Appetizers

Christmas Tree Shaped Hard Boiled Eggs

Thumbnail image for Christmas Tree Shaped Hard Boiled Eggs

This idea could not be easier and it is spectacular for a holiday open house brunch or a Christmas Breakfast. All you need to know is how to hard boil eggs or rather how long for hard boiled eggs to cook depending on what is perfect for you! I have been thinking about unique and easy [...]

November 10, 2012 CONTINUE READING THIS POST →

Gazpacho

Thumbnail image for Gazpacho

One of the biggest time-savers to serve at a dinner party is a cold soup during your cocktail hour or as a first course, and it doesn’t get better than Gazpacho!It’s a perfect make-ahead item that you can keep cold in a pitcher, and then easily pour into a Margarita glass or stemware for a [...]

August 18, 2012 CONTINUE READING THIS POST →

Easy Fondue

Thumbnail image for Easy Fondue

Fondue is sexy! It reminds people of key parties (aka wife swappin’ get togethers) and a time when the country let down their hair and unfastened that top button. Fondue is great for a 50s, 60s, or 70s theme party and this easy recipe will please any crowd. (This recipe is an adaptation of one [...]

March 7, 2012 CONTINUE READING THIS POST →

Clams Casino

Thumbnail image for Clams Casino

 This recipe was the big hit of the night for my MAD MEN Party! So classically 1960s! 6 slices bacon 3 slices white bread, crusts removed 3/4 cup Ritz Crackers 2 tablespoons bacon fat (reserved from cooking bacon) 2 tablespoons butter 1/4 cup minced green pepper 1/4 cup minced onion 1 (6.5 oz.) can chopped [...]

March 7, 2012 CONTINUE READING THIS POST →

Ham Balls

Thumbnail image for Ham Balls

This Ham Ball recipe was updated from a version in 1960′s entertaining bible “The Calvert Party Encyclopedia.” More like an “egg salad ball,” I ate these tasty leftovers for days after the MAD MEN party! (Calvert was a brand of whiskey popular in the 1960s.) 6 hard-boiled eggs, finely chopped 1 tablespoon minced chives 1/2 [...]

March 7, 2012 CONTINUE READING THIS POST →

Academy Awards Party Food Bleu Cheese and Olive Clapboard

Thumbnail image for Academy Awards Party Food Bleu Cheese and Olive Clapboard

Here’s a sneak peek of a tasty dish I’m serving at my Oscars Party to watch the Academy Awards. It’s actually very simple made with cream cheese and bleu cheese dressing, minced olives, provolone cheese, and A-Z Spaghettios for the letters on the clapboard! Easy Recipe: 6 (8 oz.) blocks cream cheese, softened 1/2 cup [...]

February 20, 2012 CONTINUE READING THIS POST →

Chinese Chicken Wonton Tacos

Thumbnail image for Chinese Chicken Wonton Tacos

These tacos were a big hit at a recent cocktail party I hosted for my husband and the crew from a TV show he worked on, Fashion Star! (This show is going to be a huge hit – premieres February 2012!) This recipe takes off where minced squab on lettuce cups and mu shu chicken [...]

September 13, 2011 CONTINUE READING THIS POST →

Vegetarian Kabocha Curry on Papadum Crisps

Thumbnail image for Vegetarian Kabocha Curry on Papadum Crisps

I stumbled upon a package of papadum disks, large crispy wafers served in Indian restaurants, in the store while shopping for a cocktail party and thought they would make tasty round crisps for an Indian-inspired recipe. Typically, papadoms are about 6 to 8 inches in diameter. For this recipe I quartered each uncooked disk, making [...]

September 13, 2011 CONTINUE READING THIS POST →

Baja Shrimp Tortilla Cones

Thumbnail image for Baja Shrimp Tortilla Cones

I’ve been experimenting with various edible containers for appetizers using wontons, papadum, and tortillas! The tortilla cones were definitely the most challenging to work with because I had to hold the cone shape together while immersing it in hot oil. The Baja shrimp blend is delicious, but the cones take some time and effort to [...]

September 13, 2011 CONTINUE READING THIS POST →

4th of July Snacks on a Stick

Thumbnail image for 4th of July Snacks on a Stick

Grab and go foods such as these snack on a stick ideas are great for the 4th of July as most parties are super casual. From a simple star-shaped watermelon to single s’mores marshmallow skewers to red, white, and blue chocolate dipped pretzel sticks, there’s something a little sweet, salty, and partiotic for everyone at our Fourth of July celebration. 4th of [...]

June 29, 2011 CONTINUE READING THIS POST →

Grilled Figs with Balsamic Syrup and Roquefort and Candied Walnuts on Honey Pumpernickel Toast

Thumbnail image for Grilled Figs with Balsamic Syrup and Roquefort and Candied Walnuts on Honey Pumpernickel Toast

This recipe is so very Napa 2000. I was in my favorite local Russian market buying caviar and they had a sale on fresh figs – 79 cents for a basket of 8! “Figs on the grill,” I thought, “as an afternoon respite between the Quail Eggs Benedict Blini and other pancake-topped delicacies I had [...]

June 24, 2011 CONTINUE READING THIS POST →

Salsa Borracha

Thumbnail image for Salsa Borracha

Upon a recent visit to Rosarita Beach (video) on the Baja Peninsula, I discovered this excellent salsa. Happily, its star ingredient was beer!  In my broken Spanish, I asked our waiter Roberto for the ingredients and he went into game show mode acting out food, mixing, and drawing a blender on the paper tablecloth.  “And, [...]

June 23, 2011 CONTINUE READING THIS POST →

Prosciutto, Melon, and Kiwi Appetizer

Thumbnail image for Prosciutto, Melon, and Kiwi Appetizer

Talk about fabulous color in an appetizer! The gorgeous color combo of soft brown prosciutto, light orange melon, and bright green kiwi absoutely jumps off the plate in this riduculously easy starter. 4 oz. thinly sliced prosciutto 1/2 of a very ripe cantaloupe 5 kiwi fruits wooden picks Tear prosciutto into 1-inch-by-4-inch strips. Peel cantaloupe [...]

April 26, 2011 CONTINUE READING THIS POST →

Baby Red Potatoes with Sour Cream and Caviar

Thumbnail image for Baby Red Potatoes with Sour Cream and Caviar

One of the easiest and most elegant recipes, this classic appetizer of baby red potatoes topped with sour cream and caviar is a great go-to for dinner parties. Top half with the caviar and the remainder with chopped chives for those who prefer the potatoes sans the salty little sea gems. 12 baby red potatoes [...]

April 26, 2011 CONTINUE READING THIS POST →

Mashed Potato Martini Bar

Thumbnail image for Mashed Potato Martini Bar

Mashed Potato Martini Bars have been a popular party station for years at Los Angeles events and elsewhere. Invidual servings of mashed potatoes are set out in Martini glasses and small bowls of toppings are placed nearby for guests to tailor-make their taters. The photos for this dish are from my St. Patrick’s Day appearance [...]

Related Posts with Thumbnails
April 1, 2011 CONTINUE READING THIS POST →

← Previous Entries