14 Fancy Finger Foods for a Party Worthy of Beyoncé

Heather Sage
Dec 17, 2014

With holiday festivities in full swing, it’s essential to have many kinds of appetizers at your disposal to fit all of your entertaining needs. This collection features an elegant-yet-approachable assortment of 14 recipes ideal for any sort of celebration. Whip up a few along with a signature cocktail or two, and you’ll be ready to host a stylish holiday party in no time at all.

1. Buckwheat Blinis: These blinis are equally welcome at your next bash as they are at brunch. (via Honestly Yum)

2. Sweet Potato Latkes With Greek Yogurt and Smoked Salmon: Whether or not you celebrate Hanukkah, this tasty twist on the classic potato pancake is a welcome mini bite to celebrate with. (via Cooking for Keeps)

3. Red Wine Arancini: Crisp, panko-coated risotto balls get a rich, rouge upgrade courtesy of pinot noir. We betcha can’t eat just one. (via The Local Palate)

4. Classic Southern Hushpuppies: Featuring the perfect balance of crisp-fluffy, sweet-salty elements, these puppies go remarkably well with a celebratory glass of champagne. Not to mention, the cilantro-jalapeño aioli served alongside sounds to die for. (via Food52)

5. Manchengo Crisps With Serrano Ham, Quince and Marcona Almonds: You’ll love how these crisps combine all the elements of an awesome cheese and charcuterie platter into just one or two bites. (via Domesticate Me)

6. Classic Gougère: It’s hard to stop popping these cheese-enhanced choux pastry puffs. Play around with various firm cheeses and add-ins — chopped scallions and fresh ground pepper are two good places to start — to make your own “house” recipe. (via Bon Appétit)

7. Devils on Horseback: Raw oysters are always a swanky appetizer selection, but for winter holidays we enjoy a warmer take. These wine-poached mollusks mingle oh-so-well with bacon atop crisp slices of garlic bread. (via Saveur)

8. Fancy Deviled Eggs: There’s nothing wicked about these drop-dead gorgeous hors d’oeuvres. With five fancy deviled egg variations to choose from, you’re bound to find the perfect flavor palate for your party. (via Jennography)

9. Pâté With Spiced Pear Butter: Spread this decadent, sweet-savory duo on toasted slices of buttery brioche for a crowd-pleasing holiday appetizer. (via Foodess)

10. Filet Mignon Crostini With Romesco, Goat Cheese and Crispy Shallot: Now these classy crostini show your guests just how much you care. Be warned: they’ll set the bar pretty high for the rest of the menu, so be ready to bring your A game (you got this). (via Shared Appetite)

11. Beluga Lentils with Roasted Eggplant Canapés: These rounds may be mistaken for creme fraiche- and caviar-topped crostini, but that’s just a clever disguise. They happen to come by their surprisingly vegan and gluten-free status naturally. (via Petite World Citizen)

12. Beet Chip Hors d’Oeuvres: Crispy homemade beet chips make an excellent, colorful base for this wonderful melange of pesto, meaty sauteed mushrooms and creamy avocado. (via Tasse D’Amour)

13. Apple, Bacon and Leek Pizza Bites: Now these are worlds apart from any of those frozen pizza bites we grew up with. All of the aforementioned goodies plus a cheddar mornay sauce create one swoon-worthy starter. (via Shared Appetite)

14. Garlic and Gruyere Stuffed Mushrooms: Serving so much garlic at a party may be considered a faux pas, but we encourage you to break with bland tradition. Stuffed with big flavors, these mushrooms are sure to be a hit. (via Saveur)

Who’s ready to hit the holiday party circuit? Share your go-to holiday appetizers with us below!

Aldi vs. Trader Joe’s: This 1 Store Will Absolutely Save You More Money

An Aldi fan on Reddit recently compared the cost of their grocery list at Aldi to several major stores, and we’re absolutely floored by the results. One of our favorite places to go even ended up being 71% more expensive than Aldi – yikes!But in this economy, we can believe it.

Of course, if we're talking about grocery stores, we can’t forget to mention Trader Joe’s! Not only do we love TJ’s for their notoriously quirky vibe and fun new finds, we opt to shop there because it’s seemingly affordable (keyword here being seemingly).

We calculated the cost of a similar grocery list at Trader Joe’s to the Aldi’s one on Reddit, and the final tally was a bit… shocking.

Scroll on to see which retailer wins for affordability in the Trader Joe’s vs. Aldi debate!

Aldi

The original poster on Reddit, an Aldi fan for sure, totaled up a basic grocery list consisting of 22 items from Aldi and concluded: “All I can say is, wow. I know I’m preaching to the choir here but these savings are insane.”

Whole Foods

The Redditor also provided grocery list totals for several other popular grocery stores to compare the Aldi list to. They also made sure to note that they get their grocery shopping done in the Chicagoland area, so that could definitely explain why the numbers may be a little different where you live. Knowing that, here’s what they came up with:

  • Aldi: $60.40
  • Walmart: $74.80 (24% higher)
  • Jewel: $83.90 (39% higher)
  • Whole Foods: $103.51 (71% higher)

Reddit

We did the heavy lifting and concocted a similar grocery list for Trader Joe’s. For reference, see the Aldi bill above, and the TJ’s bill in the bullet points below:

The Trader Joe's List

  1. Tiny Fruity Cuties Cereal (like Fruit Loops) $3.99
  2. Everything but the Bagel Seasoned Crackers (This was the most similar TJ’s product to Aldi’s cheese crackers we could find, plus most of TJ’s crackers average around $2.99 anyways.) $2.99
  3. Saltines (TJ’s no longer sells their version of saltines, but according to one Redditor, they were $1.99.) $1.99
  4. Avocado oil$7.99 (Two more dollars than Aldi!)
  5. Organic black beans $1.19
  6. Unscented deodorant $4.99
  7. Brownie Truffle Baking Mix $3.97 (Two more dollars than Aldi!)
  8. Romaine hearts (We weren't able to find an organic option listed on TJ’s site.) $2.99
  9. Large eggs $4.99
  10. Multicolor peppers (Only organic is listed on TJ’s site.) $2.99
  11. Green peppers (Only red organic peppers are listed on TJ’s site.) $3.99
  12. Seedless cucumber (The only comparable option TJ’s has for the Aldi’s list above is the Persian cucumbers.) $2.49
  13. Mild cheddar cheese (The only comparable option TJ’s has for the Aldi list above is the Shredded Unexpected Cheddar Cheese.) $4.99
  14. Cilantro (This isn’t listed on TJ’s site, but they do sell it in-store. Various sources report different prices for cilantro. Abillion forums say it’s $1.29, but Taste of Home reports $1.99. We're averaging the two for a final item price.) $1.64
  15. Tuna pouch $1.79
  16. Hummus (Only organic is listed on TJ’s site.) $2.99
  17. Yellow onion (Assuming 1 since the quantity isn't clear in the Aldi list above.) $0.99
  18. Red onion (Assuming 1 since the quantity isn't clear in the Aldi list above. TJ’s doesn’t have red onion listed on their site, so we're also assuming it’s a similar price to their yellow onion.) $0.99
  19. Carrots (Assuming 1 since the quantity isn't clear in the Aldi list above. Only organic is listed on TJ’s site.) $2.49
  20. Avocados(Pack of 4, like Aldi.) $5.99
  21. Celery (TJ’s doesn't have celery listed on their site, but they do sell it in-store. For this comparison, we're assuming it’s the same price as Aldi’s celery.) $1.69
  22. Potato chips (TJ’s doesn't have baked chips like Aldi does, so we went with the most basic potato chip option to compare, the Ridge Cut Potato Chips with Sea Salt.) $3.99

Aldi vs. Trader Joe's: The Price Comparison

Trader Joe's

Aldi’s total came to $58.75 without tax, while the Trader Joe’s total ended up clocking in at $68.14 without tax for (mostly) similar items on the Aldi list. That means that TJ’s only came to cost $9.39 more than Aldi for a very comparable haul. 🤔

Aldi

So, who really wins the Aldi vs. Trader Joe’s debate? If you were to measure it solely by the numbers, it’d be Aldi – though the margins aren’t as big as they are at, say, Whole Foods (71% more, remember?!) or drastically big in general.

Aldi vs. Trader Joe's: Who's The Winner?

Trader Joe's

Both Aldi and Trader Joe's definitely have their respective charms. While Aldi boasts a fan-favorite ‘aisle of shame’ and a streamlined store design, Trader Joe’s never stops the flow of fun, new products that keep fans in a chokehold. If you’re set on choosing a clear winner, we say go with your heart – going off of this basic comparison, you’ll honestly end up spending a similar amount of money shopping at Aldi vs. Trader Joe’s.

Do you have a favorite grocery store? Let us know in the comments and make sure to subscribe to our newsletter for more news from your go-to grocery stores!

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Everyone's Losing It Over Spencer & Alex's "Heartbreaking" '1923' Plot: "I'm Broken"

We knew when 1923 ended that Alex and Spencer would have to fight their way back to each other in season 2. After I interviewed Alex herself, actress Julia Schlaepfer, and learned that she "barely" spent timewith Brandon Sklenar on set, I realized they wouldn't share many scenes — but I didn't realize that apparently, their separation would last the entire season. It's pretty heartbreaking TBH! Plus, based on the very passionate comments Brit + Co's interview has gotten, no one else realized they'd be separated this long either.

Here's what 1923 fans are saying about Spencer and Alex in season 2 of the show, currently airing on Paramount+ every Sunday.

Do Spencer and Alex get back together in 1923 season 2?

Alex and Spencer are still apart as of season 2 episode 5, and Julia Schlaepfer told Brit + Co in her 1923 interview that her and Brandon Sklenar's filming schedules were "very separate."

"I mean, we block shot as well, so we were all kind of coming in at different times to film, but no, we did not [see each other a lot," she says. "Season one we spent all our time together, this season we barely spent any time together. It was very much like, suddenly we were ripped apart. But that's what the characters are going through."

And now that we're approaching episode 6 and they still aren't together, some passionate fans are starting to lose their cool. (Same, TBH).

"Them together was the only thing that made 1923 good," one user said in the comments of our TikTok video, while another adds, "Well this is not ok. I need major Spencer and Alex love story episodes."

"I'm broken," a third user adds. "If only we could have a Spencer and Alex spinoff show."

Although I agree with another user who theorizes that we'll see Spencer finally return home in the finale. "You just know all of season 2 will be him getting to Montana and showing up in the last episode," they say.

What happened to Spencer and Alex on 1923?

Emerson Miller/Paramount+

At the end of 1923 season 1, Alex and Spencer got separated on their ship to America; after a duel with Alex's ex-fiancé Arthur led to Arthur's death, Spencer got kicked off the boat and Alex got locked in her room. Now with no supplies and barely any money to their name, both Alex and Spencer are trying to get to Montana — and hoping they find the other one there.

Check out The Only Guide You Need To Watching 1923 Season 2 Before The Epic Finale so you don't miss a single moment — and you can see Alex and Spencer reunite (hopefully sooner rather than later)!

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Meet 'The Last Of Us' Season 2 Cast

The Last of Us cast showed up and showed out at the season 2 premiere on March 24, 2025, and aside from being one of the hottest casts around, this batch is talented — and not just at surviving infected. Season 1 proved just how magnetic they are onscreen together and since our favorite stars are returning alongside some brand new additions, The Last of Us season 2 promises to be outright electric.

Meet The Last of Us season 2 cast, led by Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey, before new episodes premiere on Max April 13, 2025.

1. Pedro Pascal as Joel Miller

Liane Hentscher/HBO

The Fantastic Four & Materialists star Pedro Pascal returns as Joel Miller, Ellie’s father figure who wants them to have a better life.

2. Bella Ramsey as Ellie Williams

HBO

Bella Ramsey will star as Ellie Williams, a girl who’s immune to the infected who learns a huge secret Joel’s been keeping from her.

3. Gabriel Luna as Tommy Miller

Liane Hentscher/HBO

Gabriel Luna stars as Tommy Miller, Joel’s brother who’s started his own family in Jackson, Wyoming.

4. Isabela Merced as Dina

Liane Hentscher/HBO

Isabela Merced stars as Dina, a free spirited member of Jackson who begins a relationship with Ellie.

5. Young Mazino as Jesse

Liane Hentscher/HBO

Young Mazino plays Jesse, one of Ellie’s friends.

6. Rutina Wesley as Maria

Liane Hentscher/HBO

Rutina Wesley returns as Maria, co-leader in Jackson and Tommy’s wife.

7. Kaitlyn Dever as Abby

Liane Hentscher/HBO

Kaitlyn Dever joins The Last of Us season 2 cast as Abby, who’s out for revenge.

8. ​Danny Ramirez as Manny

Marvel Studios

MCU star Danny Ramirez stars as Manny, a member of Abby’s crew who tries to keep the group’s spirits up.

9. ​Tati Gabrielle as Nora

Netflix

Tati Gabrielle plays Nora, a medic traveling with Abby.

10. Ariela Barer as Mel

Greg Lewis/Hulu

Ariela Barer stars as Mel, a doctor and a member of Abby’s group.

11. ​Spencer Lord as Owen

The CW

Spencer Lord plays Owen, one of Abby’s group who struggles to maintain his gentleness.

12. Catherine O'Hara as Gail

Liane Hentscher/HBO

Catherine O’Hara stars as Gail, Joel’s therapist.

13. ​Joel Pantoliano as Eugene

Lionsgate

We'll also see Joel Pantoliano in The Last of Us season 2 as Eugene, Gail’s husband.

14. Jeffrey Wright as Isaac Dixon

Murray Close/Lionsgate

Jeffrey Wright stars as Isaac Dixon, the leader of the militia. Jeffrey played this role in the game!

Check out The Most-Anticipated TV Shows Coming In 2025 for more series you can't miss.

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