I'm having another dinner party this year for my bday. Last year had too much cooking involved for my taste (luckily friends helped out but still). I'd like to do something simple, elegant, and almost all beforehand or possibly even bought. Any ideas for a food theme? I'm seriously bad in the kitchen so buying something is a serious possibility, but I'm just not sure what.
My theme is winter wonderland (my bday is a few days before xmas). I have a white tree, blue ornaments, white curtain/light things, crystal dinnerware, and I'll do some cool, blue centerpiece things.
Now my only thing left to figure out is the menu and it's my weakest spot, admittedly. Help!
I posted this on here before, but "salmon and rice wrapped in pastry with dill sauce" from epicurious (http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/1248) is an amazingly tasty and impressive -- but simple -- dish for a dinner party.
p.s. I realize it's not a food theme, so sorry about that -- but it is easily made ahead and you could probably do something European-esque as a theme.
I"m thinking you could do "winter comfort food" I'm not quite sure what that means...but I'll give some examples of what might work.
Spiked egg nog and mint or other martini for drinks...the sparkling Berry Pepper Cocktail at Williams-Sonoma sounds good. (these could be prepared beforehand)
Basic vegetable tray with dip (easy to put together, you could even cut the veggies a day before)
Some sort of hot appetizer
Butternut squash soup (this could be bought at the store I'm sure)
Salad with pine nuts, dried cranberries, and apples with vinegrette (easy to put together)
Beef Tenderloin with carmelized shallots and carrots (this would be pretty easy, you cook the carrots and shallots with the beef...easier if youve cooked tenderloin previously)
I was also going to suggest catering. A friend of mine does a Christmas party every year and has it catered. Shop around and see who has the best deals.
I'm thinking Greek food. I can make couscous (sp?) pretty easily and I make a killer Greek salad (if I do say so myself). I would like to order the meat, preferably a bunch of kabobs (chicken, beef, lamb) and buy hummus, tabooley, and pita bread. That just leaves me with some sort of side dish, a veggie side dish, to go with the couscous and kabobs.
My second thought is a pork roast. I've only ever made a pork loin but I can't imagine it would be that different. It seems like all I'd have to do is take it out of the oven at the last minute and serve it. Is that right? I'd probably get some sides ordered from Central Market or Whole Foods (or some catering-type place around town) to go with it. I could probably order some butternut squash soup as the first course.
oooh greek sounds great, plus its such a treat, at least for me, i never get it!
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