How to Throw a Last Minute Cocktail Party

It's Friday night. You just left work at 5:00 and your friends are coming over at 8:00 for a last minute cocktail party. Who has time to hit the grocery store, cook, straighten up, shower and be dressed to kill in a few hours? Not to worry. A quick motor through the grocery store, a little chopping, a little assembling and your friends will think you're the best host of the bunch.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 30 to 40 crackers
• 2 cartons of spreadable cheese
• 30 to 40 grape tomatoes (2 small packages)
• 1 can drained artichoke hearts, chopped
• 1 small can diced green chiles
• 1 cup mayonnaise
• 1 bunch diced green onions
• hot sauce to taste
• 1 cup grated parmesan
• Pita chips or melba toasts
• 2 15-oz. cans of no bean chili
• 2 8-oz. packages of cream cheese
• 2 small cans green chiles
• Corn chips
• Pre-cut vegetables
• Pre-made vegetable dip
• Fresh flowers
• A selection of beer and wine

1. Spread cheese generously on 30 to 40 crackers. Top each with a grape tomato. Arrange on a platter.

2. Combine chopped artichoke hearts, green chiles, mayonnaise, green onions, hot sauce and parmesan in a square casserole dish. Heat in the oven at 350 degrees for 20 to 30 minutes, until cheese is bubbly. Serve with pita chips or melba toasts.

3. Combine chili, cream cheese and green chiles in a sauce pan. Stir over low heat until heated through and mixture is combined. Serve with corn chips.

4. Assemble vegetables on a platter and serve with purchased vegetable dip.

5. Make your cocktail party even easier; serve beer and wine.

6. Lay out the spread on a central table. Place fresh flowers in a vase and make this the centerpiece. Dim the lights and intersperse lit candles between the platters. Now there's nothing left to do but enjoy yourself.

Tips & Warnings

• For a larger spread add an easy-to-assemble cheese and cracker platter. Brie and cheddar are always good bets.
• Time hot appetizers to come out when most of your guests have arrived.
• Never serve anything in store cartons.

[Zulnic]

on 6/11/2008 Good article, very good information even for those who never have done a cocktail party. It will be good information to know when, and if, they ever need to throw a good Cocktail party.