Party, party, party, who does not like a little bit of partying here and there. Every time we throw a party in my family either a birthday, house, summer, Christmas or an anniversary party we always make sure we have some foods. A party wouldn't really be a huge party without food.

If your party does not have food you would be lucky if you find me there to be honest. A lot of people only go to the parties if they hear the word food, because you do need to cover all those calories you lose via dancing on the party. A lot of the times, I go to parties to see the types of foods they might have, if the food look depressing, I get depressed so it's crucial that you prepare the foods to impress.

However when I throw a party I always make sure I have a few snacks on the table of course that includes crisp (different types), a few drinks, sweets, biscuits, cupcakes etc. I always thought instead of just buying ready-made foods from the supermarkets and chuck it on the table for the guest to scoff on, is not always a good idea. It is however, to prepare some of the foods on your snack table, this always makes it look like an organized party that has been put time into, thus making it rather special.

If you always prepare some of your party foods and put your secret ingredients, your guest will never turn your party down, just to get hold of your delicious home-made foods. It does not have to be cooking it can be blending your own juice even with different fruits that gives a unique taste.

There are three things which I always try to prepare when we are having a party at me house. Those are chicken satay and prawn toasts. After looking at how I prepare these lovely snacks and you still prefer ready-made party foods from the supermarkets, then go ahead but I always hate to say 'I told you so' when the guests call your party boring.

Prawn Toasts

Prawn toasts have always been popular for a party snack. Home made prawn toasts are always better as they have this home-made texture that makes them a lot different.
The good thing about Prawn toasts is that they only take about ten minutes of preparation and less than five minutes of cooking time. Therefore, they are not going to waste your time on your party day.

To prepare the prawn toasts =you will need=
1 tablespoon corn flour
4 thin slices white bread
25g butter, melted
1 egg white, lightly beaten
175g cooked, peeled prawns, defrosted if frozen
Sea salt
Vegetable oil, for frying
75g Sesame seeds

=1=
Use a fork to mash the butter and prawns in a large bowl. Afterwards, stir the mixture in salt, corn flour and egg white.

=2=
Cut crusts of the bread slices and discard them. Divide prawn mixture between slices of bread and spread evenly. Sprinkle the sesame seeds lightly over the prawn mixture and press down.

=3=
Cut the bread neatly into rectangle shapes. Fill a pot or deep frying pan with oil (about 2.5cm deep). Heat until almost smoking (don't heat the oil further than that as it will flame up). The oil has to be really hot so that they can fry quickly and absorb less fat. Add bread into the oil. Let it cook for two minutes, turning them around till golden

=4=
Use a fork to remove from the pan and drain them (can use absorbent kitchen paper).

---For a better taste prepare the prawn toasts an before they have to go into the oil. You need to serve them hot.

---Just like you need ketchup for chips, you would need fish sauce for these prawn toasts to have a better taste.

---The snack only has around 350 calories, therefore not too bad for your health.

---The prawn toasts taste very delicious and are crunchy when you eat them.

Chicken Satay

Chicken satay are probably the reason why people come to my parties. They are ideally for any party. You can put them anywhere on your snack table. It is best you cook loads of these because they will go before you even blink your eye.
They are quick (take less than 30mins to cook) and easy to prepare and are worth the trouble in finding the ingredients for the sauce.

To cook and prepare them =you will need=
4 lime, sliced
4 table spoon oil
4 red and 4 green peppers (de-seeded and chopped)
1.8kg chicken breasts, diced

=For the marinade and Sauce=

100g creamed coconut, grated
12 small onions, finely chopped
400g smooth peanut butter
4 table spoon lemon juice
4 tablespoon caster sugar
4 table spoon ground coriander
4 tablespoon ground cumin
4 clove garlic, crushed
8 tablespoon light soy sauce
10.6cm piece fresh root ginger
2 table spoon chilli powder

=1=
For the marinade, mix onions garlic, ginger, soy sauce, chilli powder, coriander, lemon juice, cumin and caster sugar in a big bowl. Add the chicken and stir to coat. Cover and chill for a few hours. Its possibly better to prepare this the night before the party so that the ingredients can have more time to stir.

=2=
Thread chicken and peppers onto metal or bamboo skewers (it is best that you soak the bamboo skewers in cold water for around 30 minutes before you start using them, so that they won't burn). Set aside the marinade. Brush the chicken and peppers with oil. Grill for about 20 minutes, turning them occasionally.

=3=
Add 200ml of cold water to the marinade and simmer for around five minutes. Add the peanut butter and coconut and stir until it has thickened. Put the hot sauce in a bowl, the chicken on the plate and you are done.

---The ingredients I gave will make around 24 satays.

--- These chicken satays are mouth watering, the smell of the peppers makes it even better. Having these on your party will definitely be worth while.

--- Each chicken satay has 45 calories. So you can always eat as many as your stomach can hold.

I love having something that is home-made on my parties and really do think that everyone should consider trying it out, as it always make the party exclusive all the time.

Note

---A lot of the ingredients mentioned, can be bought in major supermarkets.

---It won't be a perfect party without food.

--- If anyone is allergic to anything associated with the ingredients, they mustn't consume the foods.

---Wash your hands before preparing the food (who knows were you've been scratching).