Snacks and Entertaining - Think Small Plates

A long time subscriber recently requested that we work on appetizer ideas for Super Bowl and entertaining. We set to work with the idea of tapas - or small plates - which are a tradition among many Mediterranean countries for meals. Small plates are easy and fun to make. And as we discovered in a party we gave, they generate a lot of interest and all vegetables consumed! Here is what we made (see the recipes on the preceding page and below):Chips and salsa - if you are going to serve chips, it may as well be with salsa so more vegetables can be consumed. We chose to make a quick home-made salsa with nosalt- added tomatoes.Fruit plate - use a variety of fresh and dried fruit for color and texture variety.A variety of dips and fresh veggie plates - choose about 6 or 7 different veggies and 2 different dips and make at least 2 different small plates. By mixing them up and serving on a variety of small dishes they generated interest and can be placed around the room.Pinwheels - we spread a flour tortilla with hummus and rolled it up with diced tomatoes in the center. Many more ideas came to mind - with peanut butter/fruit, black bean spread, feta/veggie and more being possibilities. Of course we served these with more tomatoes in the center for an accompaniment. You can make all of these options a day ahead of time and store covered in the refrigerator.Apple and dried fruit platter - Apples are cored and cut in wedges. Serve fresh apple slices on a small colorful plate with a variety of dried fruits. Our choice for these dried fruits included: figs, cranberries and plums. SPEED TIP: if you are in a hurry, use apple wedges from the grocery store.Home made salsa and chips - We made the salsa with no-saltadded canned tomatoes blended with a little hot pepper sauce. Serve with corn tortilla chips on a small colorful plate. You can also serve this lowsodium salsa with fresh veggies or warm rolled corn tortillas.Vegetables with hummus - Mix hummus with some tomato paste for a nice red color. Place the hummus in a small cup and put in the center of a small colorful plate. Arrange a variety of fresh vegetables around the hummus. We chose celery, grape tomatoes and fresh broccoli.