Cookie exchange menu question

[Nonny]

I'm hosting my annual cookie exchange this weekend (it's my 5th or 6th) and in previous years it's started after lunch and I've done kind of heavy apps like mini-bagel bite type pizzas, mini-quiche, cheese + crackers, veggies + dip, etc.

But this year I'm starting it before lunch, so I'm switching it up to make your own sammies -- 3 kinds of deli meat, 3-4 kinds of cheese, at least 2 kinds of bread, fancy mustard. I'll also be doing veggies + hummus, and sliced apples (no caramel dip, as it never gets eaten).

But I feel like I need at least one other thing to round it out. I really want to make shrimp cocktail spread (cream cheese layered with cocktails sauce and baby shrimp). But it doesn't really goes with the rest of the menu and mostly I just want to make it because I've been craving it!

Any suggestions to fill out the menu? Some kind of salad maybe? I have my doubts about a green salad being eaten, and I've never made pasta salad so I'd need a good recipe.

[Deleted]

Pickles and Olives

allrecipes.com/recipe/greek-pasta-salad-i/

[Nonny]

Nov 26, 2012 15:40:45 GMT -5 @tokenhoser said:

Pickles and Olives

allrecipes.com/recipe/greek-pasta-salad-i/

By pickles and olives do you mean like a sort of antipasti tray? Or just a dish of pickles and another dish of olives?

That salad looks good, and it looks like I could leave out the pepperoni to make it vegetarian. Thanks!

[6fsn]

I'd add a starchy side. Just apple slices seems a little odd without other fruit, but I will do them with peanut butter dip, celery, and nilla wafers.

[jennistarr1]

I say the shrimp pizza sounds fine...and maybe pretzels

[mbcdefg]

This dip/salsa is super-popular when I serve it. Pair it with Tostitos Scoops: allrecipes.com/recipe/heathers-cilantro-black-bean-and-corn-salsa/

Another idea would be to just put out a couple different kinds of chips, or pretzels. I love potato chips alongside a sandwich.

And/or some nice pickles.

[Nonny]

Nov 26, 2012 15:48:54 GMT -5 6fsn said:

I'd add a starchy side. Just apple slices seems a little odd without other fruit, but I will do them with peanut butter dip, celery, and nilla wafers.

Every year I put out apples, and I've tried a couple of dips. The apples always get eaten (usually with the cheese) and the dip never gets touched. If it matters it's a mix of sweet apples (like braeburns or honeycrisp) and tart apples (like granny smith). But I'm open to a peanut butter dip if you know of a good recipe. I love peanut butter and apples!

[Nonny]

OK, pickles and assorted chips/pretzels have been added to my list.

[6fsn]

This is my go to peanut butter dip. I rarely have leftovers. If I do I smear it on graham crackers and top with mini chocolate chips. It's also good served with chocolate graham crackers, but that might be overkill with the cookies.

allrecipes.com/recipe/peanut-butter-apple-dip/detail.aspx

[Nonny]

Heh, that was the one I just found while searching. Does this go with celery? I really hate celery, so I can't tell if the sweetness would be good or bad.

[6fsn]

It does go pretty well with celery.

[flatlan]

I have made this salad before and it was really good. You could definitely leave the chicken out if you wanted.

www.multiplydelicious.com/thefood/2010/01/balsamic-chicken-spinach-and-tomato-pasta-salad/

I have also made these for a party and they were a big hit and so pretty!

www.google.com/imgres?q=somewhere+over+the+rainbow&start=617&num=10&hl=en&gbv=2&biw=1233&bih=730&tbm=isch&tbnid=X57DVNHTyzaHLM:&imgrefurl=http://weheartit.com/entry/21803213&docid=xLNniOEoFLNXoM&itg=1&imgurl=http://data.whicdn.com/images/21803213/233905774366327261_yAh1aOQt_c_large.jpg&w=500&h=500&ei=XlwjT4eTFcrViAKalfGoBw&zoom=1&chk=sbg&iact=hc&vpx=129&vpy=263&dur=11097&hovh=225&hovw=225&tx=96&ty=158&sig=104293939156631948507&sqi=2&page=30&tbnh=168&tbnw=202&ndsp=20&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:617