Fandango Catering and Events Offers Easy Food Ideas for Winter Gatherings

With winter cold set in most everywhere, you may not feel much like hosting a gathering of friends--but doing so may be the trick for beating the winter doldrums! Or perhaps you're committed to hosting a gathering of some type this winter. Either way, easy food ideas are helpful.

An old standby for winter gatherings is the soup buffet (or even just one soup) of the hearty kind, plus good bread (2-3 kinds), perhaps some artisan cheeses, and of course a dessert or two. You won't believe how people feel disappointed when no dessert is offered at any kind of gathering!

A newer idea and one we like for a friends' winter gathering is to create a really delicious antipasto tray and and elegant and easy dessert. But here's where the interest lies--bring summer to winter! How tos:

Get out the indoor grill and for 8 guests grill cut up fresh zucchini (6), Japanese eggplants (4), and red bell peppers (4) (first add 6 tbsp. olive oil, chopped fresh basil and mint, 3-4 garlic cloves and 1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper to a bowl and marinate the cut veggies for two hours; for more guests multiply ingredients by increments of 6 or 7). Grill until veggies are tender and charred, 5-7 minutes, and sprinkle with salt and pepper. DO THIS THE DAY BEFORE YOUR GATHERING.

Then, on the day of, take out the veggies 1-2 hours prior to the gathering for them to come to room temp, add 16 oz. sliced fresh mozzarella medallions, bite-size chunks of Parmesano Reggiano or another quality cheese or two, and prosciutto wrapped around breadsticks and ripe pear slices.

For dessert: Blend 3 pints lemon sorbet, 1 bottle Prosecco or cava, and 1 1/2 cups chilled vodka until smooth in 3 batches in the blender and place in a large pitcher in the freezer for 3 hours. Stir and let soften 15 minutes before serving. Pour into wineglasses and serve with cookies--you can warm up with this dessert!

Enjoy!

Kristina

Kristina Ríos de Lumbreras, Ph.D.
Director of Sales and Operations
Fandango Catering and Events
(713) 522-0077
(281) 796-9841
info@fandango-catering.com