When hosting a party, what to serve is often the biggest dilemma. Whether you're having a sit-down dinner or not, snack foods are usually a necessity.

What you need are a range of hostess snack ideas to always have at hand, so you can choose from your list quickly whenever you have a get together. Try out a few of these and write your favorites down on a list.

Just remember to store your list in the same place you keep all your other recipes. That way, you won't lose it and find yourself desperate for ideas.

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 marinated artichoke hearts, chopped and well-drained - 2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded. (Low-fat is OK, avoid nonfat because it won't melt well) - 1 cup parmesan cheese, grated - 1 garlic clove, minced - 1 cup mayonnaise

Preheat the oven to 275 degrees. Combine all ingredients in a decorative baking dish. Bake for 45 minutes, until hot and bubbly. Be sure to warn your guests that it's hot!

Sandwich Loaf: This is nothing new, considering it was a staple in the seventies. But it's a good luncheon main dish that never fails to impress.

- 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

Trim the crusts from the loaf of bread, so they're rectangular in shape. Cut it horizontally into four large slices.

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

Repeat, keep layering buttered bread and sandwich fillings. Now, mix the cream cheese with the half and half to create a frosting, then cover the loaf thickly with this frosting.

Add garnishes of parsley, then slice vertically to create individual servings.

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