Cold Appetizer Idea
Throwing a party can be a fun experience. After the invitations are sent out, it is time to start planning what you will serve at your gathering. Many party planners are seeking easy appetizer ideas to feed to visitors. Since there are a ton of other things that need to be done before guests arrive, recipes for quick appetizers are ideal.
Miniature Salad Cups
When hosting a party, you not only want your food to be tasty, you also want it to look breathtaking. Sometimes, presentation can leave a more lasting impression than the food itself. With miniature salad cups, you can not only wow your guests, but you can save yourself time cleaning up by utilizing small, clear plastic cups. After the contents have been devoured, the cups can be tossed in the trash instead of leaving you with extra dishes to wash. These cups allow the colorful foods you serve to add a splash of color to your serving tables or trays.
Any salad can be added to the cups, but here are a few that go really great and are always a hit at parties:
Caesar salad Waldorf salad Spinach salad Green salad with crumbled feta Lobster salad Taco salad layered Chicken salad with a pita square Pasta salad Bean salad
No matter what you choose to serve in your cups, they are bound to impress your guests with your elegant presentation. Mini trifles can also be served the same way for a delicious sweet treat.
Easy Shrimp Ceviche
Ceviche is an easy way to bring Latin American flavors to your party. This is a party favorite that will look fantastic being served in your miniature cups. For some added pizzazz, place a toasted tortilla chip in the bottom of your cup and add the salad to the top. The toasted tortilla chip will give the shrimp ceviche an added crunch. For those spice lovers, keep a bottle of hot sauce handy for some added spice.
This recipe can easily be adjusted to your tastes. If you prefer a lot of heat, try adding another jalapeno pepper. If you do not like spice, only use half of the jalapeno. The avocados and celery are optional so feel free to add or leave them out if you prefer. For a bigger party, double this recipe to ensure all of your guests get a taste of this delicious appetizer.
What You Need:
1 pound peeled and deveined medium shrimp 1 cup fresh lime juice 10 diced plum tomatoes 1 diced large yellow onion 1 seeded and minced jalapeno pepper 2 diced avocados 2 diced ribs celery Chopped fresh cilantro Salt and pepper
How To Make It:
Place shrimp and lime juice in a plastic bag. Allow the shrimp to marinade in the lime juice until they start to turn pink and opaque.
In a mixing bowl, add in plum tomatoes, jalapeno, onion, celery, and avocado. It is recommended to use a non-reactive bowl such as stainless steel, glass, or plastic.
Remove shrimp from juice while saving the juice. Dice up the shrimp and then add to the bowl of veggies. Pour in lime juice marinade from the bag. Add in cilantro, salt and pepper to taste. Gently toss to mix and serve.
