Cocktail Party Help

Another suggestion for food - you might check out some of Michael Chiarello's (Easy Entertaining on Food Network) recipes/ideas. His stuff is geared towards feeding a big group of people, and usually has intersting cocktail suggestions as well. Typically, most of his stuff is prepared a day or two in advance, and then finished the morning of the party.

We've hosted some nice parties using his ideas. You can also easily mix and match various dishes from multiple shows.

Madi,
I always want to look the cool, elegant, calm hostess, not a harried individual who has no time for her guests because she is so busy running between the kitchen and serving table.

From what I have seen you always succeed at doing that.

Thank you, Steve. (Read - blushing.)

Deb that Sun Dried Tomato Dip sounds really good. I might try making that soon, but i do not have something to puree everything. I wonder if it will taste good without being pureed and everything just very finely diced.

Becky,

Unfortunately I don't think finely chopping would work for that recipe- you really want it to be one consistent flavor and texture.

But if you want to puree things you don't need a full-blown ( expensive) food processor. For many, many years I don't have one- I had a mini food chopper/processor. I used it weekly ( and still do despite the big food processor)to make these kind of things, chop nuts, pesto, aioli, etc. You could use it for Dan's recipe too. They are only about $30 - Oster and Cuisinart both make them. I'm not one for kitchen gadget but this one is a real work horse at my house.

Deb

I can see what you mean about needing it to be a consistent flavor. I have been thinking of getting a small processor. There have been quite a few things already that i want to make and need to put them in a processor. I am sure i can find a small one cheap, or maybe one at a yard sale.

Here's a link to a more refined vesion of the recipe for Blue Cheese Endive Spirals...I'm pretty sure this is the original recipie that I saw that inspired me to create this dish.

http://www.stiltoncheese.com/recipes_/s ... grette/18/

My sister gave me a yummy receipe for a sangria spritzer that was a hit when I hosted my book club.

This receipe was enough for about five glasses.

1 bottle of any reisling--I chose a cheap one called Barefoot something since I was mixing it with other stuff
1 20 oz. bottle of Sprite
1/2 bottle of airport size Peach Schnapps
1 can of lemonade concentrate (thawed)
2 tsps. of sugar (more or less depending on how sweet you prefer)
grapes sliced in half

Mix everything and garnish with starfruit slices.