The last party I really cooked for was a LONG time ago, but I always do spiced pecans and usually goat cheese & onion relish tartlettes, though for 30 people tartlettes might be more work than I'd be willing to put in.
The onion relish link seems to be broken there - it's here:
[link]
[edit: Oh, and you can also just serve the onion relish on top of a baked brie. I find the easiest way to make it toothpick/cracker friendly is to put the brie in the freezer just until it firms up and then cut it into cubes (leaving the round shape intact) before you bake it, thus saving your guests the trouble of cutting through the rind.]
PS, All hail the Wayback Machine! That website was lost when I migrated to Dreamhost and I still haven't found the time or energy to put it back up.
Hold on to your ovaries, folks: [link]
Backstory: his friend Sophie at day care turned 2 last week. He's been singing on and off for days. After I stopped videoing, I said, "Do you love Sophie?" He replied, "Yes. Big hug."
I knew I was missing something obvious -- the Cream Cheese Thing! It's layers of neufchatel or whatever with pesto, sundried tomatoes, artichoke hearts in between. Possibly my favorite.
I really have a dip problem.
Jessica's spiced pecans rock.
Ooh! Brie en croute! Maybe not for summer, but a parents' party classic. Another thing way easier than it looks, if you buy the frozen puff pastry. Throw some apricot jam on top, and bake. YUM.
My mom used to do a brie wheel (unbaked) with shredded carrots and ginger mixed into the apricot jam and spread on top. Nom.
Also gazpacho in little plastic glasses.
Grilled quesadillas cut into slivers! (the grilling makes them crisp, not floppy.)
Actually, most of the tapas I had Saturday would work, though some take more effort than others: pita and tzatziki, zucchini/onion fritters, cheese pie and spinach and feta pie (small, in a pastry wrap, sorta like spanikopita but not. The cheese one was incredible. Ricotta texture, but tangy and rich at the same time ) and another pastry wrapped thing of some sort of cured meat, cheese and basil. Num.
I just gathered up all the spare change laying about in my apartment. Oh, and in a small box and a cereal bowl (where I was storing the change that wasn't laying about) It came to $64.00.
I love the change-counting machines....
now I want mezze's spinach fritters sarameg.
