Finger Food Recipes

Entertaining a group of people, regardless of a few friends to a large group can be a tiresome process. Paying attention to the most exacting details can be difficult for even the most seasoned host. Making a good impression on your guests and being a consummate host can be achieved through many tactics; however, nothing seems to work better than having a great selection of simple, delicious and easy to prepare finger foods. Simple finger food recipes can turn even the most simple cocktail party into the talk and envy of your friends and coworkers. The key to delivering big when it comes to finger food recipes is to offer up food that is easy to eat, isn’t messy, and reminds people of happier times. The majority of the recipes can be prepared ahead of time and need only a short time in the oven in order to serve them to your guests.

It may sound simple, and that’s because it is. Think how many millions of children love grilled cheese... guess what, they turned into adults who love gill cheese. For a cocktail party adding a few gourmet ingredients can bring the grill cheese of childhood back to a level of respect and admiration. The listing of ingredients needed for this finger sized sandwich is rather simple:
- Two slices of bread
- Butter
- Fontina and Gouda cheese
- Thin sliced prosciutto (Italian Ham)
Getting started lightly butter each side of the bread, in the middle put a slice each of the Gouda and Fontina cheese, and prosciutto. Make sure the buttered side of the bread is on the outside of the sandwich. Cook the sandwiches in a skillet for 2-3 minutes per side (or until lightly browned). Remove from the pan and cut into 4 triangular wedges. A helpful hint: if your are preparing a number of sandwiches you can do them in batches of three and four and then keep them warm in a 200 degree oven.

They say everything is better with bacon, and they would happen to be right. Bacon wrapped scallops are a great finger food that can be prepared in advance and will win over your guests with it’s simplicity and elegance. What you will need:
- Two dozen jumbo sea scallops
- Thin sliced bacon (best if purchased from a butcher)
- Decorative tooth picks
Simply wrap your scallops around the outer edge with bacon. Spray a cookie sheet with a non stick cooking spray and arrange the scallops about an inch apart on the tray, spaced evenly. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and allow for the scallops to cook for ten to twelve minutes (or until bacon is crispy). After the scallops are cooked through remove them from the oven, arrange on a decorative plate and place a toothpick in each to have your guests avoid using their hands. 

This may sound more complicated than it actually is, but don’t be afraid to try something outside of your comfort zone. It may also be a good idea to poll your audience before electing to cook a seafood based dish, given some peoples allergies and taste preference. For this dish you will need:
- One package of whole baby portabello mushrooms
- A half pound of jumbo lump crab meat (canned if fresh is not available)
- One small shallot
- Three tablespoons of mayonnaise
- Half of a diced red and green bell pepper
- Salt and Pepper to taste
Prepping the mushrooms is the most arduous process of the dish, pop off the stems and then use a small spoon to scoop out the fleshy filament in the underside of the mushroom. This will leave a hollow opening, which will eventually be filled with our crab meat stuffing. Next finely dice your shallot, and bell peppers and add it along with your crab meat and mayonnaise into a large mixing bowl. Mix to incorporate to ingredients evenly into the stuffing. Add a teaspoons worth of stuffing into each mushroom (depending on the size of the mushroom) and arrange the mushrooms in a baking dish which has been sprayed with a non stick coating to prevent the mushrooms from sticking to the bottom. Cook the mushrooms for 12-15 minutes at 350 degrees or until the stuffing is golden brown.

All of these party finger food recipes are simple to prepare. They can all be done ahead of the arrival of your guests and allow you to pop them in the oven and enjoy your party and your guests. Simple yet elegant ingredients can turn even the most simple of finger foods to be the star of the party.