I need to WOW 'em HELP

[Chilehead Too]

We have been invited to Martha Stewart Jrs' for dinne & I have been assigned an appetizer by the hostest with the (insert your favorite expletive here) Can you tell how much I am looking forward to this? My DH owes me big for this. Anyways, I need a really nice looking, but also tasty appetizer to show off my culinary skills So give me your best.

 

[christineann]

I have a recipe for shrimp crostini, but it would need to be assembled right before serving. Is that an option??

 

[Cantw8]

I know you like clams...want my Clams Casino recipe???????? It's friggin' awesome

 

[Chilehead Too]

I will take the shrimp and clams recipe please. Of course I will say its my own recipe

 

[pearlieq]

Baked brie. You can buy a good brie pre-cut, either plain, coated, or even wrapped in pastry.

Find yourself an appealing looking chutney at Harry & David or Dean & Deluca. Bake the brie--transfer to a beautiful serving plate. Pour chutney over & around the brie. Serve with a basket of Carr's water crackers or crostini. Voila.

 

[llij]

I have a great crab dip recipe that seems to be a hit. Good luck to you!!

 

[MAKmom]

Hot Artichoke dip served with plain bagel chips.

1 can Artichoke in Water drained & chopped squeeze out extra water
1 cup good mayo
1 cup parmesan cheese.

Bake in casserole dish 325 until golden brown

 

[Chilehead Too]

I have a great crab dip recipe that seems to be a hit. Good luck to you!!

So are you just teasing me or are you willing to share?

 

[debster812]

I'll share if you want it:

Terriyaki Ginger Chicken Bites.

Terriyaki chicken bites, on top of a water chestnut wrapped in bacon. Again, this would have to be tossed under the broiler just before serving, so I'm not sure if it would work for you.

Let me know if you want the recipe.

 

[KimOhio]

awww come on post the recipes they all sound good please

 

[christineann]

A little background: this dish is served at a popular Italian restaurant here and is called "Shrimp Crostini". I found the recipe in the Tea Time at the Masters cookbook, and it is called "French Shrimp"

4 tablespoons butter or margarine
3 tablespoons plain flour
1 1/2 cups milk
1/2 teaspoon salt
dash pepper, paprika
1/4 cup dry sherry
1 lb small shrimp, cooked and cleaned
5 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese


Melt butter or margarine in saucepan. Stir in flour. Add milk and stir until thickened. Stir in salt, pepper, paprika, sherry and shrimp. Pour into 5 baking shells or ramekins. Sprinkle each with 1 tablespoon cheese. Place 3-4 inches under broiler until cheese browns. Serves 5.

Alternate way to serve this dish - this is how the restaurant serves it, and how we like it......makes a full pan of appetizers. (Note: line your baking pan with foil to avoid clean up).

Prepare dish as above, but do not put in baking shells or ramekins.
Slice one loaf of French bread (small in diameter) into 1/4 inch slices. Toast on one side. Flip slices over, and top each with 1 or 2 shrimp with sauce. Sprinkle with parmesan and broil until bubbly. Serve immediately.

 

[mchames]

Here's a some of mine:

Baked Brie : (I saw this listed earlier, but here is how I make mine)
Wheel of Brie
Pilsbury Crescent Dough
Brown Sugar
Pecans
Butter

Spread some melted butter on a cookie sheet. Unroll the crescent dough and run your fingers along the seams to smooth them out. Place brie on rolled dough, top with brown sugar, pecans and a few pats of butter. Fold the dough over the brie stretching dough to fill any holes. Smooth seams and brush with melted butter. Bake at 375 until golden brown (about 20 minutes). ( Sometimes I get really crazy and use cookie cuters to cut shapes ie: leaves for Thanksgiving, stars for Christmas out of a second can of crescent dough. I just lay them on top and brush melted butter over them!)
Serve with Carr's Water Crackers and fruit such as apples or grapes.

This is always a HUGE hit!!!


Tomato & Mozzarella Crostinis
Grape or Cherry Tomatoes (halved)
Mini Balls of Fresh Mozzarella (halved)
Fresh Basil (cut in ribbons)
Loaf French Bread (cut in slices)
Olive Oil
Balsamic Vinegar
Salt
Pepper
Parmesan Cheese
On cookie sheet lay out french bread slices, drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt, pepper and parmesan cheese. Bake in oven until lightly toasted (350 about 5 minutes per side). Allow to cool. Place a tomato half, mozzarella half and basil on each slice of toasted bread. Drizzle with more olive oil, Balsamic vinegar and sprinkle with salt and pepper.

These look great and are really easy to do. (I buy the bread pre-sliced at the bakery in the grocery store.)


Smoked Salmon Pinwheels
Smoked Salmon
Cream Cheese
Fresh Dill (Chives work also)
Mini Bagel Rounds (or crackers)

Spread Cream cheese on a slice of salmon, sprinkle with dill and roll. Slice into pinwheels. Place on bagel rounds. Garnish with more dill if desired.

These look Like they take alot of work but are really easy!

Good luck!
Mary

 

[golfgal]

It's all about the presentation, not the food!!!! Seriously, you can bring a chesseball and crackers and people will wow about it if you present it well. I am no help with the creativity of that but just something to think about.

 

[MAKmom]

It's all about the presentation, not the food!!!! Seriously, you can bring a chesseball and crackers and people will wow about it if you present it well. I am no help with the creativity of that but just something to think about.

I agree 100% about the presentation. I have beautiful pottery dishes & bowls I collect. My BFF uses plastic when she put horderves out & it drives me crazy. I tell her this does not match your house...lol. I just buy her serving dishes for presents now. BTW we have been friends for 30 years so I can get away with this.

 

[Southern4sure]

How about something like chicken skewers with a peanut sauce?

Skewer boneless chicken pieces (which you marinate in some teriyaki sauce. minced garlic, lemon juice and sesame oil) onto skewers. Place on a baking sheet and bake until done. While hot sprinkle with sesame seeds. You can arrange the skewers around the dipping sauce on a platter or you can cut the end off a cantaloupe to make it level. Create a hole big enough to hold the bowl of dipping sauce in the center of the cantaloupe and stick the skewers all over the cantaloupe. This is really easy and should WOW anyone.

Peanut sauce
2 tablespoons smooth peanut butter
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1-2 cloves garlic, minced or chopped
1/4 cup water
1 tablespoon brown sugar
juice from half a lemon (can be less, depending on your tastes)

In a non-stick pan, combine all ingredients, stirring constatntly over medium heat until peanut butter has melted. You can do this in the microwave too, for about 30-40 seconds.

PS I'm known as Martha Stewart Jr. also.

 

[Chilehead Too]

How about something like chicken skewers with a peanut sauce?

Skewer boneless chicken pieces (which you marinate in some teriyaki sauce. minced garlic, lemon juice and sesame oil) onto skewers. Place on a baking sheet and bake until done. While hot sprinkle with sesame seeds. You can arrange the skewers around the dipping sauce on a platter or you can cut the end off a cantaloupe to make it level. Create a hole big enough to hold the bowl of dipping sauce in the center of the cantaloupe and stick the skewers all over the cantaloupe. This is really easy and should WOW anyone.

Peanut sauce
2 tablespoons smooth peanut butter
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1-2 cloves garlic, minced or chopped
1/4 cup water
1 tablespoon brown sugar




juice from half a lemon (can be less, depending on your tastes)

In a non-stick pan, combine all ingredients, stirring constatntly over medium heat until peanut butter has melted. You can do this in the microwave too, for about 30-40 seconds.

PS I'm known as Martha Stewart Jr. also.

Ya know, something like this was my first thought, but with all the peanut allergies, I don't want to kill anyone. Would kind of spoil the mood. But I am saving this for just us. Thanks

 

[DisneyMama2H&O]

I have a Hot Pizza Dip, Chicken Artichoke Dip and Baked Brie with Apples & Cranberries. All are super easy and taste awesome.

 

[Southern4sure]

Ya know, something like this was my first thought, but with all the peanut allergies, I don't want to kill anyone. Would kind of spoil the mood. But I am saving this for just us. Thanks

You can do the same thing but not the peanut sauce. Make a different sauce.

 

[offwegotoneverland]

A neat twist on the tomoto/basil/bococinni is this

Small purchased cocktail "cups" (they are crusty little shells that are sold in packages of about 24)
small cherry tomatoes or larger cut in half
basil leaves (one for each cup) torn if larger
small bococcini (sorry if spelt wrong this is fresh mozzerella) cut if too large
drizzle with really good olive oil (just a tiny bit)
sprinkle with good sea salt

Serve!

 

[llij]

So are you just teasing me or are you willing to share?

Sure, I'll share!

Hot Crab Meat Dip

1 package (8 oz.) cream cheese
3 Tablespoons mayonnaise
2 Tablespoons white wine (optional)
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
½ teaspoon sugar
½ teaspoon salt
1 can (7 ½ - 10 oz.) crabmeat drained

Topping:
Finely shredded cheddar cheese

In saucepan, combine all ingredients except crabmeat; cook until blended and heated through. Stir in crab meat, put shredded cheese over top. Put in oven at 350 degrees for 10-15 minutes to melt the cheese. Serve with crackers.



Good luck!