Nanny to Mommy

Feeding everyone at a party is essential if you want to keep everyone happy. It doesn't have to be a dinner party or even a party centered around food to make it a good idea to put food out. If you want your party to start off on the right foot, offering some light nibbles and mini snacks is the best way to do it. You don't have to put out posh hors d'oeuvres to make everyone happy, especially if it's not a formal event. There are lots of great appetizers and finger foods that are sure to be crowd-pleasers as your party gets going.

Dumplings are the perfect morsels to pop into your mouth in one or two bites. One of the great things about them is that you can make them in so many ways. So many cuisines around the world have a version of a dumpling, which is essentially just dough that may or may not have a filling that's fried, boiled, or steamed. If you want to offer a classic dumpling, delicious pork dumplings gyoza are the perfect choice. You can buy pre-made dumpling wrappers for many recipes, so there's no need to try and make the dough yourself. You just have to fill them and cook them.

Some of the best nibbles to offer at the beginning of a party are tiny versions of the things everyone loves. This could include mini quiches or tarts, little pizza bites, or sliders as a tiny alternative to burgers. You could even try baked baby potatoes for a miniaturized version of the real deal. The good thing about these options is that they can be full of flavor but they're not too filling. They're also easily recognizable, which makes them a good choice if you have any slightly picky eaters attending.

Pinwheels are a super easy thing to make, and they're ideal for any casual get-together where you want to hand out some small bites. They're basically sandwich rollups made from flour tortillas and you can put all kinds of fillings in them. This makes them super adaptable, so you can quickly make some with a meat filling, some with a vegetarian filling, and perhaps even a vegan option if you want to offer a few choices to your guests. Once you have your filling ready, you just have to spread it over a tortilla, roll it up, and slice it into pinwheels.

Canapes are another option that is super easy to make. They usually involve a base of bread, a cracker, or something similar with whatever toppings you feel like including. Salmon and cream cheese canapes are a simple choice. Just toast some small pieces of bread (or use a cracker, blini, or whatever you feel like using, top with cream cheese and some smoked salmon, and season. It's easy to add additional flavors too, such as dill or cucumber.

Get any party started right by offering some tasty bites to your guests and keeping them well-fed.