Places to Go, People to See
Our Office party was a blast last night! We laughed a lot, ate some yummy snacks… and how HILARIOUS was last night’s episode!?! There were sooooo many funny parts! I love Creed! 
We served all sorts of apps last night, but the best of the bunch was a Tomato & Artichoke bruschetta from Sauces ‘n Love, which is actually located right in Somerville, MA, not too far from Boston. Sauces ‘n Love has so many interesting products, such as a pink pesto, mint pesto, asparagus dip, olive & almond spread, and many others. I really want to try some of them!
The bruschetta included tons of chunky tomatoes, artichoke hearts, whole black olives, and roasted onions. It was so delish! And healthy, 100% fresh, and all natural! It was perfect for entertaining at a gathering like last night. All I did was pour the bruschetta into a bowl and serve with toasted French bread and crackers.
While the Tomato & Artichoke bruschetta was definitely the star of last night’s appetizers, TJ’s Creamy Spinach & Artichoke Dip was easily the runner-up. The consistency of the dip was incredibly smooth and creamy, and the flavor was full-bodied, but not overpowering. This appetizer was also very easy to prepare: heat in microwave for 2 minutes and serve. It was definitely a crowd-pleaser. The bowl was practically licked clean by the end of the night!
Apps and drinks… I drank a couple of glasses of wine over the course of the evening.
The before shot of the food spread…
The after shot…
The apps were a hit! We ate just about everything!
Breakfast
I’ve got places to go and people to see today! Despite having the day off, I woke up at my usual time and made breakfast. My stomach has it’s own internal “fuel clock,” and wanted to eat as soon as I woke up.
Today’s bowl of oats was a mix of dried cranberries, almond slices, ground flaxseed meal, almond milk, and my usual 2 scoops of Barney Butter. My BB jar is starting to get a little light! 
My plan for the day is to finish blogging, drink some cafe, hit the gym, organize my winter gear, do some errands and shopping, and get together with friends later on. I need to get cracking!
Question of the Day
What’s your favorite/”go-to” appetizer when entertaining?
Posted by: Tina 24 comments
Posted in: products
on Oct 24th, 2008 at 8:20 am
Hey Tina, Looks like you had a great time last night… food looks delicious! Breakfast looks pretty good too! As for go-to-appetizer – I usually get asked to bring caramel dip with skor bar bites and apples for dipping or this super little fattening treats of roasted wholewheat bread wrapped in bacon… they are so good! but not so good for you
on Oct 24th, 2008 at 8:34 am
Hooray for a fun ‘Office’ party!!! Yes, last night’s episode was amazingly hilarious, as always
Happy Friday!!
**Favorite “go-to” appetizer = either bruschetta (yours, pictured above, looks great, by the way!!) or vegetables & dip. Classic and delicious.
on Oct 24th, 2008 at 8:40 am
looks like a great get together! and beautiful breakfast this morning, too. good luck and have fun with your to-do’s today
on Oct 24th, 2008 at 8:40 am
Sounds like the office party was full of fun and yummy dips! Kath had cranberries in her oats too! I need to try it!
on Oct 24th, 2008 at 9:16 am
i agree with VG – veggies + dip is always good!
i have the same oatmeal bowl that i’m eating out of right now!! it’s great for the microwave and is reallly durable
on Oct 24th, 2008 at 9:18 am
Who doesn’t like the office?
on Oct 24th, 2008 at 9:36 am
Looks like a fun night with friends!
My go-to appetizer is usually hummus and pita chips OR crackers and cheese. So quick and easy!
on Oct 24th, 2008 at 9:59 am
PINK pesto? Ever neat!
The appetizers all sound awesome. Glad you had a good time!
on Oct 24th, 2008 at 10:17 am
Hi Tina –
My favorite appetizers to bring to parties are home-made hummus, goat cheese bruschetta and taco dip. You can make mass quantities and not worry about transport with these items. I also love to bake cupcakes, but those aren’t so healthy!
on Oct 24th, 2008 at 10:24 am
Looks like a fun party!
My favorite appetizer to make is a spinach artichoke dip. I like to use Greek yogurt instead of sour cream to give it some tang without all the fat…it’s a rich treat I don’t have too often but it sure is good!
on Oct 24th, 2008 at 10:36 am
It sounds like lots of fun!!
I like to bring hummus and veggies to parties when I’m feeling healthy. Otherwise, I ALWAYS bring some sort of vegan treat!
on Oct 24th, 2008 at 10:41 am
Hi Tina! Awesome get-together! My friends and I actually do office parties on Thursdays, too!!! I wanted to let you know– I made a “pumpkin cream cheese muffin” ala starbucks but “healthified”– that you might be interested in. I blogged about it today!!! http://objectsandevents.blogspot.com/
I would also be super interested in how you would make the same sort of thing, because my creations right now are all works-in-progress since I have never really baked/cooked before!!!! so if this is something you’re interested in, i would love to see your version:) thanks!
on Oct 24th, 2008 at 10:57 am
Roasted veggie dip, so easy to make!
The Office party looks like it was loads of fun 
on Oct 24th, 2008 at 11:17 am
I was lucky enough to be in the Pillsbury Bake-Off this year, I made an appetizer pizza, Blue Cheesy Prosciutto Appetizer Pizza. It’s super easy and everyone requests it when I have to bring something to a party.
on Oct 24th, 2008 at 11:21 am
Seven Layer Dip. It’s so indulgent and full of great flavors!
on Oct 24th, 2008 at 11:49 am
I get requests for my guacamole, pico de gallo and balsamic bruschetta often, but what I bring usually depends on the event. Last time I had to bring something, I made homemade roasted red pepper hummus (relatively inexpensive and healthy) with whole wheat rosemary flatbread crackers. Apparently I didn’t make enough because 4 cups of hummus and the entire recipe of crackers was gone in all of 20 minutes!
Recipe here: http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/CRISP-ROSEMARY-FLATBREAD-242841
on Oct 24th, 2008 at 11:57 am
Looks like you guys have a lot of fun!
I like to bring veggies and dip, or pico de gallo especially since I’m the only one of my friends that would make it for a party!
on Oct 24th, 2008 at 12:13 pm
Go-to appies include:
Tex-Mex dip (also called 7-layer dip). My sister ALWAYS wants me to make it for parties. You really can’t go wrong.
Brie/Camembert, red pepper jelly and fancy grainy crackers. So good, and easy.
on Oct 24th, 2008 at 1:54 pm
I had no idea that company was local. I have often seen their products, btu have never actually tried them.
on Oct 24th, 2008 at 2:35 pm
i love oatmeal with peanut or almond butter yum, especially with bananas mixed in so good! i have to try this barney butter you seem to love.
on Oct 24th, 2008 at 2:46 pm
Glad last night was fun! That bruschetta looks amazing! I will have to check out the PINK pesto on that site!
My “go-to” appetizer is boring but a veggie tray! It’s always a hit and you can’t ever go wrong with it
Hope you have a good day off from work!
on Oct 24th, 2008 at 5:13 pm
I love the TJ Spinach and Artichoke Dip! I just bought it over the summer and love it.
Although my friend makes a buffalo chicken dip that calls for TWO packages cream cheese, hot sauce, diced chicken and blue cheese – definitely not low cal, but oh so good!
Happy Friday!
on Oct 24th, 2008 at 5:31 pm
I rarely entertain, but when people ask me to bring something, I tend to bring chocolate chip cookies! (Not the healthiest, but I made some of the best chocolate chip cookies known to man!)
on Oct 24th, 2008 at 5:40 pm
Go-to appetizer: either veggies and hummus, or this really healthy “texas caviar” which is actually just a fancy way of sayin’ black bean dip with rotel tomatoes and cilantro
Happy Friday!