Preparing Memorable Appetizers

Answer 1

For many chefs, amateur and professional alike, the kitchen is the home domain for creativity. Starting a meal off with memorable appetizers is a great way to promote healthy eating and whet the appetite for the meal to follow. Whether preparing appetizers for a weeknight dinner or a cocktail party, knowing some tips and tricks are a great way to deliver these small tasty snacks in short order.

Appetizers Need Not Be over the Top

If the thought of preparing appetizers sends you running to the store for prepackaged pint-sized snacks, stop! Appetizers need not be haute cuisine or assembled using tricky ingredients such as pastry dough. For an easy pre-dinner snack, search the refrigerator for favorite fruits, vegetables and cheese or crackers from the pantry. Assembling a tray of vegetables and dip or cheese and crackers is an excellent way to get a meal started. When something more creative is in order, try making mini-kebabs of fruit and cheese presented with a yogurt based dip or a skewer of basil, mozzarella and grape tomatoes. For little ones looking to help in the kitchen, assembling the appetizer can be a great help while the chef focuses on dinner.

Cocktail Fare

Cocktail parties are a time for mingling and sampling small eats. In addition to the ever popular crudite, consider fun manageable fare including miniature bite-sized gourmet pizzas, petit quiche or hot dips accompanied by chips or rustic breads. Prepare full-sized entrees and cut them into bite sized treats to cut down on prep time. If time is of the essence, a slow cooker can be a huge help in kitchen time management. Consider offering guests a special family recipe of homemade meatballs or cocktail franks.

Appetizers are an excellent way to set the tone for a meal. With portion control a major problem facing diners today; an appetizer can make for a healthy start to any repast. Carefully selecting high-quality nutritious ingredients can help any home chef start any dining experience off perfectly.