Finger food
In this hectic world it is quite conceivable that several guests at a wedding shower have not met. Serving finger foods will help give the guests something to do while they are meeting each other, or greeting old friends and relatives. Finger food will also make it easier on the hostess, allowing her to spend more time at the party, as well as less time preparing and cleaning up.
Basic Finger Foods
Finger food commonly found at showers and parties include fruit trays, vegetable trays, meat and cheese trays, finger sandwiches, mini pizzas, mini quiches, and various crackers and chips.
If you are serving a fruit tray, just wash and cut up several types of fruit. What you choose will most likely depend upon the season and your location. Melons, such as cantaloupe, honey dew and casaba, are good choices, as are strawberries, pineapple and grapes and even kiwi. Avoid apples and bananas as they will turn brown after cutting. More exotic or costly fruit, such as the star fruit, may be used as garnish.
Vegetable trays usually include the basic carrot and celery sticks, broccoli and cauliflower florets, cherry tomatoes and green, red or yellow pepper strips. Button mushrooms (fresh and well washed), cucumber slices and radish roses are also good choices. Most vegetable trays include a dip. This may be as simple as ranch dressing, or a more elaborate spinach vegetable dip.
Finger sandwiches look time-consuming, but they are actually quick and easy to make. An electric knife will speed up the process but is not necessary. Decide what fillings you want to use. Chicken salad, tuna salad, ham salad, seafood salad, flavored cream cheese, cold meats and cucumber are all appropriate choices. Prepare the filling, lay out several pieces of bread on a cutting board, add the filling spreading if necessary, cover with another slice of bread and cut into four triangles. You may use as many types of bread as you like, but use at least one light, and one dark. Once the sandwiches are cut, add decorative toothpicks to each triangle and transfer to serving trays. Wrap and refrigerate until needed.
Whatever finger food you decide to serve, don't forget the desert tray. Many bridal showers have a cake, but include other sweets as well. Mini cookies, mini brownies, even mini cinnamon buns are a real treat.
Many bridal showers have a theme. Some finger food should relate to this theme. This might include mini burgers and hot dogs at a beach party theme, or mini tacos and quesadillas at a Mexican party theme.
Elaborate Finger Foods
If you are planning a more elaborate bridal shower, finger food and other hors d'oeuvres may also be served. Consider cold shrimp cocktail, caviar and crab legs. Scallops wrapped in bacon are also easy and tasty appetizers. Meat and cheese trays are still an option, just use more expensive cheeses. Finger sandwiches may be made from watercress or smoked salmon. Goose liver pate may also be served.
Warning
No matter what finger food you decide to serve at the bridal shower, make sure that you prepare them properly and keep them refrigerated if needed. Follow proper food preparation procedures, such as washing your hands and work surfaces. Also a small place card identifying foods containing seafood or nuts should be placed near the dishes to alert those with food allergies. Proper planning and good presentation will make any finger food you serve look like a feast.
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