What to make for an impressive 3course meal for a friendly competition?!


Question: What to make for an impressive 3course meal for a friendly competition!?
I'm heading off on a pre-college roadtrip to a vacation home with some of my friends next week, and as a fun competition, we decided that he (or she) who makes the best meal during the week will be treated by the others to a gourmet dinner out on the final evening!. Right now, I'm facing "opponents" making bacon-wrapped chicken and lava cake, and shrimp scampi and tiramisu! My best bet (concerning my cooking skills) for the main course is chicken marsala- which isn't too hard, but with fresh ingredients is delicious- but I don't have an amazing appetizer or dessert!. Any suggestions would be great, but I can't make anything requiring alcoholic ingredients or specialty cookware!. Thank you!!!Www@FoodAQ@Com


Answers:
that sounds fun! well it seems like you have the main course down, but ill try to help out with some competition worthy apps and desserts!.

here you go!

Appetizers:

Stuffed Jalapenos

INGREDIENTS:
12 fresh jalapeno peppers,
halved lengthwise and seeded
1 (8 ounce) package whipped cream cheese
12 slices bacon, cut in half

DIRECTIONS:
1!. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C)!.
2!. Stuff each jalapeno half with whipped cream cheese!. Wrap a half slice of bacon around each stuffed jalapeno half!.
3!. Arrange wrapped jalapeno halves in a single layer on a medium baking sheet!. Bake in the preheated oven 45 minutes, or until bacon is evenly browned and crisp!.


Appetizer Chicken Kabobs

INGREDIENTS:
3/4 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup sugar
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
2 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - cut into 1 inch
pieces
6 green onions, cut into 1-inch
pieces
8 ounces fresh mushrooms,
stems removed

DIRECTIONS:
1!. In a mixing bowl, combine first five ingredients!. Stir in chicken and onion; allow to marinate for 30 minutes!. Soak wooden skewers in water!. On each skewer, thread a piece of chicken, onion, mushroom and another chicken piece!. Place on a broiler rack!. Broil 5 in!. from the heat, turning and basting with marinade after 3 minutes!. Continue broiling for another 3 minutes or until chicken is done!. Serve immediately!.


Stuffed Filet Mignon Bites

INGREDIENTS:
4 (6 ounce) filet mignon steaks
1 (16 ounce) bottle Italian
dressing
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese
1/4 cup minced jalapeno
pepper
20 slices thinly sliced bacon

DIRECTIONS:
1!. Slice the steaks into 1/2-inch wide strips!. Pound the strips to about half their original thickness!. Place the steak in a bowl; pour the Italian dressing over the meat; allow to marinate at least 2 hours!.
2!. Mix together the cream cheese and jalapeno pepper in a bowl; set aside!. Remove the strips from the marinade and lay out on a flat surface!. Spread about 1 teaspoon of the cream cheese mixture on each strip!.
3!. Preheat an outdoor grill for high heat and lightly oil grate!.
4!. Remove the strips from the marinade and lay on a flat surface!. Spread about 1 teaspoon of the cream cheese mixture on each strip!. Fold the meat around the cream cheese mixture to form a ball!. Wrap each ball with a slice of bacon!. Secure bacon with water-soaked toothpicks or metal skewers!.
5!. Cook on preheated grill until steak is no longer pink, about 4 minutes per side!.


Pear and Blue Cheese Pastry Triangles

INGREDIENTS:
3 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon olive oil
4 sweet onions, thinly sliced
salt and pepper to taste 1 (17!.5 ounce) package frozen
puff pastry, thawed
2 firm pears, peeled, quartered,
and sliced
3/4 cup crumbled blue cheese

DIRECTIONS:
1!. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C)!. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper!.
2!. Melt the butter and olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat!. Stir the onions into the butter, and cook until the onions have softened and caramelized to a deep, golden brown, 30 to 40 minutes!. Stir frequently as the onions cook to keep them from burning!. Once done, season with salt and pepper, and set aside to cool!.
3!. Use a sharp knife to cut each sheet of puff pastry into 9 squares!. Cut each square in half diagonally to yield 36 triangles!. Place the triangles onto the prepared baking sheets, and top with the caramelized onions, pears, and 1 teaspoon of blue cheese!.
4!. Bake in the preheated oven until the pastry is puffed and golden brown, 20 to 30 minutes!. Allow to cool to room temperature before serving!.


Cheesy Zucchini Bites

INGREDIENTS:
5 medium zucchini
4 ounces blue cheese,
crumbled
3 tablespoons grated
Parmesan cheese 1 teaspoon dried basil
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1 pint cherry tomatoes, thinly
sliced

DIRECTIONS:
1!. Cut zucchini into 3/4-in!. slices!. Using a melon baller or small spoon, scoop out the insides and discard, leaving the bottom intact!. Place zucchini on an ungreased baking sheet; spoon 1/2 teaspoon crumbled blue cheese into each!. Combine Parmesan cheese, basil and pepper; sprinkle half over blue cheese!. Top each with a tomato slice; sprinkle with remaining Parmesan mixture!. Bake at 400 degrees F for 5-7 minutes or until cheese is melted!. Serve warm!.


Clam Stuffed Mushrooms

INGREDIENTS:
20 mushrooms, stems removed
2 (6!.5 ounce) cans minced
clams, drained
1/2 cup melted butter
1 small onion, chopped
1/2 cup grated Parmesan
cheese
3/4 cup Italian bread crumbs 2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons dried parsley
2 tablespoons Italian seasoning
1/2 tablespoon ground black
pepper
1/2 cup shredded mozzarella
cheese
1 cup melted butter

DIRECTIONS:
1!. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C)!. Line a 9x13 inch baking dish with a sheet of aluminum foil, and lightly spray with nonstick cooking spray!. Clean the mushrooms carefully with a damp paper towel or a soft mushroom brush, and place into the prepared pan upside down!.
2!. Place the clams, 1/2 cup of melted butter, onion, Parmesan cheese, bread crumbs, and garlic in a large mixing bowl!. Season with parsley, Italian seasoning, and pepper; mix well!. Fill the mushroom caps with the clam mixture, and round over the tops!. Sprinkle with the shredded mozzarella cheese, and drizzle with the remaining 1 cup of butter!.
3!. Bake in the preheated oven until the mushrooms are tender, and the mozzarella cheese has lightly browned, 25-30 minutes!.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Deserts:


Mini Cheesecakes

INGREDIENTS:
1 (12 ounce) package vanilla
wafers
2 (8 ounce) packages cream
cheese
3/4 cup white sugar 2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 (21 ounce) can cherry pie
filling

DIRECTIONS:
1!. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C)!. Line miniature muffin tins (tassie pans) with miniature paper liners!.
2!. Crush the vanilla wafers, and place 1/2 teaspoon of the crushed vanilla wafers into each paper cup!.
3!. In a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese, sugar, eggs and vanilla until light and fluffy!. Fill each miniature muffin liner with this mixture, almost to the top!.
4!. Bake for 15 minutes!. Cool!. Top with a teaspoonful of cherry pie filling!.


Oatmeal Carmelitas

INGREDIENTS:
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup quick cooking oats
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
3/4 cup melted butter
1/4 teaspoon salt 6 ounces semisweet chocolate
chips
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
3/4 cup caramel ice cream
topping
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

DIRECTIONS:
1!. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C)!. Grease one 9x9 inch square pan!.
2!. Combine the 1 cup flour, baking soda, oats, brown sugar, salt and melted butter!. Mix to combine, mixture will be very crumbly!. Press half of the mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan!.
3!. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 10 minutes!.
4!. Let cool slightly then sprinkle over the crust the chocolate chips and chopped nuts!. Mix the caramel ice cream topping with the 3 tablespoons of flour and drizzle over the chocolate chips!. Top with the remaining oatmeal mixture!. You will need to break it into small pieces to cover!.
5!. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 15 minutes!. Let bars cool before cutting!.


Strawberry Chocolate Mousse Cake

INGREDIENTS:
1 cup chocolate cookie crumbs
3 tablespoons butter, melted
2 pints fresh strawberries,
halved
2 cups semisweet chocolate
chips 1/2 cup water
2 tablespoons light corn syrup
2 1/2 cups heavy whipping
cream
1 tablespoon white sugar

DIRECTIONS:
1!. In a bowl, mix crumbs and butter to blend thoroughly!. Press evenly onto bottom of 9 inch springform pan!. Stand strawberry halves about pan, touching, side-by-side, pointed ends up, with cut sides against the side of pan; set aside!.
2!. Place chocolate chips in blender container!. In small saucepan over medium heat, mix water and corn syrup!. Bring to a boil and simmer for 1 minute!. Immediately pour over chocolate chips and blend until smooth!. Cool to room temperature!.
3!. While chocolate cools, in a large mixer bowl, beat 1 1/2 c of the cream to form stiff peaks!. With a rubber spatula, fold cooled chocolate into whipped cream to blend thoroughly!. Pour into prepared pan!. Level top!. Points of strawberries might extend about the chocolate mixture!. Cover and refrigerate for 4 to 24 hours!.
4!. Up to 2 hours before serving, in a medium mixing bowl, beat remaining 1 c cream to form soft peaks!. Add sugar!. Beat to form stiff peaks!. Remove side of pan!. Place cake on serving plate!. Pipe or dollop whipped cream onto top of cake!. Arrange remaining halved strawberries on whipped cream!. To serve, cut into wedges with thin knife, wiping blade between cuts!.

Chocolate Toffee Crunchies

INGREDIENTS:
2 cups vanilla wafer crumbs
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup butter (no substitutes),
melted
TOPPING: 1/2 cup butter (no substitutes)
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup semisweet chocolate
chips
1/2 cup finely chopped pecans

DIRECTIONS:
1!. Combine crumbs, brown sugar and butter!. Press into an ungreased 13-in!. x 9-in!. x 2-in!. baking pan!. Bake at 350 degrees F for 8-10 minutes or until lightly browned!. In a saucepan, bring butter and brown sugar to a boil over medium heat; boil and stir for 1 minute!. Pour evenly over crust!. Bake at 350 degrees F for 10 minutes!. Remove from oven; let stand for 2 minutes!. Sprinkle with chocolate chips; let stand until chocolate is melted!. Spread evenly over top; sprinkle with pecans!. Cool completely before cutting!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

What about a cheesecake!?!? There are some easy no bake recipes that you can even use a premade graham cracker pie crust!.!.!.so no special pan needed!. Here's a basic recipe, but you can change the fruit topping or even the type of pie crust (chocolate, maybe!?)!.!.!.fancy it up a bit!. Looks impressive, tastes great & is super easy to make!.
http://www!.tasteofhome!.com/Recipes/Cherr!.!.!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

Do you have access to farm stand tomatoes and really good fresh mozzerella!? Do a tomato, mozzerella and basil salad with really high quality olive oil (plus a little fresh garlic, of course!)

For dessert, tiramisu will win them over!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

Grilled peached with vanilla ice cream would be fabulous!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

http://allrecipes!.com/



try it!Www@FoodAQ@Com

Mini Cheesecakes
Ingredients:
_ 12 vanilla wafers
_ 2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
_ 2 eggs
_ 2 tablespoons lemon juice
_ 2/3 cup white sugar
_ 1 (21 ounce) can cherry pie filling
DIRECTIONS
1!. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C)!.
Line muffin tins with 12 paper baking cups!. Place a vanilla wafer in each one!.
2!. In a medium mixing bowl beat cream cheese until fluffy!. Add eggs, lemon juice, and sugar!. Beat until smooth and thoroughly combined!.
3!. Fill each baking cup 2/3 full with cream cheese mixture!.
Bake in preheated oven for 15 to 17 minutes!. Cool on a rack!. Top with fruit pie filling!. Pipe whipped cream or sweetened cream cheese into a rosette on top of each cheesecake just prior to serving, if desired!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

This should work for you it's a great plan!.!.!.
First do a creme brule with mango smoothie (as a drink)!.!.!.
Then do some chicken wings with a honey-ginger glaze (my honey glazed chicken won best in my culinary school)!.!.!.
Then for dessert try this, put a BIG cookie in a plate (covering the surface) drizzle some hot fudge on the cookie, then add some cookie dough ice cream onto the cookie, then drizzle with some more hot fudge and powdered sugar and serve with a nice warm brownie next to the plate!.!.!.

These recipies of mine were used at many occasions and my friends and culinary experts love them!.!.!. These are truely killer dishes to serve to friends on a pre college-roadtrip vacation!.!.!. Try the ideas they WILL LOVE IT!

Let me know how it goes with the food!.!.!. my email is Maddog55550@yahoo!.com!.!.!. Good luck and have fun!Www@FoodAQ@Com





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