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Which Hostess Snack Is Right For Your Party?

By: Belinda Jillie When you're planning and hosting a party, figuring out what to serve can be a dilemma. Whether it's an all-out dinner or not, snack foods of some kind are usually expected.

It's important to plan this in advance and have a reference of hostess snack ideas to keep on hand. If you have a list of snack foods, you won't have as much of a problem deciding what to get for your next gathering.

Be sure to keep the master list in the same place with all your other recipes so you won't lose it and find yourself at a loss for ideas.

Hot Artichoke Spinach Dip: This stuff disappears fast at parties! It's best complemented by pieces of French bread, tortilla chips, crackers, or even veggies such as carrot sticks. Note: Although some variations of this recipe recommend nuts, it's safest to avoid nuts. You never know who has nut allergies.

- 2 jars marinated artichoke hearts, chopped and well-drained - 2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded. (Low-fat is OK, avoid nonfat because it won't melt well) - 1 cup parmesan cheese, grated - 1 garlic clove, minced - 1 cup mayonnaise

Preheat oven to 275 degrees Fahrenheit. Combine all the above ingredients in a nice (decorative) baking dish. Bake until hot and bubbling, about 45 minutes. Don't forget to warn your guests that it's hot.

Sandwich Loaf: A hostess snack standard from the seventies, this main dish always impresses people at a luncheon!

-1 large loaf of good white bread -3 sandwich fillings of your choice - popular choices include ham salad, egg salad, etc., but you can also used thinly sliced deli meats and other items like this. -1/4 cup margarine, softened -2 packages cream cheese, softened -1/2 cup half and half

Trim away the crusts from the loaf so that they are rectangular in shape. Cut this horizontally into four big slices.

Butter one side of a slice of bread, then lay it face-up on the serving plate. Add the sandwich filling, spreading evenly.

Repeat, keep layering buttered bread and sandwich fillings. Now, mix the cream cheese with the half and half to create a frosting, then cover the loaf thickly with this frosting.

Garnish with parsley. Slice vertically for individual servings.

Have fun at your party, and good luck creating the best hostess snack!