# Xtreme cocktail party food recipes **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 5, 2008, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xtreme-cocktail-party-food-recipes/451951 "2008-06-05T23:34:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![bathsheba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9e8a1a/32.png) [@bathsheba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bathsheba)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2008, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xtreme-cocktail-party-food-recipes/451951/1 "2008-06-05T23:34:24Z")
I’m going to a cocktail party tomorrow and need to bring a plate of very excellent cocktail party-type food. You know, scrumptious finger food which looks awesome too. I can cook reasonably well so simple or complicated ideas and recipes are both welcome. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2008, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xtreme-cocktail-party-food-recipes/451951/2 "2008-06-05T23:43:14Z")
How about [fried eggplant fingers](http://video.about.com/vegetarian/Eggplant-Sticks.htm)? ---
**Author:** ![Leiko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Leiko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leiko)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2008, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xtreme-cocktail-party-food-recipes/451951/3 "2008-06-05T23:52:39Z")
You could make some choux paste and pipe it as for cream puffs, but fill it (after baking, of course) with a savory filling instead. For instance, a tiny piece of lettuce lining the inside of the puff, and some crab or shrimp salad in that. ---
**Author:** ![eldowan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/848f3c/32.png) [@eldowan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eldowan)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2008, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xtreme-cocktail-party-food-recipes/451951/4 "2008-06-06T00:17:40Z")
sweet potato fries? [http://kalynskitchen.blogspot.com/2007/10/spicy-sweet-potatoes-fries-recipe.html](http://kalynskitchen.blogspot.com/2007/10/spicy-sweet-potatoes-fries-recipe.html) I had some for the first time a couple of months ago. I loves me some sweet potato fries! ---
**Author:** ![Eureka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/74df32/32.png) [@Eureka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eureka)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2008, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xtreme-cocktail-party-food-recipes/451951/5 "2008-06-06T13:44:19Z")
Stuffed Snow Peas The idea I got from Taste of Home Magazine a couple of months ago. Take crab meat-chop finely, mix with mayonnaise and cocktail sauce. Take snow peas, steam for a minute or so, chill in ice water, pat dry, slit curved edge with knife. Insert crab salad. I’ve also made them with egg salad and herbed cheese stuffing. ---
**Author:** ![StinkyBurrito](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b9e5f3/32.png) [@StinkyBurrito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StinkyBurrito)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2008, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xtreme-cocktail-party-food-recipes/451951/6 "2008-06-06T14:01:22Z")
Mix frozen chopped spinach (very well drained) with feta and lemon juice/zest in a bowl. Cut puff pastry into squares about 2 inches on a side. Put a dollop of the mixture in the middle. Use an egg wash around the edges and fold into a triangle - press edges together. Brush the top with the egg wash and sprinkle with just a little course salt. Bake per puff pastry package instructions. It goes faster when you line the squares up in a grid so you can do them all at once rather than one at a time. Great for parties - it can be served hot or room temp and is easy finger food for the guests to snack on while standing/mingling. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2008, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xtreme-cocktail-party-food-recipes/451951/7 "2008-06-06T14:22:37Z")
This is more of a pretty-pretty presentation than complicated food: [Dainty Pea Salad Cups](http://www.recipezaar.com/181232) I don’t know if my review will be up there yet, but in it I recommend brushing the inside of the cups with a little olive oil before filling with salad - the oil helps seal out the water in the dressing so the cups don’t get soggy as quickly. I like to use the same cups for a Waldorf salad, with the ingredients cut somewhat smaller than you’d do for a fork-eaten salad. You could also fill the cups with tuna salad, seafood or crab salad or a good homemade coleslaw. ---
**Author:** ![StinkyBurrito](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b9e5f3/32.png) [@StinkyBurrito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StinkyBurrito)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2008, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xtreme-cocktail-party-food-recipes/451951/8 "2008-06-06T16:05:12Z")
[QUOTE=WhyNot] …[Dainty Pea Salad Cups](http://www.recipezaar.com/181232)… [/QUOTE] That sounds like a winner to me. I think I just found what I will make next time for a party. I also foresee myself buzzing up some of that chimichurri sauce from another of your recipes for dinner soon. Mmmm. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2008, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xtreme-cocktail-party-food-recipes/451951/9 "2008-06-06T16:23:56Z")
[QUOTE=StinkyBurrito] That sounds like a winner to me. I think I just found what I will make next time for a party. I also foresee myself buzzing up some of that chimichurri sauce from another of your recipes for dinner soon. Mmmm. [/QUOTE] Hmm…what about cutting up the grilled chicken and peppers and putting them in the wonton cups and drizzling that with the chimichurri sauce? 😃 (Here’s the recipe for the [Grilled Chicken and Tri-Colored Peppers with Chimichurri Sauce](http://www.recipezaar.com/237088) ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2008, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xtreme-cocktail-party-food-recipes/451951/10 "2008-06-06T16:31:45Z")
I used to make [lumpia](http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Filipino-Lumpia-2/Detail.aspx), which was always a giant hit with people. You need to use honest-to-og lumpia wrappers, NOT wonton or eggroll wrappers. They are very thin and a bit of a pain to work with until you get the hang of it, but the end result are wonderful crispy, tasty treats. I used to serve them with a sweet and sour sauce. I’ve made them with pork, ground beef, shrimp, or just veggie. ---
**Author:** ![bathsheba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9e8a1a/32.png) [@bathsheba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bathsheba)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2008, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xtreme-cocktail-party-food-recipes/451951/11 "2008-06-07T05:29:25Z")
I went with the wonton idea because I could take them along cold and because it was way clever. I’ll be saving the other recipes for the future though; eggplant and sweet potato mmmmmmmmmm… [Wontone cocktail things wot i made](http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k289/foraboard/100_2504.jpg) I filled them with steamed bell peppers and caramelised onion and topped them with a fresh chive and cream cheese topping. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2008, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xtreme-cocktail-party-food-recipes/451951/12 "2008-06-07T15:26:58Z")
[QUOTE=bathsheba] [Wontone cocktail things wot i made](http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k289/foraboard/100_2504.jpg) [/QUOTE] Oh, very cute! Nice and colorful. Mind sharing your chive cream cheese topping recipe? ---
**Author:** ![bathsheba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9e8a1a/32.png) [@bathsheba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bathsheba)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2008, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xtreme-cocktail-party-food-recipes/451951/13 "2008-06-08T00:41:04Z")
[QUOTE=WhyNot] Oh, very cute! Nice and colorful. Mind sharing your chive cream cheese topping recipe? [/QUOTE] Sure! Package of cream cheese, soften in microwave, stir in 2 tbsps chopped fresh chives. 🙂 I sometimes serve up the three colours of bell peppers as a salad, (cut into strips) and put a small bowl of the topping on the side. It’s simple and surprisingly excellent. It all went so well we’ll be doing it as a regular thing. ---
**Author:** ![bathsheba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9e8a1a/32.png) [@bathsheba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bathsheba)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2008, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xtreme-cocktail-party-food-recipes/451951/14 "2008-06-08T00:43:33Z")
[QUOTE=Chefguy] I used to make [lumpia](http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Filipino-Lumpia-2/Detail.aspx), which was always a giant hit with people. You need to use honest-to-og lumpia wrappers, NOT wonton or eggroll wrappers. They are very thin and a bit of a pain to work with until you get the hang of it, but the end result are wonderful crispy, tasty treats. I used to serve them with a sweet and sour sauce. I’ve made them with pork, ground beef, shrimp, or just veggie. [/QUOTE] And. I’ll be asking my Filipino workmate where to get the lumpia wrappers. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2008, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xtreme-cocktail-party-food-recipes/451951/15 "2008-06-08T01:33:24Z")
[QUOTE=bathsheba] And. I’ll be asking my Filipino workmate where to get the lumpia wrappers. [/QUOTE] If there is a Filipino community in your town, then your local supermarket probably carries them in the frozen foods section. Any Asian market will have them. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2008, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xtreme-cocktail-party-food-recipes/451951/16 "2008-06-08T01:52:51Z")
Step 1 - make (or buy) gazpacho - cold vegetable soup Step 2 - peel cucumbers and cut into 1.5" cylinders Step 3 - scoop out seed from each cucumber cyclinder, leaving some at the bottom so that you are creating a small edible cup Step 4 - fill each cup with gazpacho, serve! Since gazpacho is normally served cold this is a good make-ahead. Fill right before serving. Thanks to: Martha Stewart’s Hors D’oeuvres Handbook (truly an amazing book) ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2008, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xtreme-cocktail-party-food-recipes/451951/17 "2008-06-08T02:02:35Z")
Mix crab meat with cream cheese and a little mayo and stuff celery sticks with it. Dust with a bit of paprika for color. Ah, here’s my recipe: 2 Cans crab meat, drained 2 Small cream cheese (or one large) lemon juice 1 Tsp Worcestershire sauce ½ Cup mayonnaise (maybe less) Celery stalks, cut into 3-4” pieces Combine all ingredients and pack generously into celery. Chill. It’s my mother’s recipe, so quantities are always a problem (what the hell is a ‘small cream cheese’?). ---
**Author:** ![MadPansy64](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dc4da7/32.png) [@MadPansy64](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MadPansy64)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2008, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xtreme-cocktail-party-food-recipes/451951/18 "2008-06-08T02:04:26Z")
[QUOTE=Chefguy] It’s my mother’s recipe, so quantities are always a problem (what the hell is a ‘small cream cheese’?). [/QUOTE] 3 ounces. It’s in the Mom Conversion Table, on page 8. 😃 Roughly equivelent to “to taste” No, really, the little package of Philly is 3 ounces. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2008, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xtreme-cocktail-party-food-recipes/451951/19 "2008-06-08T15:13:49Z")
[QUOTE=MadPansy64] 3 ounces. It’s in the Mom Conversion Table, on page 8. 😃 Roughly equivelent to “to taste” No, really, the little package of Philly is 3 ounces. [/QUOTE] Man, I need that table. For many of her recipes, I have to SWAG it. Quantities like “one bunch” or “a large bag” are common. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2008, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xtreme-cocktail-party-food-recipes/451951/20 "2008-06-08T16:17:48Z")
[QUOTE=Chefguy] Man, I need that table. For many of her recipes, I have to SWAG it. Quantities like “one bunch” or “a large bag” are common. [/QUOTE] My great-grandmother’s noodle recipe contains the infamous “half an eggshell of water” measurement. :dubious: Which half? What size egg? You’d think it wouldn’t be that critical, but my family members tell me no one’s noodles are quite as good as Grandma Brunhilde’s. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xtreme-cocktail-party-food-recipes/451951.md?page=2)