help me with some good appetizers that are not too complicated.

[Anonymous]

I usually go get a bunch of appetizers from Lebanese Taverna to supplement whatever else I figure out.

[Anonymous]

Make some recipes yourself, fill in with something from a grocery/specialty store, some hot and some cold. Order some cookies and get your DH to handle the alcohol and water. Done.

[Anonymous]

People will devour things that they pretend they would never eat/are too good to eat:

*Pigs in a blanket (very easy to make)
*Cream cheese spread on salami and rolled up
*Bacon wrapped scallops

[Anonymous]

OP says she's not a great cook. Not that the above is hard, but unless she has multiple chafing dishes and someone to heat food up as needed, it could be tough to juggle along with being a present hostess.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
*Pigs in a blanket (very easy to make)

OP requested "easy but elegant".

Hot dogs wrapped in tube dough are appropriate on elementary school cafeteria lunch trays.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I make muhammara, which is a red pepper and walnut dip that you use with pita slices or pita chips and/or carrot sticks. It’s really good. I serve it alongside hummus.

Could you share this recipe please.

[Anonymous]

This is so easy but looks complex and elegant -- defrost puff pastry, add fig jam and brie, assemble and serve:

https://entertainingwithbeth.com/fig-and-brie-braid-in-puffed-pastry/

[Anonymous]

If you are near Eastern Market, Mike Bowers the cheese guy will make a fantastic cheese board for you - just tell him your budget and amount of people. He has the best selection and interesting combinations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is so easy but looks complex and elegant -- defrost puff pastry, add fig jam and brie, assemble and serve:

https://entertainingwithbeth.com/fig-and-brie-braid-in-puffed-pastry/

This looks delicious but more an appetizer for a sit down meal as knife and fork are needed.
How do you serve this at a cocktail party?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Easiest is to buy pre-cut, washed, organic carrot sticks and offer two different dips (but, as we learned from Seinfeld, no double-dipping !). Cut celery sticks also.

Small toasted breads (usually available in the deli section).

Shrimp.

Hard boiled eggs are available in the deli section of most stores.

The OP didn’t say she was serving middle aged women who hate food.

LOL. Yeah, this menu is not great.

[Anonymous]

Does no one cook anymore? Most of the suggestions are buying restaurant food.

[Anonymous]

Tri-colored baby sweet peppers, halved and stuffed with a mix of - herbs, creamcheese, shredded cheese - and topped with panko. Baked until the cheese bubbles. Delicious, easy and very attractive.

[Anonymous]

Cocktail minced chicken samosas from the Indian grocers' freezer section.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does no one cook anymore? Most of the suggestions are buying restaurant food.

OP says she's not a great cook. Points to discomfort with handling the food and frankly she will be stressed enough to hostess a short notice cocktail party. Why not buy the restaurant food, focus on presentation and making her guests comfortable?

[Anonymous]

Heat up sliced baguette for a few minutes in the oven, spread with mascarpone cheese, top with thin sliced apples, drizzle with honey and cinnamon.

Or buy restaurant food, or both. The rules are different for 25, that’s a lot if people are expecting a meal made of 10 things