Apps with Pizza - help me out!

[suse]

My husband loves to bake pizza for guests. He's a great baker and uses all kinds of toppings. The dilemna I have every single time is what to serve with drinks before dinner. I always make a salad, but I love appetizers and want to serve something beforehand. I know there are some creative minds out there who can help me with this one.

[suse]

Thanks for the ideas, folks. I think I'm going with either the bagna cauda or stuffed shrooms - or both! I kind of like staying with a particular cuisine. I do appreciate all responses.

[Aloo0628]

I'm a big fan of using mushrooms as an appetizer when serving pizza for dinner. Either stuffed buttons with a crabmeat mixture (crabmeat, minced onion and garlic, a little mayo, parmesan, breadcrumbs), or portobello (i STILL don't know how to spell that properly!) fries. The fries are really simple to make; here's my recipe: http://www.aliajkhan.com/2Food/77/por... Like I say in the post, they are great served w/ pasta sauces for dipping or spread with pesto. Enjoy!

[Nettie]

How about caponata? Or vegetables with bagna cauda?

[macca]

Maybe an artichoke dish. Or, to keep it in the casual vein- how about chicken wings/ Usually a crowd pleaser.

[ChiliDude]

How 'bout marinated italian giardeniera. You know, that mixture of vegetables including cauliflower, carrots, green beans, pimento-filled olives, etc. No bread involved. Giardeniera comes in large jars at BJs Wholesale Club.

[bolivianita]

Why not try a lettuce wrap. Doesn't have to have asian flavor but it's salad just packaged a little differently. Served with some dipping sauces it would be a fun way to eat your greens.

[dee lannon]

I would focus on veggie and seafood apps...a relish tray with pickled or boiled shrimp? Crudite with clam or crab spread? Broiled scooped out zucchini rounds with mushroom / breadcrumb stuffing? Fresh belgian endive with a dollop of salmon mousse? Grilled or roasted bell peppers and zucchini with a drizzle of balsamic and EVOO? Fun to think about!

[Mel]

dips... spicy hummus and pita, ranch/onion/etc wtih veggies, antipasta tray with meats and olives, tapenade on toasts

[suse]

Thanks for the response. Olives are good. You know, I've thought of the hummus, but I'm really trying to avoid breadiness. I've done hummus with veg before. Tapenade on toast - too much bread to be followed by pizza, I think. Anything w/o bread?

[Robert Lauriston]

Hummus is great with raw vegetables.