desperately searching for food ideas for drinks party

[Anonymous]

Today's DCUM Friday Foodie Challenge:

We have 20 people coming for drinks and nibbles tomorrow night. My usual prep routine for these things is to wander around Whole Foods in a daze until I'm overcome by panic -- er, adrenalin -- whereupon I grab anything that looks vaguely appetizing. Thus, I emerge from the store with a random collection of dips, chips, veggies, cheeses, olives, and frozen items from around the world (samosas and dumplings anyone?).

I'm a little tired of the same old, same old, so I'm hoping for some inspired suggestions from my DCUM foodie pals (you've never failed me yet!). We're short on time though, so please make them quick and easy -- prepared food is just fine; extra credit if you can supply an entire menu. TIA!

[Anonymous]

Get a honeybaked ham, small rolls, chutney, interesting mustards, etc. Add crudite with spring veg -- radishes, snap peas, baby cukes and carrots and anything else that looks good.

[Anonymous]

How about:

homemade guacamole, or make-your-own deconstructed guacamole bar (diced avocado, spring onions, lime wedges, diced jalapeno) with some variously-colored chips.

Hit the olive bar at WF or similar, and pick out interesting olives, pepperoncini, cornichons, and peppadews.

Thread mini mozzarella balls, grape tomatoes, and a basil leaf on toothpicks.

Quiche (mushroom and ham).

make homemade dessert; everyone is always impressed with homemade cookies or lemon bars.

[Anonymous]

What drinks are you planning to serve?

[Anonymous]

You guys are great; I love these ideas! Keep 'em comin' -- maybe we'll have a party next month too! We're going to have wine, beer and Pimm's Cup (because it's spring ).

[Anonymous]

Antipasto platter.

Baked potatoes w/ simple toppings (shredded cheese, sour cream & chives, pre-made chili.

Pigs in a blanket.

Mini quiches.

Watermelon, feta, mint salad.

Shrimp cocktail.

[Anonymous]

You could load up at Lebanese Taverna Market in Arlington - hummus, baba ghanouj, stuffed grape leaves, feta (dice it), olives. Get some of the good frozen hors d'oeuvres at Trader Joe's (mushroom turnovers, some of their frozen tarts - Alsatian something something, bake and cut into small squares, etc.) Quick and easy. LebTav has lots of locations and would probably fix you a platter or three if you called.

[Anonymous]

With Pimm's cup (YUM) you could do a Brit/Colonial spread too.

Slice up and saute a bunch of chicken sausages. There are tons of flavors. Boil and then saute sliced potatoes. Serve with jarred curries and chutneys. Trader Joe has some good options. Also serve sticks of cheddar cheese and if you can't get the authentic onion relish you can saute until golden and soft a bunch of onions in butter or olive oil. Also a lemon curd dessert. Or something with golden syrup. What time shall I arrive?

[Anonymous]

Chicken sate.

[Anonymous]

Ah, a spring menu! Keep it simple.

To make:
--an asparagus tart
--a prosciutto tart
--rustic fruit tart

Buy some puff pastry, thaw it in the fridge. Make one veg tart and one non-veg. I suggest lemon ricotta asparagus and one with prosciutto gruyere. Cut into squares:

http://www.ifyoucanmakethatyoucanmakethis.com/core-recipes-savoury/savoury-pastry-tarts/asparagus-tart-with-ricotta-and-lemon

For the prosciutto, you can also cut the puff pasty in squares first and roll them up individually.

Use the third sheet of puff pastry for a rustic fruit tart like pear:
http://www.puffpastry.com/recipe/50011/pear-and-honey-croustade

To buy:
--fresh strawberries and a bowl of yogurt dip or clotted cream.

--rice crackers and cheese board with a goat cheese log rolled in a fresh herb finely chopped, a blue cheese drizzled with honey, and manchego

--bowls of pitted olives and nuts

--platter of store bought hummus and chopped fresh veggies

--mini brownie bites or regular size brownies cut into bites

Frozen mini quiches and spanakopita is also good to supplement.

To serve:
Water, white/red wine, beer and a special pitcher drink like

a green tea mojito:
http://www.thekitchn.com/recipe-review-iced-green-tea-m-116750

[Anonymous]

The easiest way to change it up would be to take your current M.O.--dash around the store at the last minute, grabbing urgently for what's convenient--to a different store. That M.O. works really well at Trader Joe's, which is full of awesome frozen heat-n-eat appetizers (and awesome frozen desserts, too).

We could give you a bunch of canape ideas, but are you going to follow them, really? Do you have time to make 100 melon balls, wrap them with 100 little pieces of prosciutto, stab them with 100 little toothpicks, and then repeat with 3 other ideas?

No judgment here -- I'd make the TJs run.

If you do go the ham route, though, make sure you have biscuits.

[Anonymous]

OP here -- Can't thank you all enough; I'm going with 20:31's menu (DD and her pal are puff pastry afficionadas), but I loved all your suggestions (and TJ's poster, I appreciate your practicing nonjudgmentalism and compassion). I'm sure our party will be fun, and we'll have a few more this summer, employing all your wonderful ideas. Have a great weekend, filled with food, friends and fun!