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When you’re planning and hosting a party, figuring out what to serve can be a dilemma. Whether it’s an all-out dinner or not, snack foods of some kind are usually expected.

It’s essential to plan out a range of hostess snack foods to serve in advance, so you’ll have an organized list to choose from every time you host a get together. Go ahead, try out some of these and make note of your favorites.

Keep this master list with your other recipes and you’ll always know where to find it when you’re at a loss for what to serve.

Hot Artichoke Spinach Dip - Serve this at your party and it will go fast! It goes best with either crackers, tortilla chips, French bread, or even carrot sticks or some other dipping veggies. Please note that although some variations of this snack call for nuts, you’ll be safest to avoid nuts; you never know who much have an allergic reaction.

-2 jars of marinated artichoke hearts, drained and chopped -2 cups of shredded mozzarella cheese (low-fat works well, but avoid nonfat, because it won’t melt well) -1 cup grated parmesan cheese -1 clove garlic, minced -1 cup mayonnaise

Preheat oven to 275 degrees Fahrenheit. Combine all the above ingredients in a nice (decorative) baking dish. Bake until hot and bubbling, about 45 minutes. Don’t forget to warn your guests that it’s hot.

Sandwich Loaf: A hostess snack standard from the seventies, this main dish always impresses people at a luncheon!

- 1 big loaf of fresh white bread - 3 sandwich fillings, your choice — you might prefer egg salad, ham salad, etc. You can also use thin slices of deli meats. - 1/4 cup of margarine, softened - 2 packages of cream cheese, softened - 1/2 cup of half and half

Cut the crusts off the loaf of bread so that they are rectangular shaped. Cut it into four large slices horizontally.

Butter one side of a slice of bread, then lay it face-up on the serving plate. Add the sandwich filling, spreading evenly.

Continue adding layers of buttered bread and sandwich fillings. Now you mix together the half and half and the cream cheese to make a frosting. Thickly frost the loaf.

Garnish with parsley. Slice vertically for individual servings.

Don’t forget to have fun at your gathering once you serve the perfect hostess snack!