Alright so last Tuesday my buddy Mike texts me last-minute about this boat thing coming up – party cruise around the harbor, maybe 15 people. Awesome! Except… I volunteered to handle snacks. Crap. Forgot how much wind and wobbling happens out there. Needed finger food that wouldn’t slide off plates or make a total mess.
Panic Mode & Grocery Run
Drove straight to the store Thursday after work feeling kinda stressed. Grabbed a cart and just wandered the aisles brainstorming. Chips? Too windy, they’ll fly everywhere. Dips? Double nope – imagine salsa on someone’s nice white swimsuit. Passed by the bakery section and saw those mini pita pockets. Lightbulb moment! Stuffed things sounded sturdy.
Ended up grabbing:
- Bag of mini pitas (way cheaper than fancy bread bowls)
- Big tub of garlic hummus
- Pre-sliced cucumbers and bell peppers (time-saver!)
- Cherry tomatoes
- Smoked salmon chunks from the deli
- Big box of frozen shrimp cocktail – pre-cooked, just thaw
Assembly Line Chaos in My Kitchen
Saturday morning, turned my tiny kitchen counter into a production zone. Thawed the shrimp overnight in the fridge – dumped them into a big bowl with the cocktail sauce ready to go next to it. Easy.
Now for the pita boats: Cut the tops off those mini pitas carefully with scissors (nearly took my fingertip off, pay attention!). Scooped in a spoonful of hummus, then piled in the veggies and salmon bits like colorful little barges. Stuck a toothpick through each one so they wouldn’t spill. Looked kinda fancy actually! Packed them tight in a plastic container with damp paper towels underneath and on top to keep ‘em fresh.
The Real Test: Boat + Waves
Got to the marina, crammed everything into two coolers with plenty of ice packs. Salt air hits you hard the minute you step on deck. Mike starts the engine, we pull away from the dock… and yup, instant rocking. Held my breath handing out the shrimp and pita boats.
Results? Total win. Even when Mike gunned it over some choppy water:
- Pita pockets stayed intact! The hummus glued everything inside. Zero veggie escapees.
- Shrimp cocktail – genius. Cold, no drippy sauce, easy to grab. Went super fast.
Learned the hard way what didn’t work though – brought some mini quiches as backup. Bad move. First corner we turned, three went sliding right off the table onto the deck. Seagulls had a feast. Greasy finger food? Disaster waiting to happen.
So yeah, cold + sturdy + toothpick or skewer = boat food gold. Saved my butt. Threw the soggy quiche casualties overboard. Lesson learned.
