Cookaholics Bulletin Board

Hellllllloooo!!! Oh my goodness. So great to see this board so active and even greater to connect with some foodie friends that I haven't chatted with in AGES! Time really flies. I'm the mother of TWO now (I think I just had my little girl the last time I posted!) - Layla is 2 and a half and Lucas is 4 months now. I love them dearly, but they definitely make cooking a challenge. Hence, why I've come to you all for guidance.

I'm having a little get together for about 10 women on Saturday - an evening party starting at 8pm. I'm doing a champagne punch and I'd like to provide some finger foods, both savory and sweet. I need recipes that are inspired (not too high brow, but not too superbowl-ish) and that can easily be made ahead of time. Any ideas???!! Thanks in advance!

Hi Rose,

It's great to see you here!

8:00 pm is very much the dinner hour. Is it safe to assume you're looking for substantial apps?

Amy

I think a mix of lighter and substantial fare. I know some of my mommy friends will have eaten with their families by then, but I also know they will save some room for my cooking if that makes any sense.

Well hi there! I LOVE lady parties. Here are my ideas:

I made the mustard batons from Around my French Table. Very good. VERY easy. Just puff pastry with mustard in it.
Another hot thing is artichoke heart wrapped in prosciutto baked with blue cheese and cream served with baguette.
Chili edamame beans
chicken satay
quiche or a tortilla
quesadillas
figs with prosciutto

I will try to think of more tomorrow... I'm drawing blanks.

Mary

I've been at work, so I'm kind of "done" with think about sweet at the moment, so I'll give you some "top of the head" savory ideas.

Tuna tartare on fried wonton chips. (Just buy sushi grade tuna from your best fish monger. Just don't dress it with anything acid until you're ready to serve...the acid would cook the fish.)

A couple of different satays (think chicken, pork) with dipping sauces.

Mini rosemary lamb chops (must have the bone to use as a handle) with a mint/parsley sauce.

Thai lettuce cups with appropriate sauce (would depend on the kind you made...pork is common).

Serrano wrapped asparagus with a saffron aïoli.

Wild mushroom crostini.

I'll stop now, but if any of these sound appealing, let me know, and I can give you recipes.

Amy

Giada's Carrot and Prosciutto bundles. Always a huge hit! Easy to make and can definitely be made ahead.

You could go retro with one of those weird sandwiches that looks like a cake -- very popular at ladies' luncheons in the middle of the last century.

Pirozhki are good, too -- sweet or savory.

And, not to generalize about my own gender, chocolate chocolate chocolate.

Hi Rose
Nice to learn about your expanded family....

To add to the list, I always think mini pizza's work well. You could make some with a variety of different toppings and pop them in the oven when your company gets there.
I also like to roast shrimp, with rosemary, garlic and olive (kind of make a paste), then put the paste on skewers of shrimp and roast....easy to eat and easy to make.

Another favorite, if you can get fresh figs, is to stuff them with a cube of gorgonzola and wrap in a slice of bacon, toothpicks will hold it all together and bake

Also, CI's tomato tart (the one with the basil and cheese).

Crostini with tapanade and with diced tomato, basil, garlic and olive oil (bruschetta)
You can also have a platter of interesting cold cuts along with the crostini and some spread for little "make your own" open faced sandwiches.

That's all I can think of right now.
ilene

Don't you mean "tamponade."

Amy

Amy, that's the first thing I thought about. Sorry Rose! And congrats on the family, very nice!

I agree with the above. Make ahead things are great with little ones. i have a great cheese cracker/shortbread recipe that you can make ahead and slice and bake, serve with jarred hot pepper jelly. Can post the recipe if you'd like.
Those dreaded tortilla rolls with cream cheese and odds and ends inside seem to turn up at every lady gathering I go to and are usually quite good.
Hot dip (spinach and artichoke),
And i have lemon roll recipe that has lemon curd inside, very good. Again, can post. I love lemon and chocolate desserts in equal proportions.
have to run to a hockey game, be back in a couple of hours