Holiday party food recipes that will mark you as a

Holiday party food recipes that will mark you as a gourmet cook!

During the holidays, it is fun to get in the spirit of the season and throw a party. If you are like me, you want to feel rested, so that you can enjoy your own party along with your guests, not run yourself ragged all day long, too pooped to join in the fun and catch up on the latest chat. Then again, you want to provide a sumptuous spread you will be proud to serve your guests. there is a way to do both. You just need the right party food recipes.

The secret is in the planning, using the do-ahead strategy. Serving buffet style makes it even easier for you and your guests to eat what and as they please. Sit down dinners can be a nightmare for the host! Almost all of the dishes included in our lovely repast need only a few minutes of last minute attention, leaving you with plenty of time to have a leisurely soak in the bath before party time.

Specific party food recipes are so easy to find online. Most cooking sites have a rating system to guide you in choosing one particular recipe over another. You probably have your own favorite recipes for some of our more conventional suggestions. However, sometimes it is more difficult to come up with ideas that work together, rather than recipes. Here, we focus on some of the most mouthwatering ideas ones that provide exotic tastes, textures and plenty of variety.

let us begin with your appetizers. While chips and dip have never spoiled a party, as a party food ‘recipe’, it is been a bit overdone. However, i am not sure that i have ever been to an informal gathering where you did not find this pair. However, almost every deli now has spinach and crab dips that are so delicious, you do not even notice you are eating a potato chip.

Beyond this party staple, you want to think outside the box to fill out your table of appetizers. The best party food recipes are small bites of complex flavors which surprise the palate. Here are several:

Empanadas, small flaky pastries filled with a savory mixture of meats and rice are fun to make and freeze well.
Fondue is coming back into foodie style, and are easily made with a mix, swiss cheese and a dash of Kirsch. Set your fondue pot out a few hours before your guests arrive, cube a loaf of French bread in the afternoon and store in a zip bag to keep it fresh until party time.
Antipasto platters are always well received. Comb the antipasto party food recipes for your favorite ingredients and arrange them on your platter as you see fit. there is no set recipe for antipasto prosciutto, Nicoline or Kalamata olives, marinated artichokes and mushrooms can all reside in harmony.
Bay scallops, or quartered sea scallops, skewered to a square of bacon with a toothpick, can be assembled ahead of time and broiled in minutes.
Bruschetta, consisting of finely diced Roma tomatoes, sliced black olives, minced garlic, fresh snips of basil and Parmesan is a flavorful addition to your appetizer lineup. Mix your toppings in the morning and store in the frig. Spread the goodies on your bread and broil until the cheese melts. Place a bread knife in the bread basket and let people cut a chunk, according to their appetite.
Brush larger sized raw shrimp (31-50 count or bigger) in teriyaki basting sauce and make kabobs, alternating shrimp, pineapple, chunks of onion and whole white mushrooms. These broil in just minutes.

Now, what about your side dishes? Think:

baby carrots served in an orange ginger sauce
pearl onions in a creamy sauce spiked with a touch of nutmeg
steamed, fresh snow peas with minced water chestnuts
Au gratins made with swiss, jack, smoked cheddar thinly sliced onions and potatoes.
Alternatively, your party food recipe lineup is well served with a bowl of white and wild rice pilaf, spiffed up with thinly sliced celery and sliced mushrooms.

For main dish entrees, it is hard to go wrong. A nice juicy roast, pineapple and clove studded ham or succulent turkey all qualify as centerpieces of your party food recipes. Casserole style dishes are once again in culinary vogue and are cool party food. Recipes such as lasagna, manicotti stuffed with rice and chicken in a rich Alfredo sauce are good do-ahead dishes which make a hit at the party table. Dolmas, the famous Greek dish of lamb and rice wrapped up in grape leaves are show stopping dishes that will delight your guests.

Unless you are serving a hundred people, it is hard to fit all of these party food recipes into a single menu and an ordinary budget. Choose those which you find most appealing and which may be prepared in your good time, frozen and ready to party when you are.

As for dessert, avail yourself of the offerings of that lovely local French bakery. Are you hungry yet? This is the best party ever!