Tips for Perfect Holiday Appetizers!

It seems like I am sooo short on time this holiday season with everything going on!  Weekdays are packed and weekends are EXTRA packed, but I always welcome friends and family when they pop by for an unexpected visit.  I thought we might have some time to ourselves on Sunday between the craft show in Santa Ana and the concert in L.A., but there was just enough time for my family to invite themselves over.  Ack!  Luckily, I always keep a few easy meal ideas in the freezer for just such an occasion.  Also, they double as perfect holiday appetizers or as a quick dinner party dish!

When I welcome last-minute guests into my home, I don't want to be rushing around trying to straighten up or throwing together a lackluster dish.  Instead, I focus on making my guests feel special and with a few little touches (and extra help from some great products like Rich's SeaPak Spring Rolls), they will definitely feel at home!

Here are a few of my fool-proof tips to making your holiday party appetizers looking as pretty as they are delicious!

How do you slice your spring rolls?  I found the perfect tool!

Also, I need to mention that SeaPak's Spring Rolls have been mentioned by Ladies Home Journal as one of "The 15 Best Frozen Appetizers to Serve at a Party" and have been mentioned on NBC's The Today Show.  Convenient AND delicious?  Definitely perfect to keep on hand in your freezer!

Tip #1: Buy frozen appetizers because they are extra convenient.  Also, stock up on your regular shopping trip to save extra time!


SeaPak Spring Rolls can be found in the frozen fish section of Walmart (super convenient), and lucky for you there will be a demo at your local store on December 8th between 1pm to 5pm!  This will be a perfect opportunity for you try the spring rolls yourself and pick some up for your freezer.  Gotta love those demos!  ;)

Tip #2: Pick appetizers that require little-to-no prep!

Now there are two ways to prepare these lovelies: baking or frying.  When you are pressed for time, bake!  All it takes is a minute to throw these in the oven and they come out golden and perfect!

Tip #3: Presentation is key!  Just because you are spending practically no time on your appetizers doesn't mean they have to look sloppy!

I wanted to cut these on a diagonal because I feel it showcases the ingredients well.  I experimented with the cuts to find out which would be neatest between a bread knife, scissors, and a sharp santoku knife.  And the winner was....

The scissors!  Not only did it cut it cleanly without pulling out some of the filling (bread knife) or shattering the golden wrapper (santoku knife), it took much less time!  Winner winner!

Tip #4: Think about the extras when you plate up your dish!

The plate is always the first thing you think about when plating (duh), but also remember the extras. The SeaPak Spring Rolls come with a super yummy dipping sauce, so think about a cute dish for that as well.  Also, I like to add a bit of color with a leaf of lettuce.  For these spring rolls, I did something extra special and stood some up like toy soldiers for some height, and then I placed the others on the lettuce.

I hope that some of these tips paired with an excellent appetizer will help to wow your guests in practically no time at all.  :)

Bon appetit!