Better Homes and Gardens - The Ultimate Appetizers Book: More than 450 No-Fuss Nibbles and Drinks, Plus Simple Party PlanningTips

Copyright 2012 by Meredith Corporation, Des Moines, IA. All rights reserved

Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey

Published simultaneously in Canada

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise, except as permitted under Section 107 or 108 of the 1976 United States Copyright Act, without either the prior written permission of the Publisher, or authorization through payment of the appropriate per-copy fee to the Copyright Clearance Center, Inc., 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, (978) 7508400, fax (978) 7504470, or on the web at www.copyright.com. Requests to the Publisher for permission should be addressed to the Permissions Department, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030, (201) 7486011, fax (201) 7486008, or online at http://www.wiley.com/go/permissions.

Limit of Liability/Disclaimer of Warranty: While the publisher and author have used their best efforts in preparing this book, they make no representations or warranties with respect to the accuracy or completeness of the contents of this book and specifically disclaim any implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. No warranty may be created or extended by sales representatives or written sales materials. The advice and strategies contained herein may not be suitable for your situation. You should consult with a professional where appropriate. Neither the publisher nor author shall be liable for any loss of profit or any other commercial damages, including but not limited to special, incidental, consequential, or other damages.

For general information on our other products and services or for technical support, please contact our Customer Care Department within the United States at (877) 7622974, outside the United States at (317) 5723993 or fax (317) 5724002.

Wiley also publishes its books in a variety of electronic formats. Some content that appears in print may not be available in electronic books. For more information about Wiley products, visit our web site at www.wiley.com.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data:

The ultimate appetizers book : more than 450 no-fuss nibbles and drinks, plus simple party planning tips. p. cm.

Cover title: At head of title: Better homes and gardens the ultimate appetizers book Includes index. ISBN 978-0-470-63414-1 (pbk.); 978-1-118-28060-7 (ebook); 978-1-118-28061-4 (ebook); 1. Appetizers. I. Better homes and gardens. II. Title: Better homes and gardens the ultimate appetizers book. III. Title: Better homes and gardens the ultimate appetizers book.

TX740.U47 2010

641.812--dc22

2010016418

Printed in the United States of America

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Meredith Corporation

Editor: Jan Miller

Contributing Editor: Lois White

Recipe Development and Testing: Better Homes and Gardens Test Kitchen

John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Publisher: Natalie Chapman

Associate Publisher: Jessica Goodman

Executive Editor: Anne Ficklen

Editor: Charleen Barila

Production Editor: Jacqueline Beach

Production Director: Diana Cisek

Interior Design: Jill Budden

Layout: Holly Wittenberg

Manufacturing Manager: Tom Hyland

Our seal assures you that every recipe in The Ultimate Appetizers Book has been tested in the Better Homes and Gardens Test Kitchen. This means that each recipe is practical and reliable and meets our high standards of taste appeal. We guarantee your satisfaction with this book for as long as you own it.

introduction

Mmmmm... awesome party food!

Make food the hit at your next party, whether youre having a few friends over for cocktails and nibbles or hosting a neighborhood fiesta.

No matter what the occasion iscasual, dressy, or just plain funthe recipes and ideas in this beautifully photographed collection are sure to inspire lively conversation and create the easiest and most enjoyable of gatherings. Wow the crowd with an array of classics, from finger-friendly nachos and ever-popular deviled eggs to jazzed-up meatballs and chicken wings. These crowd-pleasing nibbles never go out of style. Their casual easetheir everybody-loves-em appealmakes them a hit every time.

When the occasion calls for something more sophisticated, please palates with elegant pastries, cheesy hors doeuvres, rich bisques and chowders, or even global-inspired offerings, such as sushi. Round out your menu with stylish cocktails and drinks, guaranteed to go with just about anything.

Short on time? Take advantage of the make-ahead options included with many of the recipes. Youll also discover party menus, tips on tabletop dcor, and a rundown of versatile ingredients to keep on hand. With help like this, throwing a party has never been so easy!

Pictured:

party

basics

If youre new to the scene of at-home entertaining, look here for tantalizing tips on planning and pulling off a feast of appetizers. Our ideas for party-ready ingredients and themed menus will help you entertain friends and family with ease.

party smart tips

The best parties include an array of little tastes. Here are helpful tips for planning and prepping the food so you have time to mix and mingle.

Choose a variety of temptations

Think about colors, textures, and flavors that go together, then select some recipes to present whole, such as . Consider both hot and cold appetizers as well. Texture is also key. The crunch of fresh veggies will contrast beautifully with the soft richness of a crab cake. The more variety you offer, the more people will eat, simply because peoples appetites are stimulated when they have several dishes to choose from.

Do the party math

Wondering how many appetizers to serve? Weve figured it out for you. For light cocktail parties of the predinner variety, plan to serve about eight hors doeuvres per person. For cocktail buffets that may become full meals for your guests, double that amount. For such occasions, a good rule of thumb is to plan to serve something more substantial with the nibbles, such as meatballs or pizza.

Food for thought

Its always better to have too much food on hand than not enough. At the end of the party, package up any leftovers to give to guests to take home with them to enjoy the next day.

Take tasty shortcuts

First, know that you dont have to prepare all of the food yourself. Divide and conquer by selecting the recipes and assigning them to your friends or family to bring. Or, if you do want to make the entire menu yourself, be sure to know your limitations of time and skill. No more than 20 percent of the recipes you choose should be new or hard to make. Sixty to 70 percent of the recipes should be easy to prepare or recipes that you can make ahead of time. Then, rely on purchased items to fill out the menu.