Easy Party Food

I just found this great article from the Dallas Morning News featuring simple party foods and had to share their recipes! {via}

VODKA TOMATOES WITH CELERY SALT

1 pint grape or small cherry tomatoes

1/2 cup vodka

3 tablespoons white wine vinegar

1 tablespoon superfine granulated sugar

1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest

2 to 3 tablespoons celery salt or sea salt for dipping, or a combination of the two

Using a wooden skewer, poke 4 to 6 holes in each tomato, depending on its size.

In a shallow bowl, combine vodka, vinegar, sugar and zest. Stir to dissolve sugar. Add tomatoes and toss to combine. Let stand, covered, stirring occasionally, for 1 to 4 hours, or until soaked to desired taste.

To serve, remove from liquid and place in a glass bowl accompanied by a small, shallow dish of the salt and toothpicks for dipping. Alternatively, spear each tomato with a toothpick and set on a tray. Sprinkle tomato tops lightly with salt and place the remaining salt in a dish for guests to dip into for more salt, to taste.

Makes 6 to 8 servings.

PER SERVING: Calories 30 (2% fat), Negligible fat, Sodium 538 mg, Fiber 0.5 g, Carbohydrates 3 g,Negligible protein g

SOURCE: Adapted from epicurious.com

featuring Clover Wrap Leather Bracelet

WHITE SANGRIA

1 (750-ml.) bottle of fruity, dry white wine 

3 oranges, washed, cut into wedges and seeds discarded, plus additional round slices for garnish if desired (divided use) 

1 lemon, washed, cut into wedges and seeds discarded, plus additional round slices for garnish if desired 

1 lime, washed, cut into wedges and seeds discarded 

2 ounces Triple Sec, Cointreau or brandy (optional) 

1/2 to 2/3 cup sugar 

2 cups chilled lemon-lime soda or ginger ale (for a less sweet version, use club soda or a combination of club soda and lemon-lime soda)

Pour wine in a pitcher. Squeeze the juice from the orange, lemon and lime wedges into the wine. Add brandy, if desired. Toss in the fruit wedges and add sugar. Chill several hours, or overnight.

Just before serving, stir in chilled soda or ginger ale. Pour into glasses and if desired, garnish with orange and lemon slices.

Makes 6 servings.

PER SERVING: Calories 254, Sodium 13 mg, Fiber 4 g, Carbohydrates 44 g, Protein 1 g

SOURCE: Adapted from About.com Wine

featuring the Marrakesh Bib Necklace

CHEDDAR CORNBREAD
MINI-MUFFINS

2 eggs 

1/3 cup vegetable oil 

3/4 cup creamed corn 

2/3 cup sour cream 

1 (8.5-ounce) box Jiffy corn muffin mix 

2/3 cup grated extra-sharp cheddar cheese, plus an optional 3 tablespoons finely grated cheese for topping (divided use) 

2 tablespoons chopped chives (optional)

Preheat oven to 375 F. Spray two 24-cup mini-muffin trays with cooking spray.

In a medium bowl, lightly beat eggs. Add oil and beat until combined. Add creamed corn and sour cream, stirring well to blend. Stir in muffin mix and combine (batter will be lumpy). Fold in 2/3 cup grated cheddar and optional chives, if using. Fill muffin cups 2/3 full with batter (about 1 tablespoon per cup). If desired, sprinkle tops with 3 tablespoons of finely grated cheddar.

Bake for about 25 minutes. Let cool a few minutes in pan before removing. May be served at room temperature.

Makes 48 mini-muffins.

PER PIECE: Calories 52 (58% fat), Fat 3 g (1 g sat), Cholesterol 12 mg, Sodium 81 mg, Negligiblefiber, Carbohydrates 4 g, Protein 1 g

SOURCE: Tina Danze

CHIPOTLE-CHEESE DIP

Buy a 12-ounce tub of pimento cheese, such as Palmetto brand (sold at Albertson’s and Central Market). Remove seeds from two canned chipotle chiles in adobo sauce. Place the chiles and pimento cheese in a food processor and process until smooth. Taste, and if you want it spicier, add a little bit of the adobo sauce from the canned chiles. If you go too far with the heat, add a little sour cream or cream cheese to cut it. Serve with Pepperidge Farm’s Baked Naturals Sesame Sticks, sturdy crackers or baked pita chips. Makes 11/2 cups.

SOURCE: Tina Danze

Do’s and don’ts for hosting home-shopping events

Stay out of the kitchen during the event.

Keep food in the same room as the merchandise.

Serve easy-to-eat finger food. Skip the drippy dips and avoid anything that requires a utensil.

Buy some foods and make only a couple of things that you wouldn’t find in stores.

Float lemon or cucumber slices in carafes of water; it adds subtle flavor and makes an attractive garnish.

Make a flavored iced tea, such as peach or mango.

Serve white wine, prosecco or a white sangria instead of red wine.

Savory snacks

Inca corn: Dried large corn kernels, a popular cocktail nibble at Peruvian restaurants, are sold in bulk at Sprouts Farmers Market.

Seeds and nuts: Roasted pumpkin seeds, smoked almonds or Marcona almonds

Go wasabi: Wasabi-coated peas, peanuts or edamame; sold at stores with big bulk bin departments

Nori peanuts: These are sweet and savory, with flecks of nori, and look like speckled bird eggs. Sold at Central Market and Sprouts.

Snack mixes: Every store has some variation of this, either in bags or in the bulk bins. Look for interesting flavor combinations.

Crispy nibbles: Sturdy artisan cheese crackers, such as Dr. Cracker Pumpkin Seed Cheddar Crackers (Whole Foods Market, Central Market, select Sprouts, select Wal-Mart Neighborhood Markets); Pepperidge Farm Sesame Sticks (sturdy, short breadsticks, ideal for dipping); Pepperidge Farm Wheat Crisps or Cheese Crisps; pita chips

Cheese straws: Sold packaged at specialty supermarkets

Thick dips: Hummus, pimento cheese, smoked salmon or smoked whitefish dip from the deli

Sweet bites

Sweeten the deal with a selection of these ideas:

M&Ms in colors to match your color scheme

Jordan almonds

One-bite iced star cookies; sold in bulk at Whole Foods Market

Gefen brand macaroons; sold at Tom Thumb

Sha Sha Co. One-bite Cocoa or Gingersnap Hearts; sold at Whole Foods Market in the bakery department

Lady Walton’s All-Natural Butter Wafers Topped With Milk Chocolate and Toffee; one-bite cookies sold packaged at Whole Foods Market in the bakery department

Wackym’s Kitchen Cornmeal Rosemary Shortbread: This semisweet cookie has a very light touch of rosemary and it’s good with pungent or sharp cheeses. Sold at Central Market, Jimmy’s Food Store, Celebration Market, the Green Spot and Bolsa Mercado; also available by order through Greenlings, and at local farmers markets.

Amaretti snaps (small amaretti cookies; various brands, sold at specialty supermarkets as well as at Jimmy’s Food Store and Alongi’s Italian Market and Deli in Flower Mound)

Small Italian cookies (many packaged varieties, sold at Jimmy’s Food Store)

Pastel-colored meringue bites; sold packaged in supermarket bakery departments

Pepperidge Farm Chessmen and Gingerman

Jules Destrooper Ginger Thins and Almond Thins

Mini-muffins or scones

Cheesy bites

Sliced mozzarella-prosciutto pinwheels; sold as a packaged roll in supermarket deli departments

Manchego or Iberico cheese, cut into small triangles

Gouda or Beemster cut into small wedges

Fruit

Green grapes

Strawberries (not too big)

Dried apricots