Archive for Appetizers
Sports Fanatics Get-Together Party: Pick and Peak Seasons
Second half of the year means football (football picks) and baseball seasons, and what a showdown it is this year. This is a wonderful time to connect with friends and family members who share the same passion for the games, and the teams! The best times to hold the party are the pick season and the peak season. Pick season is when players from each team get swapped or not. During this time speculation is high and bets are placed. Peak season is when the season is ending and only 2 teams are battling it out for that season’s championship title. The latter is tense and exciting, and will surely result in several hours of shouting and cheering for a favorite team. Visit the free football picks forums at AddictSports.com for more information on these two sports.
For sports fanatics parties, the best party agenda is a BBQ party (while the weather is still warm) and a TV party (when it’s too cold to sit outside and broil some meat). Expect the guests to be mostly men who will need lots of not-too-messy appetizers such as chicken lollipops and beer. For a more filling dish, pasta is recommended, easy to serve and people can eat it standing up.
Food Agenda for a Sports Fanatics’ TV Party
Good for 6-8 people
Penne with Shrimp, Tomatoes and Vegetables (recipe provided)
Deep Fried Breaded Chicken Lollipops
Fruit Jello
Penne with Shrimp, Tomatoes and Vegetables
1 package of penne pasta
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1/4 cup red onion chopped
1 tbs garlic minced
1/4 cup white wine
2 (14.5 ounce) cans tomatoes (diced)
1 pound shrimp, cleaned and deveined
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup Basil leaves chopped
Cook penne pasta according to package directions and set aside. Sautee garlic, red onion, wine and tomatoes in olive oil in medium heat for 5 minutes stirring occasionally. Add the shrimp and basil leaves, and continue cooking until the shrimp turns bight red. Toss with pasta and top with cheese.
Food and Dining Suggestion for a Date-for-Two
Getting asked to plan for a couple’s date isn’t unusual. There are some guys who have accepted their incapability for setting up a cheesy date, which is something that women love. A guy looking to get the girl to say yes to him has to make the date perfect. Let’s start by defining the formula to a perfect date. My thoughts revolve around these elements: good food, good wine, good company.
My model for this 2-person date-party is from ristorante.ca, a pizza site that recently launched its Ristorante Contest. They have a 12-min dating guide which involves a garden date, wine, guacamole chips and dessert.
Since it’s a picnic date, a homemade mozzarella pizza is the best choice, because the couple can eat these with their fingers. The guacamole dip is for the couple to feed each other some nacho chips. These chips come in packs so are relatively low maintenance. Now for the wine. Hmm…
The thing is, wine makes any occasion meaningful. Like a glass of wine almost always mandates a toast. The thing to consider is how smoothly it goes down. My choice is red wine, which you don’t have to chill; unless, of course, the party planner can provide an ice bucket hidden behind a nearby tree in the garden, where the proposal will be dished.
A glass of wine calls for romance, sophistication and pleasure…the unravelling of complex flavours in the mouth. Yes, a simple glass of wine might elevate us from our daily stresses into higher states of mind allowing for a cheerful and relaxed mood to arise instead.
-anonymous
Hors D’Oeuvres
Pronounced as ‘Or-derv’, these delicious morsels are the most commonly served appetizers in parties. In fact, the French term itself means “a dish served as an appetizer before the main meal”.
There’s no set recipe for the best hors d’oeuvres, but the best tips for making interesting and party-worthy ones include a unique presentation. A nice tray, cheese in wedges, well trimmed bread and crunchy toast… all these will make your appetizer dish hard to resist.
Soft cheeses are usually served in a separate plate while the chips, toasted bread or crackers stay on the tray. However, for ease of eating by guests, I suggest spreading the cheese or the liver pate on these before serving. After all, party people are mostly just standing in groups talking and probably won’t spend time hanging out on the buffet tables.
The appetizers that don’t require much effort to make are sure hits in parties. Ask the caterer to make the viands or main dishes, while you yourself can create the canapes and finger food. A real cost saver.
My example is Sauteed Mushroom on Toast. This can serve as appetizer in house parties where anyone can just go to the table and grab a bite.
Here’s what you need for a party of 4:
Toasted Bread - 8 pieces
One can of sliced Button Mushrooms - drained
Garlic - 4 cloves, crushed
Onion - one bulb, sliced
Red Bell Pepper - sliced (julienne) for garnish
Soy Sauce or Worcestershire Sauce - 2 table spoons
Hot Sauce - for spicy variation
Salt and pepper
Sautee the garlic until browned, followed by the onions. Add the button mushrooms and keep sauteeing at high heat, gradually adding the soy sauce/Worcestershire sauce, the hot sauce and the salt and pepper. Add the bell pepper strips before turning off the fire. Pour the mushrooms over the toasted bread.
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