I'm going to a housewarming party, and it's a new friend. I want to bring an amazing dish. Any suggestions?!
Answers: I have to drive 3 hours to this house warming party, but I can take a cooler or reheat there if need be.
That is a lovely idea! Maybe you can bring her cookies or a cake in a decorative jar for the house. Sort of like two presents in one.
Here is the most amazing recipe for chocolate cookies.
The second is for her brownies.
Chocolate White Chocolate Chunk Cookies Copyright 2001 Barefoot Contessa Parties!
Show: Barefoot Contessa
Episode: I Scream for Ice Cream
This recipe is available for a limited time only. Why?
1/2 pound unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 cup light brown sugar, packed
1 cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
2 extra-large eggs, at room temperature
2/3 cup good unsweetened cocoa
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 1/2 pounds good white chocolate, coarsely chopped
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Cream the butter and 2 sugars until light and fluffy in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Add the vanilla, then the eggs, 1 at a time, and mix well. Add the cocoa and mix again. Sift together the flour, baking soda, and salt and add to the chocolate with the mixer on low speed until just combined. Fold in the chopped white chocolate.
Drop the dough on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, using a 1 3/4-inch ice cream scoop or a rounded tablespoon. Dampen your hands and flatten the dough slightly. Bake for exactly 15 minutes (the cookies will seem underdone). Remove from the oven and let cool slightly on the pan, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Outrageous Brownies Copyright 1999, The Barefoot Contessa CookbookThis was adapted from a recipe for chocolate globs in the Soho Charcuterie Cookbook.
Show: Food Network Specials
Episode: All-Star Desserts
1 pound unsalted butter
1 pound plus 12 ounces semisweet chocolate chips, divided
6 ounces unsweetened chocolate
6 extra-large eggs
3 tablespoons instant coffee powder
2 tablespoons real vanilla extract
2 1/4 cups sugar
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, divided (1 cup for batter and 1/4 cup in the chips and nuts)
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon kosher salt
3 cups diced walnut pieces
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour a 13 by 18 by 1 1/2-inch sheet pan.
Melt together the butter, 1 pound chocolate chips, and unsweetened chocolate on top of a double boiler. Cool slightly. Stir together the eggs, instant coffee, vanilla and sugar. Stir in the warm chocolate mixture and cool to room temperature.
Stir together 1 cup of the flour, baking powder and salt. Add to cooled chocolate mixture. Toss the walnuts and 12 ounces of chocolate chips with 1/4 cup flour to coat. Then add to the chocolate batter. Pour into prepared pan.
Bake for about 30 minutes, or until tester just comes out clean. Halfway through the baking, rap the pan against the oven shelf to allow air to escape from between the pan and the brownie dough. Do not over-bake! Cool thoroughly, refrigerate well and cut into squares.
instead of cooking something bring a gift she can use around the house or something to decorate the home. That is the point of a housewarming.
Meatballs with marinara in a crock pot. Bring some rolls and mozzarella cheese to have sandwiches.
A bottle of good Champagne to christen the new house(and I don't mean break it on the house) would be nice. I am partial to fingerfoods, since it is a housewarming party it will probably be buffet. Mini quiches or spanakopita travel well and can be served at room temp.
http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,161,1511...
http://www.cooks.com/rec/doc/0,1637,1571...
If you feel compelled to bring a food dish...I suggest Italian sausage and peppers with onions and a marinara sauce. Reheat there and serve on Italian bread or rolls with grated cheese.
Here's a Chocolate Cherry Fudge cake I've made personally that has actually been called "amazing", so thought I'd pass it along. Got it from a friend's mom. It's easy to make and has been known to survive three hour drives.
1 Devils food cake mix (chocolate)
1 can cherry pie filling
2 eggs beat well
Mix well together and pour into an 8x13 sprayed with Pam.
Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until done.
When you take out the cake what about 10 minutes and start the topping….
Topping
1 cup sugar
1/3 cup milk
5 tablespoons butter or margarine
6 oz. bag chocolate chips
Mix sugar- milk- and butter in sauce pan on med. heat.
Stir until it starts to boil, let boil about 1 minute.
Add chocolate chips, stir until melted, pour over warm cake.
Do not make cake from directions on box mix. Just the ingredients above.
I will give you the BEST dip recipe EVER! the guests will keep coming back for more until it's all gone!
LOVE DIP (why?because everyone loves it!)
mix 2 pkgs softened cream cheese with
3 pkgs of Carl Budding Beef chopped into small pieces
2 bunches green onion chopped
Accent Seasoning- I just pour it on, so about 2 tbs? you must have this seasoning otherwise it won't taste good.
serve with wheat Ritz crackers
keep on ice during travel so it's nice and chilled for serving.