Post # 1
Member
801 posts
Busy bee
Ok so my shower is in 6 days and we are having Spaghetti, Alfredo, and bread sticks catered in. We are also preparing a balsamic vinnegrette salad and bruschetta with toasted bread. I know we need some simple appetizers but I can’t think of anything that will go with my italian food theme. Any ideas ladies? For desert we are having cup cakes and each girl is recieving a hersheys bar and hershey kisses. Help I only have a few days left to get this figured out.
Edit:
I’m a veggetarian so I am doing a meatless party 🙂
Post # 3
Member
2492 posts
Buzzing bee
Bruschetta is a popular appetizer. Some Italian restaurants serve mozzarella sticks with marinara that you can purchase at Costco.
Browse here for ideas:
http://italian.betterrecipes.com/italianappetizers.html
Post # 4
Member
2546 posts
Sugar bee
Mini meatballs, Tomatoe & mozzarella balls, maybe some fruit salad (for those watching their weight)
Post # 5
Member
5323 posts
Bee Keeper
Well since it’s a vegetarian party my favourite melon & proscuitto is out 🙁 What about an avocado and tomato bruschetta for a twist on the traditional? Typical antipasto with olives, artichokes, etc. Tomato, boccacini, basil skewers.
Post # 6
Member
1139 posts
Bumble bee
This is a delicious one. It’s always HUGE hit when I make it:
ingredients
1 pkg. (17.3 ounces) Pepperidge Farm® Puff Pastry Sheets, thawed6 tbsp. garlic & herb spreadable cheese, softened8 slices prosciutto or thinly sliced deli ham30 medium asparagus spears, trimmed
directions
Heat the oven to 400°F. Unfold the pastry sheets on a lightly floured surface. Spread 3 tablespoons cheese on each pastry sheet. Top each with 4 slices prosciutto. Cut each into 15 strips crosswise, making 30 in all.
Tightly wrap 1 pastry strip around each asparagus spear, prosciutto-side in. Place the pastries seam-side down onto 2 baking sheets.
Bake for 15 minutes or until the pastries are golden brown.
ETA: I just saw you are a vegetarian. You can take the meat out of this and it’s still delicious.
Post # 7
Member
137 posts
Blushing bee
Antipasti would be nice.
Marinated mushrooms, olives, bocconcini, sundried tomatoes, artichokes, etc.
Or a caprese salad.
Post # 8
Member
1496 posts
Bumble bee
I always love calamari at parties. Maybe it’s because nobody else eats it and I don’t have to share…
Post # 9
Member
2523 posts
Sugar bee
spinach & artichoke dip
stuffed mushrooms
fried zucchini
puff pastry w/ vegetarian fillings (spinach, cheese, mushrooms)
cheese/fruit plate
Post # 10
Member
3214 posts
Sugar bee
Arancini are good, although they might be more work than they’re worth. You could also just do a simple selection of good olive oils and bread for dipping; a veggie antipasto platter; different italian cheeses with bread or crackers…
Also, yay for another vegetarian on the bee. 🙂
Post # 11
Member
4831 posts
Honey bee
This is a super delcious (and easy) spinach and artichoke dip I make. You can also make the dip a day or so ahead of time and then bake it for the party. It’s also very good if you get a nice fresh baguette, slice it, and toast it on the stove in olive oil.
- 1 (10 ounce) package frozen chopped spinach – thawed, drained and squeezed dry
- 1 (14 ounce) can artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Lightly grease a 7×11 inch baking dish.
- In a medium bowl, mix together the cream cheese and mayonnaise until smooth. Mix in the artichoke hearts, spinach and Parmesan cheese. Season with garlic and lemon juice. Spread evenly into the prepared baking dish.
- Bake covered for 20 minutes. Remove the cover, and let the dish bake uncovered for 5 more minutes, or until the surface is lightly browned.
Also delicious is arancini (risotto balls, really good with mushrooms)i, not sure how hard they are to make, but you might be able to buy frozen ones that you bake.
Post # 12
Member
4831 posts
Honey bee
Here’s an arancini recipe, you can probably sub veggie stock for chicken stock to make them vegetarian friendly:
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/arancini-di-riso-recipe/index.html
Post # 13
Member
497 posts
Helper bee
Spinach and Artichoke Dip is a good one.
Also, you could do stuffed mushrooms, some sort of goat cheese flat bread with mushrooms, or even some simple fruits and veggie/cheese platter.
Post # 14
Member
5 posts
Newbee
Here’s one that I saw recenlty…try wrapping string cheese in won ton wrappers, you can fry or bake…your choice…great finger food and goes w/ the italian theme!….you can use any cheese but string cheese is easiest to wrap…if you want them extra crunchy roll them in bread crumbs then bake or fry…