Make The Perfect Hostess Snack In a Flash

When you’re planning and hosting a party, figuring out what to serve can be a dilemma. Whether it’s an all-out dinner or not, snack foods of some kind are usually expected.

It’s essential to plan out a range of hostess snack foods to serve in advance, so you’ll have an organized list to choose from every time you host a get together. Go ahead, try out some of these and make note of your favorites.

Be sure to keep the master list in the same place with all your other recipes so you won’t lose it and find yourself at a loss for ideas.

Hot Artichoke Spinach Dip - Serve this at your party and it will go fast! It goes best with either crackers, tortilla chips, French bread, or even carrot sticks or some other dipping veggies. Please note that although some variations of this snack call for nuts, you’ll be safest to avoid nuts; you never know who much have an allergic reaction.

-2 jars of marinated artichoke hearts, drained and chopped -2 cups of shredded mozzarella cheese (low-fat works well, but avoid nonfat, because it won’t melt well) -1 cup grated parmesan cheese -1 clove garlic, minced -1 cup mayonnaise

Preheat the oven to 275 degrees. Combine all ingredients in a decorative baking dish. Bake for 45 minutes, until hot and bubbly. Be sure to warn your guests that it’s hot!

Sandwich Loaf: Although this hostess snack goes back to the seventies, this is one main dish that never fails to impress people at luncheon gatherings.

- 1 big loaf of fresh white bread - 3 sandwich fillings, your choice — you might prefer egg salad, ham salad, etc. You can also use thin slices of deli meats. - 1/4 cup of margarine, softened - 2 packages of cream cheese, softened - 1/2 cup of half and half

Cut the crusts off the loaf of bread so that they are rectangular shaped. Cut it into four large slices horizontally.

Butter one side of a slice of bread, then lay it face-up on the serving plate. Add the sandwich filling, spreading evenly.

Continue layering buttered bread and sandwich fillings. Combine the cream cheese and half and half to create a frosting, and frost the loaf thickly.

Garnish with parsley. Slice vertically for individual servings.

Enjoy your gathering, and good luck with the perfect hostess snack!