What kind of dish should i bring?!
Answers: i want to bring a dish to my boyfriends christmas eve dinner. i can cook, but i dont have any recipies yet that are my own. his mom is making spheghetti and pasta salad. what is a appitizer i could bring? or maybe a dessert?
This one's SO cute and simply you'll be so proud of it and your mom'll die with pride.
You can buy the foam cones at Wal Mart in the craft section along with the florist picks. Neither are expensive. .
Christmas Veggie Tree
2 bunches curly endive (endive is pretty but sometimes hard to find depending on where you live. Some nice kale works just as well and usually easier to find, or any dark lettuce is nice)
Florist picks
1 (9-inch) plastic foam cone, about 18 inches tall
1 carton cherry tomatoes
1 zucchini, sliced
1/2 head cauliflower, separated into florets
4 carrots, cut into 2-inch sticks
Radish roses
Wooden picks
Wash and separate endive and remove the tough ends of each leaf. Begin to form the tree by attaching leaves to the bottom of the cone with florist picks and move upward, completely covering cone with endive. Attach vegetable to endive-covered cone with wooden picks, arranging in desired pattern to resemble a decorated Christmas tree. Place tree on a tray or cake stand; arrange extra vegetables around the base, if desired.
Serve with onion dip or your favorite dip for veggies. I even like to use botttled ranch dressing sometimes. Make or use your fav.
Another good one.
APPETIZER - SHERRIED MUSHROOM SPREAD
Sherry and tarragon team with earthy shiitake mushrooms in this luscious spread that's best on crisp crackers.
source: Christmas with Southern Living 2000
1/4 cup unsalted butter
1 lb. shiitake mushrooms, finely chopped (about 6 cups)
2 shallots, minced
3/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. ground white pepper
2 tablespoons all purpose flour
1/2 cup dry sherry
1 cup chicken broth
1 tablespoon chopped fresh tarragon or 1 tsp. dried tarragon
1/4 cup sour cream
Garnishes: thinly sliced green onion, chopped fresh tarragon, sliced shiitake mushroom
Melt butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat; add mushrooms and shallots. Saute 6 to 7 minutes or until mushrooms release moisture. Sprinkle with salt and pepper; stir well. Sprinkle with flour, stirring to coat mushrooms; cook 1 minute. Add sherry, broth, and tarragon; simmer uncovered 10 to 15 minutes or until liquid is absorbed, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat; stir in sour cream.
Spoon mixture into a serving bowl.
Garnish if desired.
Spread on melba toast rounds or crostini.
Yield: 2 1/3 cups
Here are a couple of deserts
Easy Lemon Ricotta Cake
Ingredients:
1 package lemon cake mix
1 lb ricotta cheese
Juice and grated rind of one lemon
3/4 cup sugar3 eggs
Method
Prepare cake as directed on package, pour into 9 x 13 pan. Mix ricotta, lemon juice and grated lemon rind, sugar and eggs. Pour on top of cake mix. Bake at 350 degrees for 50 minutes. Cool and dust with confectioners sugar.
Angel food with strawberries
Ingredients:
1 store bought angel food cake
1 container (16 oz) frozen sliced strawberries, unsweetened, thawed
2-3 cups fresh sliced strawberries
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup Splenda
3 tablespoons cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon lemon juice1 container low-fat Cool-Whip thawed
Method
In a saucepan combine the Splenda and cornstarch; then add the frozen strawberries and water. Bring mixture to a boil. Cook on low heat,stirring constantly until mixture thickens. Remove from heat and stir in the fresh strawberries and lemon juice. Serve sauce over sliced angel food cake. Sauce can be served warm or cooled. Top with cool-whip.
Notes: This is so refreshing and very low fat. The angel food cake is fat free. The other ingredients are very low.
Hope these helped, i felt that these would complement the Italian based menu well.
For an appetizer plate make an antipasto plate with genoa salami, sopressata, prosciutto,mortadella, roasted sweet red peppers, pepperoncini, marinated eggplant, and green olives &/or oil-cured ripe olives. You should be able to get all these
items at your grocery. You could even get some Gorgonzola or Parmigiano Reggiano cheeses, some good Italian bread, almonds, some fruit (pears, apples, grapes) and make a cheese plate for dessert.
Merry Christmas!
Fococcia (sp) bread is always a hit.