I Sooooo Want to Have a Finger Food Party

Thanks, Mark Bittman.

Morningstar Farms Spinach Artichoke Veggie Bites

Gross. At first, I was starving so I managed to lodge two full bites down my throat before I realized how revolting these were. Then, I threw the rest away, including the rest of the box I had not yet cooked. I was hoping for some kind of similarity to the spinach and artichoke dips I often get at restaurants. Too bad this was not the case.

Price: $4.29

Where: most supermarkets and specialty stores

Rating:

-Carey

Real Torino Rosemary Flatbread

Real Torino’s Rosemary Tuscan Flatbread was an excellent starter for a dinner meal.  The rosemary taste is fairly subtle, but when combined with cheese or dipping sauce, the crackers have a great consistency and a strong enough taste.  I would not recommend eating them plain, however.  They would be too dry and flavorless.  Perfect for a dinner party appetizer.

Price: $2.99

Where: specialty grocers, some mainstream supermarkets, www.pasta.com

Rating:

-Carey

Trader Joe’s Artichoke Antipasto

I tried my best, partly due to my steadfast allegiance to Trader Joe’s. But the spread tasted so salty that even when I put the tiniest dab on my bread, it still was too much to handle. Not willing to give up so quickly, I thought I could mix the spread into a pasta/salmon/crabmeat combo that I concocted for lunch. That method was more successful since it gave the pasta a bigger kick and blended nicely with the seafood mix. So, I will perhaps use the spread for future meal additions, but never again in the form it should be used as.

Price: $3.69

Where: Trader Joe’s

Rating:

-Carey

New York Style Brand Panetini

Talk about a versatile “little bread.” These small pieces of toasted semolina bread come in four delicious varieties: plain, roasted garlic, roasted garlic parmesan, and sun dried tomato basil (my personal favorite is the roasted garlic parmesan). With their great flavor, they make a great snack right out of the bag, but can also be a great ingredient for appetizers. Use your favorite dip, marinara sauce, or chopped tomato to make bruschetta. I like to top them with eggplant caponata.

Price: about $3/bag

Where: Most major supermarkets carry the New York Style brand. Refer to their website for a store locator www.newyorkstyle.com. It can also be purchased in larger bags at stores such as Costco, BJ’s, and Sam’s Club.

Rating:

-Mike