Perfect Party Starters

Wasabi Party Mix—By Deborah Fewell
Wasabi, a Japanese horseradish, not only adds strong flavor to traditional party mix, it also adds color. This recipe will give your party the zesty kick it needs to get started.

INGREDIENTS
1,250 mL (5 cups) mini pretzels
1,000 mL (4 cups) mini toasts
1,000 mL (4 cups) bite size rice or corn square cereal or shredded wheat
1,000 mL (4 cups) bite size bran cereal
750 mL (3 cups) wasabi peas
250 mL (1 cup) butter melted
50 mL (1/4 cup) Worchestershire sauce
5 mL (1 tsp) garlic powder
2 mL (1/2 tsp) ground ginger

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 150ºC (300ºF).
2. Mix all the ingredients together in a large bowl and transfer to a baking dish
3. Bake for 45 minutes.
4. Let the mixture cool and serve.

Tangy Marinated Tri-Color Olives—By Deborah Fewell
Olives aren’t just for drinks. This recipe using green and black olives is stuffed with flavor—literally. Olives are known to be a great source of essential fatty acids, fiber and vitamins, making this recipe both tasty and nutritious.

INGREDIENTS
227 grams (1/2 lb.) green garlic stuffed olives
227 grams (1/2 lb.) green feta stuffed olives
227 grams (1/2 lb.) green pimento stuffed olives
227 grams (1/2 lb.) black olives
175 mL (3/4 cup) extra virgin olive oil
50 mL (1/4 cup) sherry vinegar
30 mL (2 tbsp) fresh oregano, chopped
5 mL (1 tsp) black pepper
1 mL (1/4 tsp) crushed red pepper
3 garlic cloves, chopped
2 lemons, sliced

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Combine all of the olives in a large bowl.
2. In a small bowl, whisk together the six remaining ingredients and pour over the olives and marinate for seven hours.
3. Stir the lemon slices into the olive mixture and transfer to a beautiful display vase to serve.

Cucumber Canapes —By Deborah Fewell
These cool cucumber canapés are one-bite wonders. This recipe substitutes cucumbers for bread or crackers to make it a guilt-free snack.

INGREDIENTS
2 English cucumbers
1 large red onion, halved and thinly sliced
2 bunches fresh mint, cut into ribbons
1 package crumbled feta
1 bottle balsamic vinaigrette

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Keeping the skin on, slice the cucumber into 2.5 cm (1") thick slices on the bias (diagonally).
2. Place the cucumber slices on a platter.
3. On each cucumber, place a pinch of the red onion, then a pinch of the mint and then sprinkle with feta crumbles.
4. Drizzle with balsamic vinaigrette and serve.

Gourmet Sausage Rolls—By Deborah Fewell
Taking a new spin on a finger food favorite, this recipe uses different kinds of sausage to offer guests more enticing options. This tasty appetizer is easy to make and even easier to eat. Serve with a variety of dipping sauces to maximize the possibilities.

INGREDIENTS
1 package fully cooked turkey andouille sausage
1 package fully cooked chicken apple sausage
1 package fully cooked chicken pesto sausage
2 packages puff pastry, thawed
45 mL (3 tbsp) flour for dusting
1 egg beaten for egg wash
1 bottle ranch dressing
1 bottle honey Dijon mustard
1 bottle of your favourite BBQ sauce
1 bottle hot sauce, preferably Chipotle flavour

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 190ºC (375ºF).
2. Cut the sausages in half on the bias (diagonally).
3. Dust your counter with flour and lay out the puff pastry.
4. Cut out 2.5 cm (1") wide long strips of the pastry.
5. Wrapping in a coil/ spiral, wrap the sausages with the puff pastry strips and place them on a sheet tray.
6. Brush them with a little of the egg to wash and bake for 15 minutes.
7. Serve hot from the oven with three dipping sauces: honey Dijon, ranch dressing, and BBQ sauce with the hot sauce mixed in (kicked up BBQ sauce).

Ten Party Planning Tips—By Wanda N. Colón
Getting the party started begins long before guests arrive. Keep these tips in mind when planning your next gathering to maximize the fun and minimize the stress for you and your guests.

1. Make a budget. Creating an Organized Entertaining Journal can help keep plans organized and funds in check.
2. Have a theme. This will set the tone for your party, so be creative and have fun brainstorming
3. Create stations. Utilize all areas of your home, from dining room, living room to the patio or backyard. Have a table in each room with food or drinks. This way, you won’t have 40 people in the kitchen and makes it easier for guests to mingle.
4. Have great food. See Cooking Maven Deborah’s recipes and search Home Made Simple.com for more great recipe ideas.
5. Have a beverage station, like Home Maven Patrick’s Functional Drink Service Cart.
6. Be thrifty. Buy things you will reuse. Instead of an impractical centerpiece, personalize candlestick holders with silver leaf for décor element you’ll be able to reuse for every special occasion.
7. Give out favors. A special take-home treat will give your guests something to remember your special occasion. See Thankful Favors for party favor ideas.
8. Lighting creates mood. For ideas, check out Bright Ideas for Your Home.
9. Don’t forget the details. Light a fresh scented candle in the powder room to let your guests know you’ve thought of every detail.
10. Prepare as much as you can ahead of time. This will give you time to enjoy your guests and have fun when the party starts.

These tips will turn you into a party-planning pro. Using these no-mess recipes will keep your kitchen clean and your guests’ plates full.