Appetizer Ideas for Birthday Party
Planning a birthday party, either for kids or adults, can be very demanding. From the guest list to the decoration, everything has to be done perfectly and this can make the whole process tiring. In addition, one also has the responsibility of arranging the party food. However, it is not necessary that you have to provide your guests with an elaborate spread, rather serving appetizers for a birthday party will be a great idea. Appetizers do not consume a lot of time and children as well as adults really love them. So, it is important that you know about some really good appetizers for birthday parties. However, before we go into details, there are certain crucial things that you have to keep in mind.
Birthday Party Appetizers
- Once you have decided that you are going to serve your guests appetizers at the birthday party, the next step is to make a list of the appetizers you are going to make. Make sure you have at least 4-5 appetizers at the party and also the quantity of appetizers should depend on the number of guests you have invited.
- Once you have made the list, decide on the dips and sauces that go with it. You also have to decide on the things that you need to buy for making these appetizers. If the appetizer is something new, make sure that you try it once before the actual party and take the opinion of your family members.
- As on the day of the birthday party, there will be other arrangements that you have to make, it will be really beneficial if you make the appetizers a day or two before the party. This will save you a lot of time and you will be able to enjoy the party, rather than spending the whole time in the kitchen. Prepare the appetizers and place them in the freezer till the day of the birthday party.
- Along with the appetizers, it is also important that you keep the cutlery as well as the serving plates and bowls ready a day prior to the party. This will avoid chaos on the day of the party and you can also select the dishes that go well with the decorations or the theme of the party.
- Another thing that you have to keep in mind is the way you are going to serve the starters. If it is a kid's birthday party, the best way will be to serve them the starters yourself. On the other hand, if it is an adults party, it will be good if you can arrange people who can go around the guests and serve them the starters. The number of people you need for this job will depend on the number of guests you have at your party.
- One more thing that you have to remember is that do not forget to serve drinks when you are having starters for the birthday party. For kids birthday party, along with the starters, you can serve fruit juices, colas, etc., whereas if the birthday party is for adults, you can serve hard drinks like bear, whiskey and champagne, according to the preference of each guest.
As kids are little choosy about what they eat, kids birthday party starters should be something that is good for the health and at the same time delicious too.
Cheese Wedges
Ingredients
- 2 small round Camembert cheeses (French cheese)
- 8 ounces cranberry sauce
- 1/4 cup sesame seeds
- 2 eggs
- 4 ounces fine bread crumbs
- 3 cups peanut oil
Place the Camembert (cheese) in the refrigerator for a night and the next morning chop them into twelve equal sized wedges. Place these chopped cheese wedges again into the refrigerator for some time. Break the eggs in a medium-sized mixing bowl and whisk them till they are light and fluffy. In another bowl, combine sesame seeds and bread crumbs and spread them on flat dish. The cheese that is kept in the fridge should be first dipped in the bowl of beaten eggs and then on the plate which has the bread crumb mixture. Place these dipped cheese wedges on a baking tray and refrigerate it again for an hour or so. Heat oil in a deep bottomed pan and deep-fry these dipped cheese wedges till the become golden in color. Take out of the oil and drain them on a tissue paper. Place them on a serving plate and serve with cranberry sauce.
Artichoke Hearts
Ingredients
- 14 ounces artichoke hearts
- 8 ounces cream cheese
- 8 ounces Parmesan cheese
- 4 ounces sour cream
- 4 ounces mayonnaise
- Dill weed and garlic salt, as per taste
- Paprika
Chop the artichoke hearts into fine pieces and keep them aside. In a bowl, mix Parmesan cheese, mayonnaise, dill weed, sour cream and garlic salt together. Combine the artichoke hearts and mix well. Grease a long shallow dish with a non sticky spray and transfer the artichoke mixture into it. Spread the paprika over it and bake in a preheated oven at 375 degrees F for 20-25 minutes. Once it becomes brown in color, take out and serve with crackers.
Easy Birthday Party Starters
If you are looking for some simple and quick appetizers for parties, here are some that will be loved by all your guests.
Grilled Ribs
Ingredients
- 3 pounds spareribs, chopped
- Dash of garlic salt
- 6 ounces pineapple juice
- 16 ounces water
- 8 ounces Russian salad dressing
- salt and pepper to taste
In a flat dish, place ribs and sprinkle them with pepper and salt. Transfer the ribs into the crock pot, fill it with water and cook on a low temperature for 6-7 hours. Once they become tender, switch off the crock pot and drain the excess water. Make sauce by mixing pineapple juice and salad dressing.
Place the cooked ribs on a grilling pan and spread garlic salt over it. With a spoon, spread some sauce on one side of the ribs and grill till it becomes brown and then, repeat the same process on the other side too.
Mushrooms with Crab
Ingredients
- 20 medium-sized mushrooms
- 1/4 pound fresh crab meat, flaked
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 2 green onions
- 1/4 cup dry bread crumbs
- Vegetable oil
- 2 tablespoons margarine or butter
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
- Paprika
Wash the mushrooms thoroughly and drain. Remove the stems from the mushrooms and place it in the food processor. Add chopped green onions and garlic and blend till they become coarse. Heat butter in a non stick pan and fry the above mixture for a minute. Transfer this to a mixing bowl and add the crab, bread crumbs, salt and lemon juice to it. Stir till all the ingredients are fully blended. Take the mushroom caps and put oil on the bottom as well as on its sides. Take a little of the filling and stuff the mushrooms and sprinkle some paprika. Place it on a baking sheet and bake in a preheated oven at 350 degrees F for ten minutes. When the mushrooms become soft, place it on a dish and serve.
These are some of the starters that you can make at home yourself. If you are feeling too overwhelmed due to the party planning, ask one of your family members or friends to help. So, try these appetizers for the next birthday celebration in your family and enjoy a memorable party.
