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Come Party With Me: My Birthday Party - Menu

partysugar — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 10:30:09 -0700

Selecting a menu for a large dinner party is tricky. You don't want to choose dishes that require last-minute preparation, and you need to pick recipes that will feed a crowd (or can easily be doubled to do so) and consider the dietary needs of your guests. Luckily, the majority of my friends are adventurous eaters and while two girls don't eat meat, they do eat fish and cheese. Thus I'm serving a rustic Italian meal that's several courses long. When the party begins, plates of tomato and basil bruschetta and chicken-liver crostini will sit - ready to be devoured - on tables in the patio. I'll also set out an assortment of Italian olives, shards of Parmesan cheese, and chunks of salami.

At the table, the first course will consist of a crunchy, Italian salad with mustard vinaigrette. The second course is a decadent baked pasta dish oozing with melted cheese. For the entree, we'll enjoy a fragrant seafood stew with garlic toasts for dipping. This is a luxurious menu that's wonderful at any occasion, be it a birthday party or simply a Saturday night, so check out the recipes and read more.

Tomato, Red Onion, and Basil Bruschetta
From Bon Appétit

Ingredients

2 cups assorted cherry, grape, and teardrop tomatoes, halved (or quartered if large)
1/2 small red onion, finely chopped
3 tablespoons olive oil plus additional for brushing
3 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
1 1/2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 large loaf focaccia, halved horizontally (reserve half for another use)
1 garlic clove, peeled, halved

Directions

Combine halved tomatoes, finely chopped onion, 3 tablespoons olive oil, chopped fresh basil, and balsamic vinegar in medium bowl; season tomato topping with salt and pepper. Topping can be made 2 hours ahead. Cover and let stand at room temperature, tossing occasionally.
Preheat broiler.
Place focaccia half, cut side up, on baking sheet; brush bread with olive oil. Toast bread in broiler until top is golden brown, watching closely to avoid burning, about 2 minutes.
Immediately rub cut side of bread all over with halved garlic, then cut focaccia crosswise into 4 equal pieces.
Top toasted focaccia with tomato mixture and serve.

Serves 4.

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Chicken-Liver Crostini
From Gourmet

Ingredients

2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 medium red onion, finely chopped
1/2 lb chicken livers, trimmed and patted dry
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon hot red-pepper flakes
3 tablespoon capers, rinsed and coarsely chopped
1/2 cup sweet (red) vermouth
1 cup chopped parsley
1 sourdough baguette, thinly sliced and toasted
1 lemon wedge

Directions

Heat butter and oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over medium heat until foam subsides, then cook onion, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 3 minutes.
Add livers and cook over medium-high heat until undersides are browned, about 3 minutes. Turn livers over and add red-pepper flakes, capers, and 1 tsp salt. Cook until livers are just cooked through, 5 to 7 minutes more.
Increase heat to high and add vermouth. Boil, stirring, until slightly thickened and glossy, about 3 minutes. Transfer livers with a slotted spoon to a cutting board, then transfer sauce to a bowl.
Coarsely chop livers and add to sauce. Season with salt and pepper and gently stir in parsley. Spoon onto toasts and squeeze a little lemon juice over each.

Serves 8.

Make ahead: Liver mixture, without parsley, can be made 1 day ahead and chilled. Reheat, then stir in parsley, before spreading on toasts.

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Crunchy Italian Salad
From Everyday Food

Ingredients

1/4 cup red-wine vinegar
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
Coarse salt and ground pepper
1 head iceberg lettuce, halved, cored, and cut into wide strips
1/2 head red cabbage, halved, cored, and cut into thin strips
1 small red onion, halved and thinly sliced
1 cup packed basil leaves, shredded

Directions

In a large bowl, whisk together vinegar, oil, and Dijon; season with salt and pepper.
Add lettuce, cabbage, onion, and basil; toss to combine. Serve immediately.

Serves 8.

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Baked Four-Cheese Spaghetti
From Food & Wine

Ingredients

1 1/2 pounds spaghetti
1/2 pound imported Fontina, coarsely shredded (2 cups)
1/2 pound mozzarella, coarsely shredded (2 cups)
1/2 pound Gruyère, coarsely shredded (2 cups)
1/4 pound Gorgonzola dolce, crumbled
Salt and freshly ground pepper

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350°. Lightly butter a 9-by-13-inch baking dish.
Cook the spaghetti in a large pot of boiling salted water until al dente. Drain well and spread the spaghetti on a baking sheet; let cool.
In a large bowl, toss the Fontina with the mozzarella and Gruyère.
Spread one third of the spaghetti in the prepared baking dish in an even layer. Sprinkle 1/3 of the mixed cheeses and half of the Gorgonzola over the spaghetti and season with salt and pepper. Repeat with another layer of spaghetti, mixed cheeses, Gorgonzola and salt and pepper. Top with the remaining spaghetti and mixed cheeses.
Bake the spaghetti in the center of the oven until the top is golden brown, about 40 minutes. Let cool slightly before cutting into squares and serving.

Serves 8.

Make Ahead: The recipe can be prepared through Step 2 early in the day and covered with plastic wrap. Uncover the dish before baking.

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Seafood Stew
From Ina Garten

Ingredients

3 tablespoons good olive oil
1 1/2 cups chopped yellow onions (2 small)
2 cups large-diced small white potatoes
2 cups chopped fennel (1 large bulb)
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 cups good white wine
1 (28-ounce) can plum tomatoes, chopped
1 quart Seafood Stock, recipe follows, or store-bought fish stock
1 tablespoon chopped garlic (3 cloves)
1 teaspoon saffron threads
1 pound large shrimp, shelled and deveined (reserve the shells for the stock)
1 pound each halibut and bass fillets, cut in large chunks
24 mussels, cleaned
3 tablespoons Pernod
1 teaspoon grated orange zest
Toasted baguette slices, buttered and rubbed with garlic

Directions

Heat the oil in a Dutch oven or stockpot, add the onions, potatoes, fennel, salt, and pepper, and saute over medium-low heat for 15 minutes, until the onions begin to brown.
Add the wine and scrape up the brown bits with a wooden spoon. Add the tomatoes with their juices, stock, garlic, and saffron to the pot, bring to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer uncovered for 15 minutes, until the potatoes are tender.
Add the shrimp, fish, and mussels, bring to a boil, then lower the heat, cover, and cook for 5 minutes.
Turn off the heat and allow the pot to sit covered for another 5 minutes. The fish and shrimp should be cooked and the mussels opened. Discard any mussels that don't open. Stir in the Pernod, orange zest, and salt, to taste. Serve ladled over 1 or 2 slices of toasted baguette.

Serves 6.

Seafood Stock:
2 tablespoons good olive oil
Shells from 1 pound large shrimp
2 cups chopped yellow onions (2 onions)
2 carrots, unpeeled and chopped
3 stalks celery, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 1/2 quarts water
1/2 cup good white wine
1/3 cup tomato paste
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1 1/2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
10 sprigs fresh thyme, including stems

Warm the oil in the pan over medium heat. Add the shrimp shells, onions, carrots, and celery over medium heat for 15 minutes, until lightly browned.
Add the garlic and cook 2 more minutes. Add 1 1⁄2 quarts of water, the white wine, tomato paste, salt, pepper, and thyme. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 1 hour.
Strain through a sieve, pressing the solids. You should have approximately 1 quart of stock. If not, you can make up the difference with water or white wine.

Makes 1 quart.

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Fast & Easy Dinner: Grilled Bruschetta Chicken

partysugar — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 07:50:35 -0700

I've had bruschetta on the brain lately, as I take advantage of tomato season while it lasts. So rather than limit my tomato and basil toppings to crusty bread, I'm adding this marinated chicken recipe to my dinner repertoire - it's perfect for a warm evening when you're short on time. This dish is cooked on the grill, then topped with caprese-inspired ingredients for a delicious, melty meal. Make this seasonal specialty.

The Difference Between Bruschetta and Crostini

partysugar — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 09:00:20 -0700

At the Food & Wine Classic, not only did Nancy Silverton teach viewers to Microplane garlic, but along with help from Mario Batali, she also discussed the differences between bruschetta and crostini. Both terms are Italian and relate to crispy bread.

Crostini translates to "little toasts" and generally refers to small pieces of bread that are baked. These toasts are then topped with a variety of ingredients like cheese, vegetables, meat, or seafood.

Bruschetta, on the other hand, is a larger piece of bread that is cooked over coals or a grill. Bruschetta can be rubbed with garlic and is traditionally served freshly charred. Like crostini, bruschetta can be topped with a wide range of items. What do you like to top yours with?

Photo by flickr user Jeffrey Beall

Come Party With Me: Easter - Menu

partysugar — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 09:00:40 -0700

While many people celebrate Easter over brunch, my family gathers together for a late lunch/early dinner. Since both Spring and Easter are about rebirth, serve a menu that highlights seasonal ingredients. Start with smashed peas and mint on crisp bruschetta. For the entree, offer guests a juicy leg of lamb roasted with garlic and rosemary and topped with a red wine reduction.

Traditional steamed artichokes get a modern makeover when paired with a quick tarragon mayonnaise. Luxuriously creamy scalloped potatoes with Parmesan cheese and thyme round out the rich holiday menu. To savor these dishes, get the recipes when you read more.

Smashed Peas With Mint Bruschetta
From Real Simple

Ingredients

1/2 baguette
1 10-ounce package frozen peas, thawed
1 tablespoon chopped fresh mint
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Directions

Thinly slice half a baguette. Place the rounds on a baking sheet and broil them until they're golden brown (about 1 1/2 minutes per side).
Process the peas in a food processor until roughly chopped. Stir in the mint, oil, salt, and pepper.
Spread the mixture on the rounds. Garnish the bruschetta with fresh mint leaves, if desired.

Serves 4-6.

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Leg of Lamb With Garlic and Rosemary
From Gourmet

Ingredients

1 (7-pound) semi-boneless leg of lamb, aitchbone removed, fat trimmed to 1/4 inch thick, and lamb tied
4 garlic cloves
1 tablespoon fine sea salt
2 tablespoons chopped fresh rosemary
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 cup dry red wine or beef broth

Directions

Pat lamb dry and score fat by making shallow cuts all over with tip of a sharp small knife.
Pound garlic to a paste with sea salt using a mortar and pestle (or mince and mash with a heavy knife) and stir together with rosemary and pepper. Put lamb in a lightly oiled roasting pan, then rub paste all over lamb. Let stand at room temperature 30 minutes.
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Roast lamb in middle of oven until an instant-read thermometer inserted 2 inches into thickest part of meat (do not touch bone) registers 130°F, 1 1/2 to 1 3/4 hours. Transfer to a cutting board and let stand 15 to 25 minutes (internal temperature will rise to about 140°F for medium-rare).
Add wine to pan and deglaze by boiling over moderately high heat, stirring and scraping up brown bits, 1 minute. Season pan juices with salt and pepper and serve with lamb.

Serves 8.

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Steamed Artichokes With Tarragon Mayonnaise
From Martha Stewart

Ingredients

2 lemons
6 to 8 artichokes
1/4 cup water
2 cups mayonnaise
1 1/2 teaspoons chopped fresh tarragon
3 dashes hot sauce, such as Tabasco
Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste

Directions

Squeeze juice of 1 lemon into a large bowl of cold water.
Trim stem of 1 artichoke flush with bottom. Snap off outer leaves. Using kitchen shears, cut off tips of remaining leaves. Place in lemon water. Repeat.
Drain artichokes, and place in a pot in a single snug layer (in batches if necessary). Add 1/4 cup water. Bring to a simmer, cover, and steam until tender, about 35 minutes. Remove from pot. Let cool. Cover, and refrigerate for up to 2 hours.
Meanwhile, zest and juice remaining lemon. Whisk zest, 2 tablespoons juice, the mayonnaise, tarragon, hot sauce, salt, and pepper. Serve alongside artichokes.

Serves 6 to 8.

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Scalloped Potatoes
From Tyler Florence

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups heavy cream
1 sprig fresh thyme
2 garlic cloves, chopped
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Butter
2 pounds russet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/8-inch thick slices
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup grated Parmesan, plus more for broiling

Directions

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
In a saucepan, heat up the cream with a sprig of thyme, chopped garlic and nutmeg.
While cream is heating up, butter a casserole dish. Place a layer of potato in an overlapping pattern and season with salt and pepper. Remove cream from heat, then pour a little over the potatoes. Top with some grated Parmesan. Make 2 more layers.
Bake, uncovered, for 45 minutes. Sprinkle some more Parmesan and broil until cheese browns, about 5 minutes.

Serves 4-6.

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Not Your Regular Nachos: Nachos Caprese

partysugar — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 10:15:32 -0700

At the Food and Wine Classic, I watched Jose Andres make bread chips. He froze a baguette, sliced it superthin with a mandoline, and panfried it until crisp. While Andres topped his with anchovies and other Spanish ingredients, I haven't stopped thinking about this bread chip and wondered how it would translate into a nacho. I don't have a mandoline, so I used regular white bread. However, I wish I would have found a way to use paper-thin bread. The final result was more like a cheesy bruschetta than a nacho. When I realized this, I was disappointed, but the classic Italian flavors - mozzarella, tomatoes, and basil - were so delicious that I soon forgot my sadness. I highly recommend you make this scrumptious appetizer, only instead of calling it nachos, simply call it bruschetta! To see what I did, read more.

Nachos Caprese aka Cheesy Bruschetta
Original recipe by PartySugar

Ingredients

1 small loaf thinly sliced sourdough bread
1 stick butter
2-3 garlic cloves
salt and pepper
8 ounces mozzarella, grated
2 cups tomatoes, seeded and diced
1/2 cup homemade or store bought pesto
basil leaves, optional for garnish

Directions

Cut the bread into triangular pieces, removing crusts.

Since this was an experiment, I decided to fry some in butter (a la Ryan Scott) and bake some in the oven. For frying, melt one stick of butter with 2-3 peeled garlic cloves in a large pan over medium-high heat. Once the butter is melted add the bread, frying in a single layer. Fry until golden brown 3-4 minutes. Flip and continue to fry for 1-2 more minutes. Transfer to a plate lined with paper towels. Repeat with remaining bread.

Alternately, for baking, preheat the oven to 375°F. Place the bread triangles in an even layer on a large baking sheet. Bake in the oven until crisp and brown 15-20 minutes.
When the bread is cool enough to handle spread evenly on a large baking sheet. Season bread generously with salt and pepper. Sprinkle with the cheese, taking care to cover each piece of bread with cheese. Bake in the oven for 10-12 minutes until cheese is melted.

Remove and transfer cheesy bread triangles to a serving platter. Top each piece of bread with a heaping tablespoon of chopped tomatoes.
If your pesto is too thick to drizzle, thin with a few tablespoons of olive oil. Drizzle the pesto over the top of the tomatoes. Garnish with basil leaves if desired and enjoy!

Serves 4-6 as an appetizer.

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Chocolate Bruschetta is A Creative, Tasty Dessert

partysugar — Mon, 19 May 2008 16:15:42 -0700

When I saw this recipe for chocolate bruschetta, I had one of those why didn't I think of that? moments. Leave it to the folks at MyRecipes.com to come up with something so deliciously clever!

It takes one of my favorite appetizers - bruschetta - and turns it into a sweet, gooey treat. The chocolate-topped bread is seasoned with coarse sea salt and orange zest elevating the classic French breakfast - pain au chocolat - to a gourmet level.

Served with a glass of aged port, this would make an excellent finish to any dinner party. For the easy recipe, please read more.

Chocolate Bruschetta
From Cooking Light

Ingredients

10 (1-ounce) slices, diagonally cut French bread (about 1/4-inch-thick)
Cooking spray
5 ounces bittersweet chocolate (60 to 70 percent cocoa), finely chopped (about 1 cup)
1/4 teaspoon coarse sea salt
Grated orange rind (optional)

Get more recipes at MyRecipes.com

Directions

Preheat broiler.
Lightly coat bread with cooking spray. Place bread on a baking sheet; broil 3 minutes on each side or until toasted. Remove bread from oven.
Reduce oven temperature to 350°F.
Sprinkle each bread slice with about 1 1/2 tablespoons chocolate. Bake 5 minutes or until chocolate melts.
Sprinkle evenly with salt; garnish with orange rind, if desired. Serve warm.
Makes 10 bruschetta.

Nutritional Information: CALORIES 150(26% from fat); FAT 4.3g (sat 2.4g,mono 0.7g,poly 0.1g); PROTEIN 3g; CHOLESTEROL 0.0mg; CALCIUM 0.0mg; SODIUM 242mg; FIBER 0.5g; IRON 0.9mg; CARBOHYDRATE 25.4g

Like the recipe above? Try out some of these other ones:

- Our Best of Desserts Recipe Collection
- Entertaining Menus and Party Ideas
- Eat Smart at CookingLight.com
- Get More Chocolate Recipes

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Fast & Easy Dinner: Turkey Panini

partysugar — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 05:11:19 -0700

If you love turkey sandwiches, but are stuck in a boring recipe rut, consider making these scrumptious sandwiches. Spicy pepper turkey is layered with walnuts and spinach. Both a bruschetta topping and mayonnaise are slathered on the bread. Feel free to get creative with the recipe. Sun dried tomato tapenade or fresh pesto would be equally delicious substitutes for the bruschetta spread. To take a look at the recipe, read more.

Turkey Panini
From Better Homes and Garden magazine

Ingredients

1/3 cup broken walnuts (optional)
8 1/2-inch thick slices country Italian bread
1/2 cup refrigerated bruschetta topper
2 Tbsp. mayonnaise
12 oz. sliced cooked peppered turkey breast
1 cup large spinach leaves
Olive oil

Directions

Preheat large skillet over medium heat. Add walnuts; cook and stir 2 minutes to toast. Remove from skillet; set aside.
To assemble sandwiches, spread 4 bread slices with bruschetta topper and 4 slices with mayonnaise. On bruschetta slices layer walnuts, turkey, and spinach; top with mayo slices. Lightly brush sandwiches with olive oil.
Place sandwiches in hot skillet; weight with additional skillet (add food cans for more weight). Grill 2 minutes; turn. Replace weight; cook 2 minutes more or until golden and hot.

Serves 4.

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Definition: Crostini vs. Bruschetta

YumSugar — Wed, 27 Dec 2006 09:44:47 -0800

Crostini: This Italian word means little toasts. The thin slices of bread are toasted, drizzled with olive oil, and served warm. They may be topped with a savory, finely diced mixture such as cheese, vegetables, meat or seafood. The word can also be the equivalent to a crouton used for soup or salads.

Bruschetta: From the Italian word 'bruscare' meaning ‘to roast over coals‘. The thin slices of this traditional garlic bread are made by rubbing slices of toasted bread with garlic cloves, then drizzling the bread with extra-virgin olive oil. The bread is salted and peppered, then heated and served warm.

'Wich of the Week: Olive and Roasted Ahi Tuna Melt

YumSugar — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 14:30:20 -0700

I could write a whole blog about sandwiches I make with Trader Joe's ingredients, from the Sloppy Jose to the naanwich. Of course, I love leftover sandwiches, so after enjoying TJ's marinated ahi tuna steaks for dinner, I used the extra fish to make a gourmet tuna melt with olives and sprouts. The photos don't do justice to how delicious it was.If you don't have a Trader Joe's near you, don't worry: you can use any leftover ahi tuna steak, roasted, grilled, or seared. Though I spooned on the supermarket's mixed olive bruschetta, a basic tapenade or olive salad will create the same effect. Find out how to melt your leftover tuna into this tasty sandwich when you read more.

Olive and Roasted Ahi Tuna Melt
Original recipe

Ingredients

1 large (1/2 lb) marinated ahi tuna steak, roasted (recommended: Trader Joe's)
4 slices hearty multigrain bread
2 slices Swiss cheese
Dijon mustard, for spreading
3 tablespoons Trader Joe's mixed olive bruschetta or olive tapenade
1 cup alfalfa or clover sprouts

Directions

Heat the broiler on low.

Break the cooked tuna into bite-size chunks, divide in half, and distribute to cover two slices of bread. Top each tuna-covered slice with a slice of Swiss cheese.
Place all four slices of bread on an ovenproof baking sheet and broil for 5 minutes or until cheese is melted.
Coat each bare piece of toast with Dijon mustard, and top each cheese-covered slice with half of the olive mixture.

Divide the sprouts and distribute evenly over the olives. Place the second slice of bread, mustard-side down, over the sprouts. Cut in half and serve.

Makes 2 tuna melts.

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Come Party With Me: My Birthday Party - The Look

partysugar — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 09:15:26 -0700

I'm hosting my 28th birthday party in my grandfather's backyard. Since the yard is large, complete with pool, patio, gazebo, putting green, and grass, I'll be setting up each part of the dinner in a different area. The cocktail hour begins in the patio. Neat rows of glasses filled with campari cocktails and platters of bruschetta will await the arrival of the guests.

The long rectangular dinner table will be set up on the grass, to the left of the pool. A simple white tablecloth will cover it, along with printed paper placemats, white dinner plates, blue cloth napkins, menu stands that act as placecards, and wine glasses. Candles in mason jars and low vases filled with white flowers will run down the middle of the table.

I'll hang paper lanterns and white lights from the trees, line the fence with tiki torches, and place a fountain in the pool. After dinner we'll move to other side of the yard for dessert, digestifs, and a putting contest!

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