1 Hawaiian Bread Round, scoop out middle to make a bowl and reserve

In a med. bowl, stir the spinach, sour cream, mayo, soup mix, water chestnuts and green onions until well mixed. Cover and chill 2 hours to blend flavors.

Stir before serving. Pour into a prepared round of Hawaiian Bread, serve with crackers and the scooped out bread pieces
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Gina,.Fla (11:31:30) : Strawberry Bread
Yields 2 loaves

2 10 oz. packages frozen strawberries, thawed
3 c. flour
1 t. baking powder
1/2 t. salt
1 t. cinnamon
2 c. sugar
3 eggs, beaten
1 c. veg. oil
1 c. chopped pecans

Preheat oven to 350. Drain strawberries, reserving 1/2 cup juice. Mix together the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and sugar. Make a hole in the center of mixture and pour in strawberries, oil, eggs, and pecans. Mix by hand until thoroughly combined. Pour into 2 greased and floured loaf pans. Bake 40-60 mts.

Spread:
1/2 c. strawberry juice
1 8 oz. package cream cheese

Blend together the strawberry juice and cream cheese til spreading consistency. Serve as a spread for the cooled and sliced bread.
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Caramelized Walnuts

½ pound walnuts, about 1 3/4 cups
1 egg white
1/3 cup sugar

Preheat oven to 350º. Mix walnuts, egg white and sugar together in a medium bowl. Place on sheet pan and bake at 350º degrees for 15 to 20 minutes. Let cool, then break into pieces if necessary.
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Dates Wrapped in Bacon

2 boxes of pitted dates
2 packages of bacon

Cut bacon package in half, wrap a date in a bacon half and arrange on a baking sheet. Bake at 350 for about 30 minutes, halfway thru baking turn them around so they bake completely. Drain, let them cool and arrange on a pretty dish with toothpicks.
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Marinated Mushrooms
1 pound fresh mushrooms, sliced
3/4 cup olive oil
3 tablespoons tarragon vinegar
½ teaspoon salt
Dash pepper
2 teaspoons minced parsley
½ teaspoon dried tarragon
Mix all ingredients together. Let stand at room temperature, 6 hours if possible, to mellow flavors.
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Pineapple Cheese Spread

This makes 5 cups.

2 8 oz. cream cheese
1 8 ½ oz. can crushed pineapple, drained
1 c. chopped pecans
½ c. chopped green bell pepper
2 T. chopped green onion
1 t. Lawrey's Seasoned Salt
Soften cream cheese and mix with pineapple, nuts, green pepper and onions. Blend in salt and mix well. Pack into a crock and refrigerate to set or roll into a ball covered with crushed pecans. Serve with crackers.
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Crabmeat Pinwheels (Previously posted by Judy/AZ)
Makes 10 servings
6 large flour tortillas

2 ounces cream cheese, softened
1/3 cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons green onions, chopped
1/4 cup red bell pepper, chopped
1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
1 4 ounce can crabmeat, drained

Combine cream cheese, mayonnaise, onions, red pepper, cheddar cheese and crabmeat. Spread thin layer of mixture on tortillas. Wrap individually in plastic wrap. Chill at least three hours or overnight. When ready to serve, cut into 3/4 inch appetizers.
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Wrap-and-Roll Basil Pinwheels (Previously posted by Judy/AZ)

Makes about 24 pinwheels

3 (7 - or 8-inch) flour tortillas
1 (5.2-oz.) carton Boursin Cheese or one 5-oz. container semi soft cheese with garlic and herbs
12 large fresh basil leaves
½ of a 7-oz. jar roasted red sweet peppers, cut into 1/4-inch wide strips
4 oz. thinly sliced cooked roast beef, ham, or turkey
1 Tbsp. mayonnaise or salad dressing
Fresh basil leaves (optional)

Spread each flour tortilla with 1/3 of the Boursin cheese or semisoft cheese with garlic and herbs. Add a layer of the large fresh basil leaves to cover cheese. Divide roasted red sweet pepper strips between the tortillas; arrange roasted red pepper strips over the basil leaves 1 to 2 inches apart. Top with meat slices. Spread 1 teaspoon mayonnaise or salad dressing over the meat on each tortilla. Roll up the tortillas tightly, jell-roll style, enclosing the filling. Wrap each roll in plastic wrap. Chill the tortilla rolls in the refrigerator 2 to 4 hours to blend flavors.

To serve, remove the rolls from the refrigerator. Remove the plastic wrap from the tortilla rolls; cut each of the rolls into 1-inch slices (make diagonal slices, if desired). Garnish with the fresh basil leaves, if you wish. Skewer each of the cut tortilla rolls on frilly picks or on short decorative skewers, if desired.
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Sugared Spiced Nuts (Previously posted by Judy/AZ)
Makes about 4 cups
Active time: 10 min. Start to finish: 1 hr. (plus ½ hr. cooling)

1 large egg white
1 teaspoon water
4 cups mixed salted roasted nuts (about 1 1/4 lb.)
1 cup sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice

Preheat oven to 250F.

Whisk together egg white and water in a large bowl until frothy and stir in nuts. Stir together sugar and cinnamon and stir into nuts, coating well. Spread nuts in a lightly buttered large shallow pan and bake in middle of oven until dry, about 50 minutes. Cool and break into bite-size chunks.

Cooks' note:
Nuts keep in an airtight container at room temperature 5 days.

Gourmet
September 1999
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Stuffed Cherry Tomatoes (Previously posted by Judy/AZ)
Yield: 12-16 servings

2 pkgs. (one 8 ounces, and one 3 ounces) cream cheese, softened
2 Tablespoons mayonnaise
1 pkg (.4 ounce) ranch salad dressing mix
3 dozen cherry tomatoes

In a mixing bowl, blend cream cheese, mayonnaise and salad dressing mix until smooth. slice a thin slice off tops of tomatoes and carefully remove insides; invert on paper towel to drain. Fill with cream cheese mixture.
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Strawberry-Cheese Ball (Previously posted by Judy/AZ)

1 cup mayonnaise
1 1/2 cup sharp cheddar cheese
½ cup chopped pecans
2 green onions, chopped

Mix in ball and refrigerate over night. Pour 5 oz. strawberry preserves over ball just before serving. Serve with a butter cracker such as Ritz.

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Spinach Roll-Ups (Previously posted by Judy/AZ)

2 boxes frozen spinach, defrost and squeeze out the liquid
1 cup mayonnaise
1 cup sour cream
1 cup Baco Bits
½ pkg Buttermilk Ranch Dressing
Flour tortillas

Mix together first 5 ingredients. Spread on flour tortillas and roll up. Wrap in wax paper. Refrigerate overnight. Slice and serve.
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Shrimp Mold Spread (Previously posted by Judy/AZ)

Mold into a pretty mold -- appropriate to the event (for Christmas, I used a Christmas tree, for a birthday, maybe use a bundt cake pan and put candles on top....be creative). Serve with little pumpernickel or rye breads, French bread, or other such thing to spread it on.

1 lb shrimp, cubed
1 (8 oz) block cream cheese
½ can of tomato soup
1 envelope Knox gelatin
1 cup mayonnaise
1 cup celery, chopped small
3 tbsp onion, chopped small

Heat tomato soup and add Knox -- stir until dissolved. Pour over cream cheese and mayo -- stir 'till smooth. Add rest of ingredients and pour into mold (I LIGHTLY spray it with PAM or other type of release first). Refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight. I made mine two days in advance Unmold (as if Jell-O mold) and serve as a spread. Don't plan on any leftovers. Even seafood haters LOVE this mold!

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Orange Glazed Cocktail Sausages (Previously posted by Judy/AZ)

1 package Lit'l Smokies (50 links)
1 cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon flour
2 tablespoons mustard
1 tablespoon vinegar
1/4 cup orange juice concentrate (undiluted)

Combine ingredients and heat until warm in microwave.
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Crab 'n Stuff (Previously posted by Judy/AZ)

8-oz. imitation or real crab meat
8-oz. cream cheese
Seafood or cocktail sauce

Combine cream cheese and crab. Shape in a ball. Pour seafood sauce over crab ball. Serve with wheat crackers.
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Spirited Apricot Brie (Previously posted by Judy/AZ)

½ cup apricot jam
1 Tablespoon grated orange peel
1 Tablespoon brandy or orange juice
1 Tablespoon lemon juice
1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 piece brie cheese (about ½ lbs.)

Thin baguette slices or water crackers

Mix jam, orange peel, brandy, lemon juice, and cinnamon in a shallow microwave-safe serving dish just large enough to also hold the brie.

Set brie in apricot sauce. Return to microwave oven and cook, uncovered, until the cheese is hot and slightly melted, about 1 minute; check at 20-second intervals.

Scoop cheese and apricot sauce onto the baguette slices. Makes 6 appetizer servings.

Answer 2

You have a lot of challenging parameters here. First I would say you're going to have to put a time limit on this reception. I wouldn't let it go past the dinner hour only because you're going to have to have a lot of food even for just 3 hours for 150 people. I would suggest scraping the finger food idea [that is the antithesis of cutting down on work and time] and going with something like a ham or a side of roast beef or BOTH. Set them up on the table with a couple of cheese trays and some biscuits so people can make little sandwhiches. [The bread will go a long way to filling people up]. Serve different types of mustards, yellow, Dijon, whole grain, that go with both, but stay away from mayonnaise [I can't believe I just said that]. The meat will go a long way in feeding people and will look very expensive and impressive. Set up some traditional vegetable trays with not-so-traditional vegetables [e.g. roast some baby Yukon gold potatoes and some pearl onions and some broccolini] Roasting is quick and easy and you can make a lot in very little time and they can be served hot, warm or at room temperature. Serve the vegetables with Paul Newman's bottled Italian dressing. Good luck and congratulations to your son!

Answer 3

Since you have limited access to the stove and oven - I see most people did not take that into consideration.

Get a loaf of bread and some flavored cream cheeses (strawberry and pineapple are great) and make finger sandwiches that are sweet. They are cheap (if you have a college budget) and easy without the fuss. Cut them into triangles (four from one sandwich) and you can decrust them if you really want to get fancy. They are truly great and people will be surprised that a guy did them

Answer 4

A dorm room doesn't leave much room for preparing food either!

I'd make some stuffed olives. Get large black olives, and make up a cheese filling. I like ricotta, parmesean, and some Italian seasonings (don't buy a bunch of bottles - just get the one labeled "Italian Seasoning.") Mix equal parts of the two cheeses, and add the seasoning and some pepper to taste. Drain and stuff the olives. Just make sure your hands are clean and do it with your hands. There is no good utensil for stuffing olives that I have ever found.

Make the filling ahead of time if you can (up to 24 hours). The dry herbs need time to soak up the moisture from the ricotta cheese.

Answer 5

I have a couple...
Do You have a microwave? If you do, go get the container of chocolate drops that melt. Put some strawberries and banana slices on the tray around it for dipping, remember toothpicks for people too.

Go get some melons...the fruit kind, not the woman kind. There is a lil tool that you can get cute lil balls, put them on a long toothpick and they look like lil fruit kabobs. You can also add strawberries apple slices, ext.

Tortilla wraps. Many recipes you can find on these. take tortilla wraps and put a layer of a cream cheese spread, you can add onions, peppers, or salsa...its really good. roll them up and cut them into pinwheels.

If you need any other ideas let you can email me.

Answer 6

You can check this one out. Great for party too.


Avocado Fries With Cilantro Lemon Dipping Sauce

Crunchy on the outside, warm and creamy on the inside. I was shocked. They were so incredibly delicious, but I had never heard of them before and for some reason the thought of deep-frying avocados had never crossed my mind.

Crab Quesadillas Recipe

Taste the irresistible Crab Quesadillas, I think this recipe was just an ordinary food, but after tasting it, Id began to be addicted in every detailed taste of it. It was so yummy and I think no one could ever resist eating, if anyone could taste this recipe.

Taco Pinwheels

Want to know what the most made dish in my house growing up was? Hands down - tacos. It could be partly because they're one of the easiest things in the world to make, or it could be because my mom knew it was the way to each and every one of our hearts.

Answer 7

go buy some cream cheese, green onions, and some packages of pressed meats ( I use the cheap .50 a package kind but you could buy the more expensive if you like).
clean green onions, let cream cheese soften(microwave on low or sit out for awhile if you don't have microwave)
lay out a slice or 2 of the meat spread w/ cream cheese, place green onion on one end roll up meat around onion. you can leave it like this or cut into smaller servings.
Variations would be a pickle instead of onion or nothing but cream cheese.
Also you could make a seven layer chip dip, layer salsa, refried beans sour cream, black olives (chopped), cheese(shredded), and lettuce, and tomatoes (also chopped). Buy a bag of tortilla chips to go with it.
Good Luck!

Answer 8

Melon wrapped in prosciutto... very easy, very hip and very sexy.

Shrimp cocktail (buy a bag of pre-cooked shrimp and some cocktail sauce at Trader Joes and plate it- ideally on ice. Some lettuce garnish will also dress it up.

How about fruit on a tray? Some marscapone with brown sugar stirred in to dip will really be appreciated.

Answer 9

do a flour tortilla rollies, sushi style... use deli meat, even hot dogs if u like, mayo, ketchup, mustard, layer wrap it in lettuce, thin sliced cucumbers, tomatos, onions, slice cut it diagoinal for great shape presentation... and you've got a voila... sushi style sandwich wraps

Answer 10

sliced brown bread with butter (or spread), topped with smoked salmon and cut into one-inch (2.5cm) squares.

hum, I'm getting hungry..


or cut-up pizza

Answer 11

wrap a slice of pickle in a piece of sliced thin ham