Appetizer Recipes that will Wow Your Guests

Appetizers don't normally find their way onto our dinner table. Since most people only indulge when they're at a restaurant, we don't always have a lot of good appetizer recipes on hand when it's time for a big party. Appetizers don't have to be a lot of work. Finding a menu that meets your budget and schedule is a lot easier than you think.

There are many classic appetizers you might want to add to your menu, because they are proven favorites. Bruschetta is very simple, as all you need is fresh tomatoes, garlic, olive oil and bread. Raw fruits and vegetables can be very healthy, or you can make it more indulgent with a variety of sweet or savory dips. If you really want to impress a crowd, wrap a wheel of brie cheese in instant crescent roll dough, back, drizzle with caramel sauce and serve with sliced bread and apples. An unusual appetizer is roasted garlic appetizers. Just don't think about your diet while you're enjoying it.

Feeling ambitious? If you really want to impress your guests, try some appetizer recipes from around the world. Chinese dim sum work well as appetizers, since they are bite-sized, but the preparation is extremely time-consuming and most dishes are best served piping hot. Spanish tapas works even better as party food, as many dishes can be prepared ahead of time. Start off with some cold dishes, like gazpacho, tapenade, sliced chorizo sausage and Spanish-style salad. Then bring out some hot dishes like steamed clams, stuffed squid and empanadas. All you need are a few pitchers of sangria and you're ready to go! And then there are those Jewish appetizer recipes that give home-made cooking a yummy name!

The final thing to remember is to plan a party menu that won't keep you in the kitchen when you should be mingling with your guests. hot artichoke dip is easy to make and can be made in advance. If that means substituting extravagant appetizer recipes with store bought frozen hors d'oeuvres, that's fine! Mix in a few lavish or crowd pleasing appetizer recipes with some simpler treats, and you'll have a party menu that will keep everyone satisfied.