Heya all,

Well..I have been at work at my new permanent place of employment for
a bit over a week now. And I am already planning a get together for
the nurses with whom I work. A cocktail party, to be exact.....

This idea all started last January, before I left there as a traveling
nurse.. One of the nurses and I were talking about planning a
cocktail party..and we had to let it sort of slide..as I left about
that time...

However, now I am back, and planning is in full force. Everyone at
the unit where I work is working a lot of overtime... The unit is
crazy busy right now, with sick babies being admitted every night.
Morale is suffering... My idea of a cocktail party is taking off
like wildfire, partly due to all of this. Everyone is wildly
enthusiastic about the idea.

Sooo.... I am so far planning on making Kay's Margaritas, and maybe
Fred's Mai Tais (also from Kay Hartman). Another nurse with whom I
work wants to make mojitos. I might make sidecars and Delilahs
too.... There will also be wine available....maybe champagne, and
then I could make Kir Royales for any that want them.

I want to have lots and lots of appetizers to absorb all this liqour.
I plan on making a selection myself, and ask the other nurses to
bring some as well. They will also be bring cocktail ingredients, as
well as some of the booze.

Most of these nurses (and maybe doctors too) are not foodies such as
all of us. However, I want to make some really great appetizers. One
such is the date and chorizo one that Koko makes. I have that on my
list already. Probably some spiced nuts and some sort of olive
mixture too... I am also thinking of making my Parmesan cheese
balls..which go really well with gin drinks. I have more ideas I
would love to try as well...and I might give them a shot.

So, I know you all have some great appetizers that partner well with
cocktails. I am wanting your tried and true things, not just
something you clipped from the paper or saw online. I want the
things that are lapped up early on...that are gone an hour or so into
a party.

If you have cocktail ideas too, they are also welcome. I know I can
make the Mai Tais in a large amount: I think Kay had a punchbowl of it
at Tammy's cook-in. And I made a pitcher of the Margaritas at the
cook-in I hosted last year. They went fast. I will need to double
the amount I make this time..at least!!

Any ideas? Got tried and true recipes that are ALWAYS a hit?

Oh, and I am thinking of making some sort of sweet thing too....

Christine