How will you be ringing in the New Year? If you’re at home with a young one, like Keith and I, you’ll probably be hoping for an early kid bedtime so you can enjoy your rack of lamb in peace, but you definitely won’t be partying. That doesn’t have to keep you from enjoying appetizers that practically scream, “Best. Party. Ever.”
Even if you’re not saddled with child, these appetizers will appeal and make your party (or your bring-along) a huge gastronomical hit.
I’ve recently made four dips that are perfect for partying: tahini miso dip goes well with snap peas or sesame crackers, and white bean dip with sun-dried tomato and roasted garlic is magical with crostini laced with pecorino romano and extra virgin olive oil. Alton Brown’s olive tapenade and this sun-dried tomato tapenade are spectacular with just about anything edible.
My cousin’s wife makes a warm goat cheese in tomato sauce dip that is easy and crowd-pleasing. To this basic recipe, I’d add a bunch of fresh basil, chiffonade style and probably even some Kalamata olives.
Some of Bob’s favorite Food Network recipes are appetizers, like Bobby Flay’s flatbread with white bean hummus and Alton Brown’s spinach artichoke dip. One spinach artichoke dip you don’t want to make is Food Network’s lightened up version; a great idea but a flavor failure.
Now I’m thinking of my perfect hummus recipe, drizzled with olive oil and sprinkled with paprika. It’s perfect for serving just like that, with pita triangles, or using on bruschetta with sun-dried tomatoes and Kalamata olives, and maybe a fresh basil leaf, for a one-bite appetizer.
Speaking of one-bite or individual serving sized appetizers, I like these mini-quiches in prosciutto cups. This recipe is so ridiculously easy and so deliciously gourmet that it’s hard not to want to make them every night of the week.
If that’s too complicated for you, try wrapping dates or figs or asparagus in prosciutto with a little blue cheese sprinkled in. Bake until melty goodness is achieved and you’ve got yourself an appetizer.
You can even get fancy with some store-bought pesto, or your own homemade pesto. Spread eggplant rounds with pesto and top with a sun-dried tomato and slice of fresh mozzarella. Bake as above … you know, until melty goodness is achieved. Try the same on sliced baguette with roasted red peppers and goat cheese, or any combination that pleases you.
Don’t rule out the world’s easiest sushi rolls; I don’t know many people who wouldn’t pop those delightful little seaweed-wrapped nuggets like candy. We like avocado with just about anything stuffed inside, and you might be better off using cooked ingredients when serving a crowd. We can’t all claim to have friends with good taste.
Here’s an easy one that our guests brought to our house the other night: simple fried polenta sticks dipped in marinara sauce, courtesy of Giada De Laurentiis. Fun and appealing to just about everyone. Come to think of it, the fried polenta would be amazing with the sun-dried tomato tapenade I mentioned above.
What are your favorite appetizer ideas? Have you tried any of the above?
Clacked by Debbie McDuffee
on Dec 29, 2009 @ 10:00 EST5EDT
