Dorm life isn’t champagne wishes and caviar dreams — it’s more like malt liquor mistakes. But that doesn’t mean your food has to be as unsophisticated as your dorm (trash cans chained to the wall… enough said). Splash a little class into your week with an hors d’oeuvres party. Hors d’oeuvres are cheap, delicious and sure to make your friends feel ultra classy. And hey, why not keep it at a college level and make it BYOB? You supply the food and let your friends supply the booze.
Caprese skewers
A staple at Italian restaurants is the Caprese salad, in which overlapping layers of sliced tomato, basil and fresh mozzarella (intended to represent the colors of the Italian flag) are arranged on a plate. While Caprese salad on its own is delicious, it’s kind of messy to serve as a party food. So why not skewer it and turn it into a party-friendly finger food?
You will need:
1 package of wooden skewers (find in the cookware or barbecue section of the supermarket)
1 package of red grape or cherry tomatoes
1 package of yellow grape or cherry tomatoes (if you can find them; if not, just buy double the amount of red tomatoes)
1 medium to large bunch of fresh basil
1 lb. container of mini mozzarella balls (often referred to as bocconcini)
To make one skewer, alternate a red tomato, a mozzarella ball, a basil leaf that has been folded in half and a yellow tomato. Slide all of the ingredients to the pointed top of the skewer so that your guests can easily bite off the ingredients without injuring themselves. Repeat until you have enough skewers to feed your guests.
Bacon-wrapped dates
Be warned: Make a TON of these because they will go. Fast. In fact, eat a few before your guests arrive because you probably won’t get any once the party starts. This recipe is actually from an amazing tapas restaurant in New York called (shameless plug) Sala 19. Luckily, they’re just as easy to make at home as they are to order there. You will, however, probably need to go to Whole Foods to get all the ingredients.
You will need:
1 package of dates (either pitted or with pits, which you can find in the produce area or in the dried fruits and nuts section of the store. I prefer Medjool dates because they’re large and sweet, but it really doesn’t matter what kind you buy.)
1 package whole blanched almonds (basically almonds with the skins removed; also in the dried fruits and nuts section)
1 package of bacon (one piece of bacon for every three dates)
Toothpicks
Directions:
- First, preheat your oven to 450 degrees.
- Next, cut each slice of bacon into thirds and set aside. If your dates haven’t yet been pitted, remove the pits now.
- Once your prep work is done, it’s time to assemble. Take one date and stuff it with one of the blanched almonds. Then wrap the bacon third around the date and secure with a toothpick, and place on a non-stick baking sheet.
- Once you’ve stuffed and wrapped all of your dates, place them in the oven for five minutes. Then flip them and bake for another five to seven minutes. Bake your dates until the bacon is crispy on all sides.
- Remove from the oven and drain on paper towel. Place the drained dates onto a platter and they’re ready to be served!
Mini hummus pizzas
This one is perfect for a last-minute get-together because it can be whipped up in under 10 minutes. This appetizer looks elegant and tastes great and your guests won’t realize how easy it was to make!
You will need:
1 package of mini pita breads
1 tub of hummus
Olive Oil
Salt
Pepper
Cucumber or cherry tomato, for garnish
Directions:
- Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.
- Lay the mini pita breads onto a baking sheet and sprinkle with olive oil, salt and pepper.
- Heat the pitas in the oven for about five to eight minutes, or until they are a light golden brown and crispy around the edges.
- Remove from the oven and top each pita with about a teaspoon of hummus. Then top the hummus with either a thin slice of cucumber or half of a cherry tomato.
- Sprinkle the prepared pitas with a little bit more salt and pepper and arrange on a serving platter.
Whether you’re making enough for four or 50, these recipes will really come in handy the next time you’re throwing a shindig. You’ll still have some leftover money in the bank and your friends will be thrilled with your fun creations. And if you’re all still hungry afterwards, you can always go for a late-night run to BK. You’ll want greasy food to satisfy your drunk munchies, anyway.