Make Ahead Appetizers for Bridal Shower

I am having my sister's bridal shower in two weeks and I'm looking for some appetizer ideas and recipes. Here's my criteria for what I need:

• I want to do 2-3 different ones
• I would like them to be bite sized finger foods not dips
• I would like them to be made ahead or have little assembly the day of the shower but are elegant enough to have a “WOW” factor.
• I would prefer them to be cold but we can do hot because we will have access to a stove at the shower venue.
• My mom is a last minute person so I would like to have all my stuff done before I head up there so we aren't running around like crazy. I want to make them on Thursday or Friday and serve them on Sunday.

Any help you can give would be so appreciated!!

 

Rollups or Pinwheels can be made ahead. Look very pretty on a platter. Do a search and you'll find many recipes!

 If you want dips, I have a few...let me know.

 

I have a feta cheese ball one that is delish.

 

 

I love chicken salad in mini cream puffs. You can make the mini puffs several days ahead and store in an air-tight container.  Make the salad ahead, too, and then stuff at the last minute so they don't get soggy.  Another good one ito make ahead is salami stacks.  Get salami sliced about 1/4 inch thick, and then spread each slice with onion-garlic cream cheese spread.  Stack the slices 4 or 5 high, cut into triangles and stick with a decorative pick.  Easy to do, delicious and definitely make head.  Another make ahead is to combine a can of Underwood ham spread with about 1/4 cup of grated onion (the grated onion adds some liquid which is needed for binding the ingredients) and some of your favorite shredded cheese (about 1/2 cup or so).  Spread on English muffin halves and freeze on a cookie sheet.  After a couple of hours, remove the halves, cut into triangles and store in freezer bags. To cook, arrange the frozen triangles on a baking sheet and bake at 350 degrees until they are bubbly hot and the cheese is melted, about 10-12 minutes.  Have fun at the shower -- which will be easy to do if you get everything made ahead of time.  I have catered some cocktail parties and couldn't do it if I didn't make most of the appetizers ahead of time.

Just thought of another one I've used a lot. 

Chicken on a Stick

2 (8 ounce) pkgs of cream cheese (lite is fine)

1 envelope dry ranch dip mix

 1 1/2 cups cooked, very finely minced chicken

Ground pecans -- about 1/2 cup

 

Mix together the chream cheese and ranch dip mix.  Stir in the chicken.   Chill for 1/2 hour or so.  Using rubber gloves (just to eliminate the gooey fingers factor), roll the cheese mixture into 1 inch balls and roll in the ground nuts.  Chill; just before serving,  stick each one with a decorative toothpick, or more fun: a skinny pretzel stick.