Quick and Easy Finger Food Ideas

Make your next party a huge success. Try these 3 easy-to-prepare finger foods that are sure to please everyone at your next gathering or event.

Regardless of weather you’re supplying finger foods for a friendly get-together, or looking for appetizers or hors d’ oeuvres to fit a more sophisticated gathering, the simple and easy recipes listed below are sure to be a smash hit with all your guests.

Mini-Meatball Sandwiches

Ingredients Needed:

• 1 bag of frozen already-cooked meatballs thawed (A favorite home-made meatball recipe can be substituted if desired)
• 1 loaf of Italian bread (sliced for sandwiches)
• 1 packet of Italian seasoning mix
• ½ cup of butter or margarine melted

Directions:

Sandwich ratio is: 2 slices of bread to 4 meatballs (amount of needed bread slices will depend on the amount of meatballs available)

1. Stir together melted butter and Italian seasoning packet
2. Cut crust from edges of bread slices
3. Place 4 completely thawed meatballs on 1 slice of bread and cover with another slice of bread
4. Press down firmly on bread and meatball sandwich (press firmly, meatballs should squish down considerably)
5. Cut squashed meatball sandwich into 4 smaller sandwiches
6. Use a pastry brush and lightly brush butter and seasonings on both sides of mini-sandwiches (seasoning will settle to the bottom so be sure to get plenty of seasoning)
7. Bake on cookie sheet at 350 degrees, until golden brown and heated completely Arrange on a plate and serve warm.
8. Optional: Supply a dish of warm marinara dipping sauce

Mini-Mators’

Ingredients Needed:

• 1 cans of quality tuna
• 1 container of cherry tomatoes
• ¼ cup Mayo or Miracle Whip
• ¼ cup of Philadelphia cream cheese (softened)
• 1/2 onion finely chopped onion (red, yellow, white, or even green onions work well depending on personal preference)
• 2 stalks of celery finely chopped
• 2 Tablespoons fresh parsley finely chopped
• Salt and pepper

Directions:

1. Carefully wash cherry tomatoes and slice off tops.
2. Using a small melon baller or spoon, scoop out the inside of the tomato and discard
3. Open and drain tuna
4. Mix tuna, chopped onion, chopped celery, mayo, cream cheese, and 1 tablespoon of chopped parsley, together. (Set the remaining 1 tablespoon of parsley to the side)
5. Add salt and pepper to taste
6. Fill cherry tomatoes with tuna mixture and place in refrigerator for at least an hour
7. Remove from refrigerator and sprinkle remaining chopped parsley over the top for decoration.
8. Serve chilled

Chocolate Dipped Fruit Pops

Virtually any fruit can be used for this recipe, so do not be afraid to get creative.

Ingredients:

• 1 can pineapple chunks (fresh fruit can be substituted for canned)
• 1 container fresh strawberries (frozen can be used if fresh is unavailable)
• 1 container fresh blueberries (frozen can be used if fresh is unavailable)
• 1 container fresh raspberries (frozen can be used if fresh is unavailable)
• 1 jar of dipping chocolate
• 15 or 20 wooden barbeque sticks (amount depends on number of guests)
• Optional: whipped topping

Directions:

1. Drain canned fruit and pour into bowl
2. Add all other fruit to bowl
3. Load wooden sticks with an assortment of fruit until all fruit is used (leave about 1 ½ inches at the end of each stick to use as a handle)
4. Heat dipping chocolate
5. Dip fruit sticks into chocolate coating about half of the fruit
6. Place on wax paper until chocolate is set
7. Arrange into a pleasing design on a platter and chill in refrigerator
8. Optional: Set a dish of chilled whipped topping out to use as a delicious dipping sauce

Easy Party Favorites for Every Occasion

Entertaining does not have to be a food preparation nightmare. Following the simple and modifiable recipes for chocolate dipped fruit pops, mini-mators’ and mini-meatball sandwiches listed above, is an easy way to take the worry out of hosting virtually any type of gathering.