Appetizers That Can Be Made Now & Frozen

Take some of the hassle out of preparing for a party.

Preparing for a party takes quite a bit of work. Make it easier on yourself by completing as much prep work as you can before the celebration. Choose appetizers that you can freeze and then thaw or heat before party time.

Baked

Premade dough makes your party appetizers a cinch. Bake pie crust tarts in a miniature cupcake holder sprayed with cooking spray so the tarts release easily. Fill the tarts with a custard-based savory flavor such as onion, spinach and mushroom or smoked salmon. Freeze the tarts after you've baked them and defrost at party time. Roll biscuits from the refrigerator case into breadsticks about 8 inches long and 1/2-inch thick. Brush with egg white and roll in nuts, dried herbs or seeds. Freeze after baking and then defrost at party time. Serve with various flavored dips.

Meatballs

Tiny tasty tidbits, meatballs are a handy appetizer. Expand beyond ground beef. Try ground turkey with sage and dried cranberries. Roll three parts pork breakfast sausage with one part uncooked chorizo for meatballs with Southwest flair. Serve salmon meatballs made with canned salmon, chopped scallions and dill. Bake the meatbalss in the oven or saute them on the stovetop, then freeze them. Defrost and reheat at party time.

Fried Foods

Make batches of egg rolls, spring rolls, fried shrimp, onion rings, French fries and chicken wings up to several weeks before the party. Freeze them after frying. Defrost and reheat in the oven.

References

• "Party Food"; Barbara Kafka; 1992