Kitchen Newsletter Target Date: 12-14-17 Title: Gather with Small Plates Constant Contact Name: December 14, 2016 – Gather with Small Plates You're in the mood for a party - we are, too! We love this season because it is so full of family and friends with plenty of good times. Whether you're the party host, or bringing something to a get-together, our party sampler of six recipes are all delicious and easy to make! We also include entertaining tips to make your season bright. Our best to you this festive season! Fried Artichokes with Aioli Artichokes, in any form, rank high on our favorites list. In this presentation, artichoke hearts are fried to golden deliciousness. These tiny, crisped morsels feature just a few ingredients that are quickly assembled. Paired with an aioli dip, these artichoke bites will win over more than a few guests this holiday season. Skillet Sausage & Spinach Dip in a Garlic Roll Ring We love the presentation of this dip -- served right in your cast iron skillet! Improvise with this recipe by putting your own favorite hot dip inside the garlic roll ring. (We always prefer our own pizza dough, but if time is tight, store-bought pizza dough makes assembling this recipe very quick!) USE A BOWLTO SAVE SPACE FOR THE DIPWHILE THEROLLS RISE, THEN SIMPLYREMOVE THE BOWL ADD THE DIP, AND BAKE! PARTY PERFECT! FESTIVE NAPKINS Set a festive table with seasonal designs. Smaller beverage napkins are perfect for an appetizer party, too! GLASS STEMWARE Invest in elegant stemware at everyday prices. A great glass is an essential piece of enjoying a good wine. JOHN BOOS CUTTING BOARD A new cutting board makes a great serving piece for small plate gatherings. APPETIZER TONGS Accompany each appetizer with the proper utensil matched to the food. Keep extra tongs on hand, too. MARBLE PASTRY BOARD A marble pastry board doubles nicely as a serving tray for cheeses and charcuterie offerings. WUSTHOF CHEESE KNIVES Make it simple to serve all kinds of cheeses by using utensils expressly made for cheese. Baked Goat Cheese Roll-Ups These phyllo dough roll-ups are a guaranteed party pleaserS! The hot pepper jam and goat cheese combine in a winning combination of flavors nestled in crispy, buttery phyllo dough. Working with the paper-thin phyllo dough takes a delicate touch, but once mastered it will become a favorite ingredient. The key tip to working with phyllo dough is to keep the sheets covered with a damp towel to avoid drying out and becoming too brittle to roll up. ENTERTAINING TIPS Make a list! Include your menu, drink plan, budget, guests, and grocery list. Sketch out a timeline for food preparation. Take it easy on yourself and plan a doable event. MAKE your get-together a cooperative event. Invite guests and ask them to bring their favorite nosh along. It’s an instant party with “distributed” effort & expense. SET UP PLACES FOR GUESTS to place dirty dishes, trash, and recyclables. They will naturally participate with “the system” if one is there, plus, it will make your post-party clean up a lot easier. STOCK YOUR PANTRY WITH KEY ITEMS SO YOU’RE READY FOR AN “INSTANT PARTY”. We keep a variety of olives, pickles, dip mixes, nuts, and crackers on the shelf at all times. WHEN HOSTING, OFFER A TOAST TO FRIENDS AND GOOD FORTUNE IN THE COMING NEW YEAR. AS A GUEST, TOAST THE HOST AND THE GENEROSITY OF THE SEASON. IF YOU’RE A GUEST, never arrive empty-handed. Bring a small gift with you for the host and hostess, perhaps a specialty food item that they can enjoy later. (Avoid gifts that require the host/hostess’ time, e.g., finding a vase for flowers, or making space in the freezer for a frozen item.) PRACTICE GOOD FOODSAFETY HABITS. Keep hot foods hot, and cold foods cold. Food should not stay out at room temperature for more than two hours. MUSIC IS KEY for setting the party mood; spend some time in advance creating a p playlist that will set the tone; adjust lighting to set the mood that you’d like to present. Mushroom & Gruyere TART This mushroom and Gruyere tart assembles easily with a fantastic, flavorful result. With a base of puff pastry, you're nearly guaranteed success for this delicous party food. The tart is made as one large tart, then cut into small triangles for easy serving and eating while mingling. Caesar Salad Bites We love finding a festive bite that leans toward the healthy side! These Caesar salad bites are refreshing, and eye catching. Simply assemble the salad bites on a small skewer alternating with crisp romaine, savory parmesan, a crunchy crouton and a lemon wedge on the end and drizzle with Caesar dressing. Blistered Shishito Peppers with Sriracha Dip Blistered shishito peppers are fast and easy to prepare at home! A super fast appetizer, they are extra enjoyable dipped in mayonnaise-based, Sriracha-spiked dip. Be careful - about 1 in 10 peppers can be hot!