No Fuss Appetizer Platter

photo by sara tady ©

Hosting cocktail and dinner parties is one of my favorite things.  One of the things i've learned is how to take the pressure off by serving no-cook appetizers.  Here's one I made a couple weeks ago for a cocktail party.  Hopefully mine will get your wheels turning for your next party!

Ingredients:

3 Varieties of Cheese (I used a creamy bleu, an herbed goat, and a smoky gouda)

a handful of dried fruits (I use cranberries and apricots)

a package of Salami- hot calabrese is my favorite

a bunch of green grapes

a handful of green olives

a handful of sweet or spicy nuts

a sweet fruit preserve is a bonus for the bleu cheese

hummus - my favorites are Sabra or Cedar's Home

Carrots or another veggie for the hummus

pita chips or crackers for the cheeses

Enjoy!