k..tomorrow night is the first night that Doc and I will be having company in our new home. Another couple that I have not met is coming over to visit(YIKES!!!!!!!)
I have not done much entertaining other than my 8 and 10 yo's friends. Somehow I don't think that pigs in a blanket or dirt cups are gonna cut it here...
I need some idea's on some appetizer type's of things...keep in mind that I'm who people refer to as the microwave queen..

hhmm first what are you serving for dinner

I'm getting off easy for this one...they're coming over after dinner ( thank you GOD!!!!)

appetizers

jalapenos sliced in half and stuffed with cream cheese and itty bitty pieces of bacon

tortillas with ham and cream cheese mixed with some spices then sliced in small pinwheels

stuffed mushrooms

shrimp cocktail

stuuffed grape leaves

all wonderful and usually a big hit

after dinner how about cake and coffee

I have some great recipes and will check back later but have an appointment right now.

Catnip =^^=

But MoF, where do you buy itty bitty pieces of bacon? <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/grin.gif" /> J/K--good ideas!

As a co-ruler in your microwave kingdom, I highly recommend cookies and coffee. You can get great just-like-homemade cookies at a bakery that aren't expensive--who doesn't like cookies?
EJ

Hmmm, after dinner.
I'm not a big desert person, so my first thought is some light wine (if you drink alcohol) and:

scallops rolled in bacon (can be bought premade even) but aren't hard to make. Buy the big sea scallops and wrap in turkey or real pork bacon. Bake for about 15 min. on high heat or convection if you have it. This will crisp the bacon nicely but not over cook the scallops.
or
2 kinds of cheese and some nice fruit such as red grapes, pineapple, strawberries, and/or green melon. You can arrange on a nice dish, will look great. Even cut a flower from your yard if you have some, and put on plate. (make sure there are NO bugs lurking before you do this, check it out throughly)!

or if you want dessert:

buy frozen mini chocolate eclair puffs. They are delicious and all you have to do is take them out of the box and arrange on a dish, let defrost in the fridge. (only about 15 minutes!)
They are still good with the wine and you can also offer coffee or tea.
A nice white wine slightly chilled will do the trick.

Have a great time with Doc and your new friends to be. Let us know how it goes!

<small>[ July 25, 2002, 10:20 AM: Message edited by: CMiranda ]</small>

Plus fresh fruit is always a good deal...if I don't make my own fruit tray, I order one from a local deli.

Bakerys also sell petit fours which are really good small iced cakes that go great with coffee and tea.

if you go to www.allrecipes.com you can type in ingrediants that you have on hand and it will show you recipes for all skill levels.

Let us know how you made out....it sounds fun...I've lived in my house for over five years and haven't entertained yet...with the exception of Uncle Leo's funeral.....

Hugs,
Twiisty
(Good to see you again)

<small>[ July 25, 2002, 11:23 AM: Message edited by: twiisty ]</small>

ej

you cook the itty bitty pieces of bacon or you could use bacon bits but oohh that doesnt sound so great lol

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Originally posted by DocsGirl:
<strong>...Somehow I don't think that pigs in a blanket or dirt cups are gonna cut it here...
I need some idea's on some appetizer type's of things...keep in mind that I'm who people refer to as the microwave queen..</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">HA! HA! HA! HA! LOL! I'm cracking up because I am so "with you" on this... I'm all for the Big Easy when it comes to entertaining. Sometimes I like to go all out tho but here are some really easy hors d'oeuvre ideas & one last time-consuming one that you might like to try:

(casual)
Tortilla chip dip:
dump some salsa over a block of cream cheese
Dig in

(more fancy)
Crackers with crab dip:
mix cream cheese with Worstershire sauce (enough to turn it a tan color) and a chopped onion
mix crab meat with coctail sauce and pour over the top of the cream cheese mixture
YUMMY!
(I like to use Keebler Club crackers because you get a whole bunch and believe me, you won't run out!)
Sorry I don't have the exact measurements, but you can't screw this one up too bad...

(casual)
little hot dogs in barbeque sauce
You put them in a small crock pot full of barbeque sauce and stick a fork in and let people scoop & serve themselves. Can also do this with meatballs, but will take more time.

(LOOKS fancy)
Cheese ball & Wheatsworth crackers
Grate bleu cheese, cheddar cheese, a little cream cheese and add some drops of white wine to moist and blend with a mixer until smooth. Make 2 balls or 1 big ball and roll in finely chopped pecans and parsley. Chill for a few hours. TA-DA! So easy and sooo tasty!!! & looks like you went to a lot of trouble. The only "trouble" is grating all the cheese...
You can arrange the crackers nicely around the edge of a huge a platter and put the cheese ball in the middle on a small plate with a cheese knife.

AFTER DINNER SWEETS, MAYBE???

MICROWAVE FUDGE (this is SOOO easy and a big hit, trust me!!!)
1 lb. powdered sugar
1/2 cup cocoa
1/2 lb. butter (only real butter will do!)
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Blend sugar and cocoa in mixing bowl. Make a hole in the middle of dry mix and add milk and butter...(DO NOT BLEND)

Microwave on HIGH for 3 minutes. Remove and stir. Add vanilla and nuts. Pour into a greased, glass 9x9 dish and refrigerate for 1 hour. Cut & serve on a crystal platter to dress it up...

PEANUT BUTTER BALLS
Heat in microwave until melted or softened--3 cups of chunky peanut butter and 3/4 cup butter. Remove from heat. Add 1 box powdered sugar, 3.5 cups Rice Krispies, one large bag of chocolate chips and stir until mixed.

Roll into 1-inch balls and shake in a bag of powdered sugar. Use flour on hands to make balls). Refrigerate until time to serve.

OH and there is this other one where you make melon balls (a lot of trouble, I know, but), and you stick them with toothpicks. You could also use some pineapple and maybe some mandarin orange wedges (expensive but looks nice and really tasty)... And for the dip, you mix a jar of marshmallow creme and 8 oz. cream cheese and 1/2 cup of Cool Whip. MMMM!

<small>[ July 26, 2002, 03:19 AM: Message edited by: BINthereDUNthat ]</small>

Hmmm.... and if you serve something cold, you might want to have hot drinks. If you serve something warm, you might want to have plenty of cold drinks... <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="images/icons/smile.gif" /> But don't serve something sweet and have a sweet drink also, you know??? <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="images/icons/shocked.gif" />

Mulled cider is a neat hot drink that you can serve in a crock pot with a ladle and let guests serve themselves.

Sherbet ginger ale punch.

Morrocan tea is really sweet, but a really NEAT and different hot drink for everyone to try...

Iced chai or iced coffee--for something unique as well!

MOST OF ALL HAVE FUN! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="images/icons/smile.gif" /> And, if you try something totally new, keep in mind that everyone might not like it so don't feel hurt, there will just be more leftovers for YOU guys to enjoy!!! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/grin.gif" />

<small>[ July 26, 2002, 03:21 AM: Message edited by: BINthereDUNthat ]</small>

Something we do occasionally is make malts and serve them with Pepperidge Farm cookie assortment for fun. No one ever expects they will be served malts and their reaction is surprise/delight...it is such a hit. If you don't have a blender, use a hand mixer. Don't skimp on the malt powder...make sure you use 3 tablespoons per malt, good quality vanilla ice cream and Hershey hot fudge in the jar. Real whip creme in the can (Reddi-Wip) to garnish. Must have straws.

I've done this a couple times and the reaction is always the same...I bring out the malts in tall glasses on a tray with some cookies and everybody swoons because no one orders or makes malts for themselves and it is such a treat and no one feels guilty eating them because they were served to them...hahaha. The cookies are pretty and tasty and help when someone gets one of those nasty ice cream headaches.

If you are weight and health consciencous and you just can't bring yourself to consume all those fat grams, do fruit smoothies with bananas, strawberries, melons or whatever with yogurt and vanilla and serve with coconut cake (Pepperidge Farm again-very light)

Presentation is the key and makes everything seem more special and the food seem to taste better, so use your good dishes and glassware. Martha it up a bit.

Catnip =^^=

<small>[ July 26, 2002, 07:33 AM: Message edited by: catnip ]</small>

catnip

what a great idea. I will have to try that..

BTDT

I think I gained weight just reading your post. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/grin.gif" />

Thank you thank you thank you ladies <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="images/icons/smile.gif" />
Since it's gonna be 105 here today I've decided to go with a nice fruit tray and I'm going to try BTDT's fruit dip. I may also make clam dip served with mini breadsticks( which my very MIDWESTERN Doc grimaced at...LOL)

His idea ws to bring out a box of cheeze-its
( men!!!!!)
I've printed off all of your idea's for future use...Catnip...a malt...that sounds so heavenly wicked and delicious ..I will most surely have to give that a try..

I have to admit I'm rather excited about entertaining again..it's been awhile since I've had the desire to. I've tended to isolate myself from people since D-Day. Almost as if someone looked at me they'd know..I have a lot of pride, most of it stubborn..lol
ok I'm rambling now and I have a floor to mop..I have to have things perfect, the woman coming over tonight works with Doc and the FOW..I want her to go back to work on Monday and rave about what a great time they had here...hmm wonder if I should slip her a twenty to make it really really good... <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/grin.gif" />

Above all....look devastating.

Catnip =^^=

ok did I miss something how did it go!???

CHEEZ-ITs! lol! That really cracked me up!! *sigh*

Sooooo, how did it go??? <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="images/icons/smile.gif" />

Soooooooo, how did it goooooooooo???

<img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/grin.gif" />

Twiisty