Dinner Party Suggestions...?!
Dinner Party Suggestions...?
My friend and I are throwing a back to school dinner party about week and a half from now and we can't decide exaclty what we want to have. We know it's on the line of either really good meat or fish but we also want some nice fresh vegtables a good wine and dessert and maybe cheese.
Were getting all the food from The Central Market here in Fort Worth, Tx. Which has everything we could choose from. Any good suggestions on what we could do?
Were planning this for the 27 of August which is on a Sunday so it gives us plenty of time to sort everything out. Were expecting at the most 10 people.
All answers are greatly apprecitated. If you could give me the links to great recipe websites that would be great too. Thanks!
Answers:
The end of August is always a wonderful time to cook because everything is so fresh and juicy.
I'd go with something along the lines of a smorgasboard with foods that aren't the usual and are easy to set out for people to graze.
This is a VERY popular recipe in Michigan and Wisconsin. If venison isn't available, you can easily substitute a beautiful piece of lamb or beef tenderloin.
Venison Pasties: http://www.eatfeed.com/recipes/venisonpa...
Add in one or 2 of these.
Lamb Kebabs: http://www.oprah.com/foodhome/food/recip...
Chicken Tangine: http://www.oprah.com/foodhome/food/recip...
Cilantro and Orange Chicken kebabs: http://www.oprah.com/foodhome/food/recip...
Moroccan Chicken with Couscous: http://www.oprah.com/foodhome/food/recip...
Here's some great side dishes for almost any smorgasboard
Chestnut Potato Cakes: http://www.oprah.com/foodhome/food/recip...
Corn Salad: http://www.oprah.com/foodhome/food/recip...
Fennel and White Bean Salad: http://www.oprah.com/foodhome/food/recip...
Then add in a platter of fresh veggies, like cucumbers, kalamata olives, tomatoes with fresh basil and a little olive oil, and some sliced fresh mozzarella and feta cheese. Have both some toasted bread dressed with garlic and olive oil and some pita wedges on the side.
Finish off the meal with some fresh fruit over a little angel food or sponge cake and you've got a wonderful party. The nice part is that the flavors are all familiar, but they're put together in less familiar ways. Since it's kicking off the school year, it's a great way to bring in a new culture or 2 and have fun doing it.
Provide an evn number of both foods so guests can have a choice. Also if you don't like people in house because don't want to clean up aftr, just get a hotel. I heard it won't give you as much stress (i.e. like people ooking in ur bahtroom cabinet or looking into your private things)
Salmon is wonderful, especially if you wrap it in foil and grill it on the BBQ with lemon, butter, and onions. I don't know exactly why but if you do that it is the most wonderful salmon ever!! Good luck!!
C'mon don't be a Scrooge take them to a catered meal at a Jack in the Box, or Taco Bell
make something no one has had before ,But , nothing to fancy
Central Market will be having their Hatch Chile Festival the last two weekends in August.
I would suggest going with a Hatch Chile theme.
There is opportunity to try before you buy. It will be special and memorable. Ask the folks there they are really helpful.
suggest a theme for ya party. since it's august howzabout some thing to do with fall. you could have some berries and red wine and maybe 4 dessert you could have some thing fruity. fall always remind me of fruits. yummmmmm
Barbecue a fresh whole salmon:
Have the fish monger clean it, leave it whole.
Place thinly sliced lemons and onions and leaves of fresh dill in the cavity. Wrap in aluminum foil, place over hot coal. Check fish - it's done when the skin pulls back and the flesh flakes apart.
Serve with green salad and a really great
curry sauce:
Thin mayonnaise with lemon juice, add curry powder to taste. Mix well. Also excellent with crudities. (An assortment of raw vegetables and fruit)
TOSS SALAD,OR SALAD TOSSED
have a wine tasting party .. have all your guess bring a bottle of wine ( not more then $20.00) and put them all in paper bags. have everyone taste them and write down what they think of the wine and how much they think it is and rate which is the best etc. Well then reveal what everyone thinks and reveal the cheapest and the most pricey bottle.. you will be surprised that alot of people might like the cheap bottle over the high dollar one. But stick to one kind of wine for the evening. Red , pino, chard... but you will have a blast. Have fish and pork and a nice tossed salad with Mandarin oranges. and a nice dressing to complement the wine... and just gives everyone something to talk about . Taste , smell, sweet dry... make your tasetbuds work for the night..
have fun