inexpensive "finger-foods" buffet luncheon

[girli565]

Those sandwich rolls (in cirlcles) that you just defrost and serve at room temp. They have them at costco in the freezer section. My husband actually requests them for parties, they're very yummy!

 

[tina.tina]

Some favorites of mine

chicken & broccoli ring from pampered chef This is so pretty- the link has a picture. It always impresses people! You can slice it larger for an entree or smaller for appetizers. You can put it on a plate and slice it and it still stands up. http://thechiclife.typepad.com/the_chic_life/2009/01/pampered-chef-chicken-broccoli-ring.html
I just use crescent rolls, chicken (my sister uses canned chicken), mayonnaise, broccoli, & cheese and it turns out great. I always hated when my Mom would say "I don't know how much to put in- just until it looks right." But now I say the same thing & I don't measure for old recipes I'm used to making. (I like to make a ring with just cresent rolls, shredded deli ham, & shredded cheese to have instead of sandwiches on soup & sandwich night.)

I love triscuits layered with salsa, sour cream, and cheese but that's too much work to make each individual triscuit. So, I'm planning to experiment soon with a dip using those three ingredients and put triscuits & tortilla chips on the plate around the dip bowl. For the dip bowl, I'm using a large tortilla baked in one of those pans that you can bake tortilla shells to look like taco salad bowls.

This hot pizza dip is good with sliced french bread.http://www.razzledazzlerecipes.com/pampered-chef-recipes/hot-pizza-dip.htm

Sopapilla cheesecake bars http://www.pillsbury.com/recipes/sopapilla-cheesecake/f43b5472-18b1-4dee-a76c-5d6605290ec4/

At Christmas, my Mom had some really good, but really spicy bacon wrapped shrimp from Sam's club but I haven't seen it as Sam's since then.

 

[ENSOCK]

We love the lil smokies wrapped in cressent rolls. Cut each triangle into 3rds and wrap around a lil smokie. Bake until brown. Yummy.

If you have a mini muffin pan, you could do so many different apps. The one I want to try next is mixing up some cornbread mix, filling the cups then placing sliced hot dogs in the middle for mini corn dogs.

 

[tina.tina]

My sister does the cornbread & hotdog thing with a regular size muffin tin. She just cuts the hotdogs in several pieces. She makes large batches & freezes them. Her kids love them.

 

[Weluvdisny]

How about some deviled eggs?

Or pepperoni bread (lots of variations on this; breakfast version, pulled pork, chicken wing or ham and cheese inside pizza dough rolled up)? So easy to make and never any leftovers!

 

[mafibisha]

How about some deviled eggs?

Or pepperoni bread (lots of variations on this; breakfast version, pulled pork, chicken wing or ham and cheese inside pizza dough rolled up)? So easy to make and never any leftovers!

OP here!

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!! I've made notes of so many of your suggestions and ideas!! I'm getting so well equipped that I may even offer to host the next meeting, too!
(nah, probably not LOL)

For the pepperoni bread above, what is your basic recipe?

 

[Weluvdisny]

Pepperoni bread-

pizza dough
pepperoni
shredded mozzy cheese
any other pizza toppings you want
pizza sauce for dip
Parmesan cheese
butter-melted
oregano seasoning
garlic salt

I used to roll the dough out but now I hang it and stretch it and spread it out on the cookie sheet so it is almost as long and as wide as the cs. I spray another cs to transfer it to when I am done rolling it up. I fit 2 breads on a cs.

Put whatever toppings you want on it over the whole thing leaving a little dough around the edges. Roll it up and pinch it closed so that it doesn't come open in baking. Spread melted butter, then sprinkle garlic salt, oregano and parmesan cheese on top. Bake 350° 20-25 minutes or until done. I always cut it in half when it comes out to make sure the inside is done and cook it a few minutes longer if needed.

I've made a breakfast one with scrambled eggs, bacon bits, sausage and cheddar cheese. My family goes crazy over it! It is now a staple Christmas morning.

 

[mafibisha]

Pepperoni bread-

pizza dough
pepperoni
shredded mozzy cheese
any other pizza toppings you want
pizza sauce for dip
Parmesan cheese
butter-melted
oregano seasoning
garlic salt

I used to roll the dough out but now I hang it and stretch it and spread it out on the cookie sheet so it is almost as long and as wide as the cs. I spray another cs to transfer it to when I am done rolling it up. I fit 2 breads on a cs.

Put whatever toppings you want on it over the whole thing leaving a little dough around the edges. Roll it up and pinch it closed so that it doesn't come open in baking. Spread melted butter then sprinkle garlic salt, oregano and parmesan cheese on top. Bake 350° 20-25 minutes or until done. I always cut it in half when it comes out to make sure the inside is cooked and a few minutes longer if needed.

I've made a breakfast one with scrambled eggs, bacon bits, sausage and cheddar cheese. My family goes crazy over it! It is now a staple Christmas morning.

Thank you!! Sounds awesome and can't wait to try it!!

 

[teCh0010]

I use Chick-fil-a for this quite a bit. They have nuggets, chicken salad finger sandwiches, and wraps all on trays ready to put out.

Costco has good frozen appetizer samplers.

 

[momtosam]

I second deviled eggs. They are incredibly cheap to make and people just eat them up because it's not something you make for yourself in the normal day to day.

Also, have you ever tried spreading cream cheese on sweet Lebanon bologna? Roll it up and cut into thirds. Yummy finger food!