Oscar entertaining made easy with this formula
By ALISON LADMAN
Associated Press
First published Feb 12 2013 07:40PM
Canapes may sound stuffy, but they are an easy party food. Plus, they look great and can be combined in endless ways to suit any taste.
We created a simple formula for making canapes, dividing them into four components — bases, spreads, toppings and garnishes. For each canape, select one item from each category, then assemble. And the easiest way to assemble enough for a party is to set out all of your ingredients (clustered by category), then just start selecting and building.
If you’re planning a viewing party for the Academy Awards, you might even consider turning the making of the canapes into a pre-party. Set out everything on the counter, pour some wine and invite a few guests to come early and help assemble (and sample, of course).
Don’t feel locked into the ingredients we’ve included in these categories. Head to the store and see what inspires you. For example, we include recipes for mixing your own spreads, but to simplify you could grab prepared tzatziki, hummus, flavored cream cheese or cheese spreads.
