STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

rlutz · Chanel

snacks

lsubatgirl · Gucci

You could always make your own version of chili's skillet queso - 1/2 a large block of velveta cheese and a can of chili without beans. It always goes over well at my gatherings. Or old faithful - chocolate chip cookies. No one can turn those down!

Prissy · Dooney & Bourke

My husband had some friends over on Sunday to watch football and I made some Betty Crocker Brownies with walnuts on Saturday night and they all loved them. I had a few myself and they were so good. I got the box from Target for like $1.90 I think.

katya · BCBG

These are really easy to make.

1 box of phyllo dough cups (they are tiny crispy pre-formed cups)
Brie cheese
Hot pepper jelly (I know, it sounds wierd but it's a sweet & spicy jelly that
gives a nice kick to the brie)
Slivered almonds

Heat your oven to 325
Place the phyllo dough cups onto a baking sheet.
Cut the brie (I usually remove the rind) into chunks and
place them into the phyllo cups. Scoop a small amount
of the jelly on top of the brie. Sprinkle some almonds on
top. Put the baking sheet in the oven. They're ready when
the brie melts.

Really, you can put anything you want into the cups.
They look really delicate and pretty, but don't take a lot of work.

e_doli · Dooney & Bourke

i bring spinach dip to parties a lot -- its really easy to make and everyone loves it. here's that recipe, plus 2 others that are really good and pretty simple. (the recipe is actually on the back of lipton's veg. soup mix box):

16 oz. sour cream (you can use reg. or light sour cream, or sometimes i use plain yogurt to really make it more healthy)

1 envelope vegetable soup mix

1 package (10 oz?, the box kind) frozen chopped spinach

just thaw the spinach (if i have enought time i just leave it in the fridge, if not i do it on the stove or microwave -- if you heat it to thaw, let it cool before proceeding) and squeeze out the water.

mix everything together and let stand for an hour or so before serving. i like to serve it in a hollowed out round loaf of pumpernickle bread, surrounded by veggies -- celery, carrots, fennel, parsnips, snap peas, endive, different color peppers, cucumber.

i just checked the package, and lipton's tells you to (ewwww) use mayonnaise, which i think is just disgusting. it tastes fine w/ just sour cream or yogurt (the mayonnaise would just add more fattiness).

another one is warm goat cheese toasts with rosemary, walnuts and honey:

makes 18 (from bon appetit)

1

unce French-bread baguette
8 ounces soft fresh goat cheese
1/4 cup honey
1/2 cup chopped toasted walnuts
1/2 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary

Preheat oven to 350°F. Cut eighteen 1/4-inch diagonal slices from baguette. Spread goat cheese on each slice. Arrange in single layer on rimmed baking sheet. Bake until edges are slightly golden and cheese softens, about 10 minutes. Set aside on sheet. Heat honey in small saucepan over medium heat until warm, about 2 minutes. Sprinkle toasts with walnuts, then rosemary. Drizzle with honey and serve.

chile honey roasted nuts

makes 4 cups (from food and wine)

1/4 c. sugar

1 1/2 tsp salt

1/4 c. honey

3/4 tsp cayenne

1 lb unsalted roasted mixed nuts (about 4c.)

1.preheat oven to 325. lina a rimmed baking sheet with parchment or wax paper. lightly oil the paper. in a bowl, combine the salt and sugar.

2. in a large skillet, melt the honey with the cayenne. add the nuts and stir to coat. spread the nuts in a single layer on the baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes. let the nuts cool slightly, then add to the sugar/salt mixture and toss to coat. disgard the parchement and spread the nuts on the baking sheet to cool completely, then transfer to a bowl and serve.

Sunshinegirl · Kate Spade

Katya,

I'm going to have to try those phyllo cups. To parties, a nice suggestion might be a platter with a nice cheese (such as cottswald - double glouchester (sp)) and bruschetta rounds. Then, in individual serving bowls (or ramekins) fill them with assorted olives, baked garlic, carrot sticks and some kind of hummus. It's easy, presents well, and everybody gobbles down every last bit of it. All of this can usually be bought. You might have to go to a specialty store for the cheese and garlic.

Good Luck