Martini Chicken

• Martini chicken is boneless chicken breast sauteed in a gin and vermouth-based sauce. This recipe works especially well when you are serving drinks at the event and is a good conversation starter. Modify this recipe into an appetizer by slicing the chicken breasts and spreading them over a bed of toasted pita bread triangles and topping the chicken with Chevre goat cheese and parsley.

Chicken Wings

• Wings are a very typical appetizer, but even they can be romanticized with sauce options. A few unique wing sauces are, chimichirri, honey pepper jelly, sweet pepper chutney, pesto sauce, cherryaki (add grenadine to store bought teriyaki sauce) or sesame barbecue (soy sauce and sesame seeds added to barbecue sauce).

Smoked Salmon

• Smoked salmon is a fairly traditional appetizer, but make it more filling by serving it in a potato nest and top it with crème fraiche and cilantro. Capers and diced red onion can be served on the side or top.

Asian Meatball Skewers

• Asian meatball skewers with snow peas are a filling yet economical and easy to prepare appetizer. Place frozen meatballs in a crock pot with store bought teriyaki until cooked to 175 degrees Fahrenheit. Alternate meatballs with snow peas on the skewer. Add snow peas by skewering through each end of the snow pea to make an arch on the skewer.

Muenster Slider

• A casual sandwich style appetizer is a muenster cheese beef slider. Make miniature beef patties of about 1/4 pound of ground beef and grill to preferred doneness and top with a slice of muenster cheese. Serve on a mini potato or Hawaiian roll. Serve with your choice of hamburger condiments.

Vegetarian Options

• Potato croquettes are quite filling and a more economical choice that can be served to any crowd. Make very thick mashed potatoes seasoned to your liking and shape them into 2-inch balls on a sheet pan. Fry the mashed potato balls and top with smoked mozzarella or Gouda and a store bought roasted red pepper pesto sauce. Caprese skewers are another vegetarian option that is quick and easy. Alternate fresh mozzarella and cherry or grape tomatoes on a skewer and top with thinly sliced basil and balsamic vinegar reduction (cook about a 1/4 cup of balsamic vinegar in a pan until it thickens).