Please help with appetizers for engagement party.?

Question

I am throwing a cocktail engagement party for 30 people this Saturday. I've never thrown a party quite this nice (still casual), so I'd like some ideas/feedback to what I'm serving.

- Sangria

- Marinated olive tray

- Artichoke dip served in bread bowl

- cheese tray (no idea what cheeses to serve!)

- vegetable tray (not sure what kind!)

I considered spicy meatballs and shrimp cocktail, but I'm not sure if those sound good or will work. I'm not sure what kind of cheeses or vegetables would work well. Any kind of advice, feedback or ideas would be awesome!

Answer 1

I would add a protein somehow - esp if you are serving drinks.

i would also make sure you have a veggie dip that isn't dairy based - many lactose intolerant.  Maybe add fruit, skewers work well for less mess.

Answer 2

So far, everything sounds good but you might want to serve something with a little substance to it.  Both the meatballs and the shrimp cocktail are good ideas, but maybe you would be better off with a sweet and sour or bbq meatball instead of the spicy meatball.

As for the cheese and veggie trays, you can go to your supermarket and ask the deli about what they have.  I have been to a few parties with cheese and veggie trays from the local supermarket and they were very impressive.  The cheese variety was wonderful and delicious and the veggies were fresh and colorful.  These trays can be a bit expensive but it's worth it because you don't have to buy all the stuff, cut it up, and arrange it because they do all of that for you.

Good luck!

Answer 3

Since you are serving Sangria, you might consider:

1.  Mini empanadas

2.  Cheese Tray with:  Spanish Manchega, Mushroom Brie, White Cheddar; Goat Cheese, Double Cream Gouda, Asiago.  Serve with artisan crackers and crisp green and red grapes.

3.  Shredded pork mini burritos

4.  Vegetable Tray:  Mini carrots, celery stix, cauliflower, grape tomatos, cucumber slices, jicama drizzled with lime juice and sprinkled with chili powder, asparagas spears and fresh green beans cooked crisp tender and cooled, red, orange, and yellow bell pepper slices, ranch dressing.

5.  Lemon pepper wings

6.  Polenta circles topped with shredded cheese, olives, and pico de gallo

7.  Dessert:  Mexican brownies with chocolate ganache, cheesecake squares, lemon tarts, oatmeal cookies half dipped in milk chocolate, truffles.

8.  Baby tomatos filled with goat cheese

9.  Gazpacho in shot glasses

10.  Nachos:  Large tortilla triangles topped with seasoned ground beef, black beans, pico de gallo, melted cheese and jalapenos, served individually.

11.  Chili and Lemon spiced nuts

Answer 4

sounds good!

for the vegetable tray id put baby carrots, celery, cauliflower, brocolli and cherry tomatoes with some kind of bleu cheese dip

the shrimp cocktail sounds really good and the meatballs. also maybe some kind of pasta salad?  you could put out cheese spreads or like pieces of cheddar and maybe that monteray jack cheese with some ritz or club crackers out.  ooh and i love when theres those little pinwheel sandwich thingies at parties. with like ham and cheese in them??   and maybe a fruit salad with grapes, strawberries, pineapple, melons stuff like that.  

i think sams makes little veggie trays and stuff like that too so you wouldnt have to bother making them.  

Answer 5

I would have two dips- maybe a dill dip for the veggies and the artichoke dip for the bread bowl.

Veggie tray- I would go for baby carrots, mini corns, broccoli, grape tomatoes, and yellow and orange bell peppers cut into strips.

Cheese Tray- go for some cheeses that people maybe have always wanted to try that are not too out of the norm- An irish white cheddar cheese, Jarlsberg, maybe a soft brie, some spreadable cheeses and have small crackers on the side.

I would do the meatballs and shrimp. There are some that don't like seafood or allergic so having the spicy meatballs are a great idea.

You can also do little asparagus tips wrapped up ham  with a dill cream cheese.

You can also take a sugar cookie dough and bake it into a pizza round and top with sweet cream cheese- cream cheese with powdered sugar and vanilla and top with strawberries, kiwis, mangos, etc. Cut into wedges.