finger-food suggestions for housewarming party?

Question

here are the details:

the party will be mid-day in mid-may on a sunday, so i'd like lighter spring/summer type foods.

i already plan on making a fruit kabob (strawberries, grapes, pineapple, melon, apple).

pigs in a blanket (it's time for that classic to come back) :o)

house shaped sugar cookies

and a veggie platter.

my delema is that i don't feel these selections offer enough flavor... please help me switch some of these out for finger-foods with a little more flavor.. or ways to spice up what i have.

i already planned on freezing some of the grapes and melons into ice cubes to add to the zinfandel wine i'll be serving...

it's all just missing something...............

oh, and i was making chicken-cheese quesadillas too :o)

Answer 1

You can also try mini tostada's-Tostito's round corn chips with the usual refried beans, sour cream, cheese, and black olives. Also try some spinach dip with bread slices.

Answer 2

keep what you are doing.....make the veggie platter with choices or ranch or bleu cheese for dipping, pigs in blanket, make some with cheese and some without cheese. The fruit kabob would be great with this dip....mix one 8 oz pack cream cheese with one jar of marshmellow whip...it's fabulous for fruit dipping.
Since this is start of summer, it would be fun to have a washtub filled with ice and all sorts of assorted beer and wine coolers in it.......go to a cheap fabric store and get 1 or yards fabric.....red and white or navy and white are crisp summer colors.......alternate them on the table (this is much cheaper than a tablecloth and you can toss them at the end)
Here are some other recipes:

Corn and Olive Dip
2 8oz. cream cheese, softened
1 pack ranch dressing mix
1 can whole kernel corn, drained
1 4oz can chopped ripe olives, drained
1 4oz can chopped green chilis, drained
1 red bell pepper chopped
Cream cheese and ranch dressing. Add other ingredients and refrigerate. Serve with corn chips

Crunch Dip with Apples
1 8 oz cream cheese
1/4 cup light brown sugar
1/2 tea vanilla
1/2 bag bits of brickle or crushed up Heath Bars
1/4 cup sugar
Mix all except brickles. Add brickles before serving with Granny smith cutup apples.

Hot Brocolli Dip
2 10 oz pks chopped brocolli
2/3 cup finely chopped onion
1 can cream of mushroom souop
1 can mushrooms
2/3 cup chopped celery
2 6 oz pkg garlic cheese
1/8 tsp garlic salt
Juice of 1/2 lemon
Saute onion,celery and mushrooms. Add broccoli, soup, cheese, lemon juice and garlic salt. Warm until cheese melts. Serve in fondue dish with corn chips.

Frozen slush punch
2 small pks strawberry jello made by the directions
1 cup sugar
2 large cans pineapple juice
1 large can frozen lemonade made by the directions
Mix all together. Freeze in zip lock bags. Remove from freezer several hours before serving and add quart of ginger ale

Good luck!

Answer 3

Cucumber Tea Sandwiches are always a great spring appetizer!

10 min prep
Ingredients:

1 large seedless cucumber
125 g unsalted butter, softened
1 teaspoon orange zest, grated
8 slices firm white bread, thin slices, crusts removed
8 slices firm whole-wheat bread, thin slices, crusts removed
fresh mint sprigs, to garnish
thin orange slices, to garnish

Peel the cucumber, cut in half length ways, and slice cross ways as thinly as possible.
In a small bowl, combine the butter and orange zest and stir until the mixture is creamy and the ingredients are well-blended.
Spread each slice of white bread with the butter mixture, arrange several slices of cucumber on each slice and top with the whole-wheat bread, and cut each sandwich into 4 triangles.
To serve: Arrange the sandwiches on a platter, alternating white and brown sides of the sandwiches and garnish with mint sprigs and orange slices.

Answer 4

New York Sharp Cheddar Cheese Cubes on colored toothpick

Ham cubes on colored toothpick

Could combine cheese/ham cubes on colored toothpick

Can do hot smokies cut like coins on toothpick with cheese

Strawberries/cantaloupe on toothpick

Orange sections with yogurt dip

Zucchini chips with fresh salsa dip

Veggie dip-Thousand Island with Bacon Dressing mixed with enough real mayonnaise to make a dip. Might want to serve in bell pepper

Celery with pimento cheese

Brown bread with cream cheese and hot pepper jelly

(Watch out for apples and bananas when doing fresh fruit--both will "brown" unless treated properly)

Celery/carrot toothpicks, red/green bell pepper strips, broccoli, cauliflower, grape tomatoes, radishes, zucchini round--Italian spiced marinated--keep each section separated from others ( place in zip lock bag)until ready to serve. Clip corner of bag, drain, tray. {Go easy on vinegar with celery, add some salt as well as Italian spices and olive oil and water.]

Sliced pound cake

Horseradish dip

Make small trays rather than large ones and change them out to keep them fresher/safer to eat. Do not have them out of fridge longer than 2 hours

Flavored crackers with Spinach Dip

Coffee for nondrinkers, or Sierra Mist

Answer 5

My absolute favorite party appetizer is really simple. You just take some flour tortillas, and spread on a mixture of cream cheese and canned chopped green chiles. Roll up the tortilla and slice the roll. They look really neat and taste awesome.

Answer 6

I think I'd ditch the kabobs and just have a fruit tray... save yourself tons of work. Someone may not want all the fruit you put together on a kabob anyway, and will wind up wasting it.

--Fried Chicken wings or tenders w/ dips
--Hot Crab or Broccoli Dip
--Smoked Sausage or Little Smokies (not sure what meat you are putting in PIB) in BBQ sauce

Answer 7

How about something sweet- like mini cheesecakes? You make them by putting the crust in the mini cupcake liners- use the mini tins. Then top with the cheesecake batter and bake. You could also make tiny eclairs and fill with whipped cream or a choc. pudding. Both of these could be considered a finger type food- tiny and portable!

Answer 8

Judging from what you are already planning, I would add some fish to the mix. I would suggest Scallop's wrapped in bacon, just brush them with a little maple syrup and broil till the bacon is crispy. And maybe some mini crab cakes, with cajun aioli.

Answer 9

Cucumber finger sandwiches with a hint of basil.

Rice with butter and Cinnamon sugar mixed as as sweet dessert.

celery stalks with an cheese or peanutbutter filling

olives and pickles relish tray.

Answer 10

You've got a great start on your menu!!

You might add mini-quiches, cold boiled shrimp, a nice cheese, cracker & assorted mustard tray, mini egg rolls, steamed oysters, etc.....Just use your imagination.