Dinner Guest Food Help Please!

So, I posted earlier that my neighbors are coming over this weekend...first, we never have guests...second I am not the most wonderful cook...

I was thinking shrimp shishkabobs, maybe some potatoes salad for them, and candy apples (and I could just nibble the inside of part of an apple)

or if its still a little cool, maybe a nice pot of chilli (but its Florida and you never know what kind of weather you will get)


I am just looking into options and suggestions. I am only 5 weeks out so I still need softer meats, so part of me is leaning towards a great pot of chilli.

HELP!

Chili is my go-to food to this day! I make a big crockpot of it and then offer a bunch of different toppings to be added by them. I put out Greek yogurt as the sour cream and no one ever suspects it's greek yogurt LOL. Shredded cheese, scallions, extra beans, jalapenos, onions, tortilla chips/fritos, etc etc. And, then I make a cheesecake or some sort of key limey pie thingy from Publix.

I also do lots of different little finger foods, mini-sliders either barbque chicken or pulled pork, chicken salad on croissants(cut into 3rds), celery with pineapple cream cheese and chopped walnuts, pepperoni dip with baguette bread slices(I eat pepperoni dip with baked cheese crisps or crackers if I don't want to deal with a baguette). I'm a fan of "assembly line" service for guests, that way we can nibble, socialize, and just kind of lounge around without it feeling super formal.

Fajitas are another one of my go-tos. I assembly line it for those too. That way people can add or not add the ingredients they want. I also do these super simple quesadillas, but they're preassembled, I take these to most of my social functions with my girlfriends, and there is never any leftovers.

If you want recipes, I got 'em. I'm not an extraordinary cook or chef, but my "hostess" platters, or "party platters" are always empty at the end of the night. I'm a "theme" kind of girl, too. So, I'll pick a "foodie theme" and all the food is based on that. Like Mexican or Italian night. That makes it easier for me to tackle the food and drink stuff.

pepperoni dip sounds amazing, please share that recipe =)


Oh and I just thought...I saw on eggface the weenies wrapped in bacon instead of croissant.....that would be a great finger good....

I use turkey pepperoni because I have a lot of friends who are "fin and feathers" only eaters:
http://allrecipes.com/recipe/pepperoni-dip-i/detail.aspx

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/garlic-crab-artichoke-dip/detail.aspx (this is another one of my favorites, I sub greek yogurt for the sour cream LOL)

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/chicken-wraps/detail.aspx (these are phenom)

This is my other go-to
http://allrecipes.com/recipe/asian-lettuce-wraps/detail.aspx

Seriously, I'm such a foodie sorry, I get excited about hostessy type stuff LOL.

You have some lucky friends!

Love the idea of the celery w/pineapple cream cheese and walnuts....I'm making these this weekend...yum

It's addictive, and I can't eat it very often because I burp up celery for hours on end. But, it's been a fave snack of mine for about 7 years LOL.

It goes really well with a glass of Moscato HA.

I have had no problems with chili, but some folks do - have you tried any yet?  Wouldn't want to have a bad reaction with the guests!  I have served soup a couple of times to friends, that worked great.  I also served steaks on the grill, and fish on the grill.  I haven't had apples yet. 

Ive eaten the canned stuff-Hormel and did fine.....I had a teeny nibble of one of my sons apple slices with no problems.....so I guess I would be okay

 Chili is a great entertaining option, especially with all of the toppings previously mentioned!  My boys even beg to have a pan of tater tots baked to put chili on when their friends are over.   If your temps are high in FL (like ours are supposed to be in So. Cal.), how about a taco/tostada bar?  I love shredding up some rotisserie chickens (or ground beef or turkey) and putting out a pot of refried beans, lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, chilies, and homemade guacamole.  Then you can also make what you can tolerate.  That and some cold beer for your guests or a little sangria and you're set.  
Kabobs sound great too!  We're having game night this Saturday night and I'm in the planning stages...kabobs sound ideal.
Have fun!
Maya