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Written by Holly Bea, for NEXTnc
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Thursday, 07 December 2006 |
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Does just the thought of throwing a dinner party make you not want to throw a dinner party?
All the stress, hours of preparation, the fear of everything not turning out perfectly?
What most people seem to forget about a dinner party is this: what you’re really serving when you invite people over for dinner is fun.
Some of the most memorable dinner parties involve letting your guests do some of the cooking. Set the stage by preparing all the ingredients in advance and let them create their own masterpieces. It’s a sure recipe for removing much of the stress and increasing the amount of fun.
Here are three favorite do-it-yourself recipes, guaranteed to get your guests involved, engaged and laughing;
Personal Pizzas
 That’s Amore! Before your guests arrive, fill bowls with pizza sauce, Alfred sauce, pesto sauce and shredded mozzarella cheese. Use a platter or additional bowls to display sliced pepperoni, sliced mushrooms, black olives, garlic, fresh basil, cooked sausage, sun-dried tomatoes and other fresh ingredients.
When it’s time for dinner, heat the oven or grill and provide each guest with an individual pre-baked pizza crust — like Boboli.
Let them create their own specialty pizza and then cook them all — either on a cookie sheet, foil or right on the rack.
Make a big green salad with Italian dressing to set on the table for your guests to serve themselves.
Remember: A little atmosphere goes a long way. Splurge on a red and white checked tablecloth, stick candles in empty Chianti bottles, and put on Dean Martin’s “Dino! Italian Love Songs” before gettin’ jiggy wit it later on.
Let Guests Spice Things Up
 Take a make-your-own-taco party to a whole new level. Start by letting your guests create their own salsa.
Before your guests arrive, seed and chop lots of fresh tomatoes (red and yellow, if they’re in season) and jalapeños. Place in individual bowls.
Fill other bowls with ingredients like mango, grilled corn, diced avocado, tomatillos, chopped red and white onions, diced chilies, fresh cilantro and even chopped shrimp.
You may want fresh lime juice and sesame oil on hand, as well as salt, pepper and a variety of pepper sauces.
 Provide each guest with their own “mixing” bowl and let them create their own salsa — but no tasting for at least 30 minutes, to let the flavors blend. Serve with gourmet white corn and black bean tortilla chips.
For the tacos, you know the drill: Prepared seasoned taco meat in advance, and have bowls of shredded cheddar and Monterey jack cheeses, shredded lettuce, chopped tomatoes, sour cream and guacamole. Heat taco shells and let your guests fill as desired.
Remember: Serapes make great tablecloths, Los Lobos can set the mood and greeting guests wearing a sombrero is always good for a laugh. Don’t forget the cervesa!
Making Dessert, It’s Sweeet.
My friend Judy shared this recipe for Decadent Chocolate Bundles. They are easy and everyone loves them.
You’ll need:
- 1 package of Pepperidge Farm Frozen Puff Pastry sheets
- 1 package (6 ounces) each of semi-sweet chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, butterscotch chips
- 1 can assorted chopped walnuts, macadamia nuts, almonds and pecans
- Confectioner’s sugar
- 1 egg beaten
- Optional: fresh raspberries, blueberries or strawberries
Put ingredients in separate bowls, except for the puffy pastry sheets. Before your guests arrive, thaw the pastry sheets and preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Put the pastry on a lightly floured surface, and roll it to a 12-inch square. Cut each sheet into four 6-inch squares. When it’s time for dessert, demonstrate the following to your guests: Take one of the squares and put 1 tablespoon of nuts and 1/4 cup chips in the center. (Don’t overload the pastry or it will explode or get mushy.) Bring the pastry corners together just above the chocolate and twist and turn. Fan out the corners. Brush it with a little of the egg wash. Place pastry on an ungreased baking sheet and bake for 10-15 minutes or until golden brown. Let stand at least 10 minutes. Sprinkle with confectioner’s sugar and serve with some berries.Tip: Use an extra pastry sheet to cut out small shapes with a cookie cutter. Have each guest choose a different shape to place on their pastry—it’ll make it easy to identify their creation! | Only registered users can write comments.
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