Tantalizing tapas for entertaining with easy cleanup

Party till the break of dawn. Sleep in without fear of cleaning you apartment.

Problem: You’re bored. You want to throw a last minute shindig in your rental. You won’t want to spend the rest of tomorrow scrubbing dishes and soaking pans. As a matter of fact, you want to toss everything into the dishwasher, god willing.

Solution: Fuss free finger foods, known as hors d’oeuvres to most and tapas to others. I don’t mean chicken fingers—we aren’t 10 years old—but creative, fun, quick recipes that your friends can nibble on between drinks.

Get ready to party hearty and sleep late with these fun entertaining ideas:

 

Fancified Bruschetta

The straightforward recipe on the Punched Potatoes blog is effortless to prepare. To step it up a notch, go to the seafood counter at the grocery store and ask for about a dozen shrimp, butterflied and steamed. Pop these into your tomato and cheese toppings for a more filling variation.

 

Spinach Artichoke Lasagna Bites

If you follow the recipe on Snixy Kitchen, you’ll be in the kitchen forever, though the results are rewarding. Here’s a few cheats when you’re pressed for time: buy pre-cooked and lightly seasoned chicken breasts (a neutral flavor like rotisserie or garlic) and Bertolli Alfredo Sauce with Portobello Mushrooms along with your artichoke hearts, spinach and oils. It’ll save you time on prepping the meat and sauce. Parchment paper protects your baking dishes from baked-on cheese.

 

Artisanal Meat & Cheese Tray

 

 

There is something effortlessly chic about artisanal meat and cheese trays, especially when you add fruit and nuts into the margins. Don’t skimp out on your selection: the quality products are what make this tray special and cheap meats take just as long to lay out as quality cuts. Complement your selection with wine or craft beer. The attendant at your wine shop will let you know what pairs best.

Happy entertaining, and sleep well tomorrow morning!