If you'd like to host a fall gathering and are somewhat short on time, here are 4 food ideas that will help you entertain stylishly, but that don't take a lot of time.
Do a one-pot classic with salad and dessert--We like Grace Parisi's recipes in her article on New Comfort Classics in the Nov. 2012 issue of Food & Wine. For more casual gatherings, the concept works well and isn't as much trouble as a starter, entree plus sides, then dessert. Do a one-pot braise, stew, or soup and serve with a salad and dessert, and you're done. Dishes like Parisi's Braised Chicken with Cilantro, Mint & Chiles or classics like goulash, paprikash, white or regular chili, minestrone or another hearty soup...Ideas for dishes like these abound in cookbooks or on the web.
Do a pressure cooker risotto--Same idea, but make a risotto with chicken or pork or beef or sausage the one-pot dish, with salad and dessert. Kuhn Rikon's and other good pressure cookers can do risotto in around 7 minutes. The work is in the prep; then just start the cooker and voilà! The finishing touch? Stir in Laughing Cow Cheese wedges, plain or flavored--no kidding! Easy and it really adds a master touch, a trick we learned a few years ago from a chef colleague. The pressure cooker risotto concept is also great for casual gatherings.
Make crumbled cake balls--Fast cake balls, no baking in special molds! Crumble pieces of baked cake or even brownies in a bowl. Mix with frosting, then roll out scoops of the mixture with an ice cream scoop. Use a fork to dip cake balls into sprinkles or chocolate or other syrup, or drizzle syrup over cake balls.
Use chocolate spread as a dessert--We saw this in last month's F &W--Serve the new chocolate-cream cheese spread (or, our take, mix up your own with Nutella and cream cheese) and serve as a dessert course with the spread in ramkins or small dishes and a dipper like cookies, or even serve as a sort of pudding with spoons. Decadent!
Warmly,
Kristina
Fandango Catering and Events
(713) 522-0077
www.fandango-catering.com
