Anonymous wrote:What do you keep on hand for unexpected guests to snack on? My cousin just called and we arranged for her to pop over for a drink/snacks with her boyfriend. I usually have some sort of cheese on hand (today it's Brie), and I made a plate of cheese, dried apricots, Trader Joes Fig and Olive crisps and some seasoned nuts. I keep a supply of nuts, crackers, dried fruit, those parmesan crisps, etc on hand and I almost always have a cheese around. Just wondering what other ideas may be out there. I do keep some frozen appy's in the freezer but those don't really lend themselves to "Impromptu" - when you have to preheat an oven, that adds time/complexity.
Crudite (usually cucumbers, baby carrots, bell peppers, and/or cherry tomatoes) with hummus or yogurt dip, string cheese wrapped with Genoa salami and sliced, dates filled with chevre or cream cheese and wrapped in prosciutto, Caprese bites (toothpick with cherry tomato, piece of basil and mozzarella ball), and Gerkins wrapped with ham and cream cheese (spread the cream cheese on the ham, place the Gerkin inside, and roll). I do not keep all of these items on hand. But, I usually have the ingredients for 2-3 of these. I almost always have at least a little crudite, some string cheese, salami, ham, cream cheese, and dates available.