Fancy Gourmet Dessert Cakes

Have friends from all corners of the political arena? Well you’d better have the proper foods for each end. There is a general trend in the preferred foods of people in each group. I believe this is due to the tastes that have evolved in each group over time. 

To your Left: Chicken, Assorted Vegetables, Tortellini, Caesar Salad, Spinach Dip, Vanilla Cake, Small Pastries, Decaf Coffee and Latte. 

To your Right: Steak, Potatoes, Lasagna, Chef Salad, Stuffed Mushrooms, Chocolate Cake, Pie, Columbian and Espresso Coffee.

If you like, you can take a little from each list and I guarantee that everyone in your circle will be pleased or reasonably satisfied even if the conversation turns to the big P. Holding your gathering outside may be something to look in to, especially for guests with very strong feelings on the events of the day. The cool breeze reminds everyone that they are there to have some fun. I have noticed recently that politics is becoming a very big part of the conversation at most gatherings. I strongly recommend that as host, you stay out of it and focus on your objective (to throw a great bash) and most of all; keep a sense of humor.  March on America! Written by Delightful Biteful

A long time ago someone (probably a French chef) came up with a meal plan for that certain time of day between breakfast and lunch; 10:00am to 12:00pm, it’s called Brunch and has become a really fun and different thing to do.

Choosing back and forth between foods served for breakfast and lunch can be challenging, but there are certain combinations of foods that never fail. First, let’s make sure we have a coffee cake or streusel, and don’t forget the champagne mimosas (half orange juice and half champagne), and whipped butter and marmalade is a must. The main portion of your Brunch can consist of Belgian Waffles with Berries and Whipped Cream, Tuna Niçoise Salad, Eggs Benedict with Smoked Salmon, and Cobb Salad. Polish your silver, get out your white table cloth and serving trays, and just like that you’ll have a smorgasbord of fun and excitement. Remember to dine in a sun lit room. Your neighborhood’s best restaurant is likely to have a nice Brunch menu and is a viable alternative if you do not want to dress up in a chef’s hat.

Some of my finest days have begun with Brunch; afterward a visit to a museum followed by a shopping spree in my favorite city. What wonderful times, a feeling of living outside of the box. It doesn’t take much to add spice to life, the quality of the moments count for a lot. Wishing you a fine dine day!

Written by Delightful Biteful

Today’s modern day pre-marital parties or shall we say “affairs” with the strippers and all that harmless naughtiness might not be the healthiest way to enter into the sacred bond of marriage after all. Don’t want to be a fuddy duddy but the divorce rate has reached something like 49% in the US.

I was attending a party last week for one of my Aunts; she was remarrying after losing her husband ten years prior. Wow! What an eye opener. We all showed up to a beautiful display of soft and delicate decorations. At first we gave gag gifts and laughed it up; but in the end we spoke very seriously about love relationships and being responsible for another person’s basic well being. When it was over, I was left with a quiet, peaceful feeling inside and was glad for the chance to be reflective and dignified. Marriage deserves that. I have had my share of male strippers; it seems kind of silly now.

I was informed that years ago the Bachelor party was intended as a chance for the Groom to bear his soul to his closest friends and acquaintances in regards to what he hoped for and expected from marriage. His friends in turn would relate their experiences and often write down words of wisdom acquired throughout their lives. It was originally intended for purposes of devotion as opposed to a regrettable farewell to the single life, and a kind of, guest of honor Roast. Sounds like soundness to me. Maybe less tequila shooters and more coffee might be a good idea. Best wishes to all of you couples out there.Written by Delightful Biteful  

An amazing ripple effect occurs with the passage of time and historical events. It always provides a perfect opportunity to sample the food.. Mexican cuisine happens to be beautifully fused with original recipes from Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and California. So many tasty dishes have come from this fusion, that it is sometimes hard to make the distinction of just what resulted from where.

Here are a few examples of each mix, to help you identify the origin.

MexiCali (Mexico and California) often includes Avocado and Rice, TexMex (Texas and Mexico) includes barbecue and dipping sauces, AzMex (Arizona and Mexico) often includes corn and salsa.

Here’s a fun recipe for Chili Con Carne
1 package prepared Chico’s Chili (mild or hot)
1 Tbsp. olive oil
1-1/2 lbs sirloin, ground or chunks
1 cup water
1 8-oz. can tomato sauce
Follow directions for Chico’s Chili Beans. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a heavy saucepan (dutch oven is perfect). Brown ground sirloin well, or if using chunks, trim fat from 1-1/2 lbs. sirloin. Cut into 1-inch cubes and brown well on all sides. Add 1 cup water and 1-8 oz. can tomato sauce to browned beef. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover saucepan and simmer approximately 2 hours or until meat is tender. Add prepared Chico’s Chili Beans. Again bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, for 30 minutes. Serves 4-6. Check our gourmet foods section for Chili and Salsa Mixes.

I have created my own salsa with salsa mixes in the past and I must say, that they are party pleasers and have never failed me yet. It is fun and simple enough to sample the different tastes throughout the States and experience the evolving palate firsthand. I wonder what recipes they will come up with a hundred years from now?

Written by Delightful Biteful

I remember when finger foods came out. What a great thought, simple and fun right? Well, not quite. There I was, at a swanky bash, picking up that sticky chicken wing, when suddenly I received disapproving looks, polite glances that said “please don’t be a slob”.

Yes, they mean finger foods; foods that you can eat with your fingers if you are alone late at night, or food that is about the size of your fingers, or food that you wish you could eat with your fingers but never actually will in public. I was so disappointed, but alas I had to make arrangements for the chic new appetizer snacks. So I decided to use cocktail napkins and salad plates to serve these polite little snacks. I also provided cocktail forks along with party picks. I put all of the different dipping sauces and dressings into ramekins for each guest; it was effective for neatness and exclusivity. Everyone enjoyed the new, fun foods. Some of my guests made the same mistake I did and I teased them a little about it, saving them the potential embarrassment of being seen by some VIP.

The top snacks are: Buffalo Chicken Strips, Chicken Wings, Onion Rings, Tempura (batter fried vegetables with a Japanese dipping sauce), Shrimp Cocktail, Mini Spinach and Mushroom Wraps and Fried Mozzarella Sticks. There are lots to choose from, so go to it and have some to eat when you are alone. They really do taste best when eaten with plain old fingers..

Written by Delightful Biteful

And when in a situation with new people; the same rules apply. New job, new house, new family members, demand a quick party menu plan. I have some simple questions that may help solve the food problem. Do they live in the city? If so, quick more exotic foods are appropriate. If they live in the suburbs, a more home cooked taste would likely do. Here are some ideas that might help on short notice.

City Slickers – Consider Sushi *but without the raw fish. Example: California Rolls, Cucumber Rolls, Smoked Salmon Rolls, and you cannot go wrong with Linguine Marinara as a main course. Wonton bacon wraps are a perfect appetizer *The Tyler Family Cookbook has some great recipes for this sort of thing. A spicy Salsa with Tortilla Chips is also a popular treat among the fast paced crowd.

Suburbanites – May like a nice roast, Prime Rib or Pork with Roasted Potatoes. Stuffed Mushrooms are a popular appetizer and soups are a safe bet also. Try a cream soup or chowder, it should work perfectly. It has for me anyway.

As for Dessert - Believe it or not Chocolate Desserts, mainly cakes are very popular in the City. However, Pastries are very popular in the Suburbs. Decaf is almost definitely a safe bet in any location if entertaining on a week night.

 If you have a week or two, you may want to set up your own little buffet and ask your guests in advance about the kind of foods they enjoy. However you work it out, I wish you the same fun I have had during these last minute get-togethers! Written by Delightful Biteful

Here are some little party tricks that I have learned along the way. They have made my life a little easier, especially when more guests attended my party than expected.

If you entertain regularly, you may want to invest in a coffee machine for espresso and cappuccino. I have found that having equipment on hand makes a great impression on a moments notice. Capresso has some nice machines that I’ve used to pleasantly surprise guests.

Dimmer switches throughout the house keep the atmosphere consistent. Have your music selected in advance. You can have it set it up in a multi-disc player and ready to go. Consider the age range of your guests and try to choose some tunes that you think are appropriate based on that information.

For smaller gatherings it’s nice to send your guests home with a memento of the evening. A poem rolled up “scroll style” and tied with a ribbon is a thoughtful gift, I have used potpourri wrapped in mesh, tied at the top with thin ribbon.

You may want to put little extras in the bathroom such as lipstick, perfume and cologne and even breath mints. It is a good idea to have an extra table cloth on hand; it can easily be thrown over a table in the event of a large spill. Have replacement utensils and napkins laid neatly on a tray. Wet wipes on the side can be a comfort to folks that just need to wipe a smudge without having to run to the restroom. Hope some of these tips come in handy. Happy Partying! Written by Delightful Biteful 

Did you ever find yourself in the position of having to play auto host/hostess? Well I have, and after a couple of years I have stockpiled a few quick fixes in my appetizer arsenal.

Cheese and Crackers *for a literal moments notice - I to keep some Brie, Sharp Cheddar and Smoked Jack on hand. Three types of crackers are good (no Saltines or Ritz for this kind of thing).

Guacamole during the warmer weather - 2 large soft avocados, 4tbs. of mayonnaise, 2tbs. of lemon juice, ¼ tsp. of garlic salt, 1/2 tsp. of paprika and a couple of shakes from your salt shaker. Mix it up really well until it has a paste like texture. Buy a bag of corn chips for dipping.

Salmon Dip - 1lb. of Smoked Salmon, 3tbs. of mayonnaise, half a fresh lemon, a dash of fresh dill and some ground peppercorn (season to taste), mix into a paste like texture. Seeded crackers are perfect with this dip.

If you are in a real pinch, don’t forget the shrimp cocktail at the supermarket; you can also pick up a fresh loaf of bread from the bakery, some whipped butter, bread sticks and olives… People will be more impressed than you think.

I also keep frozen desserts and coffee on hand. I try to keep a sugarless dessert around too. Most good desserts can be frozen for a few months. I hope this helps when you get the call that people are stopping by this evening. Bon A petit!

Written by Delightful Biteful

Valentine’s Day is here again and it’s time for loved ones and love birds to celebrate. But where did all of this celebrating come from? The History Channel has a few nice theories about this. One is that Valentine was a priest joining men and women in Holy Matrimony in order to save the young men from being forced into the Roman military under Claudius the II. The defiant priest was put to death and into martyrdom. Another school of thought believes that Valentine fell in love with the warden’s daughter while in prison where he sent the very first “Valentine” and so the tradition was born.

In any event it is a nice distraction during the gray winter months. Chocolates and various sweets are very popular gifts and are sometimes combined with flowers or other trinkets. The traditional color of red symbolizes enthusiasm and flamboyance and distinguishes the holiday with its heart shaped decorations. 

American children become familiar with the holiday when they make their first Valentine for someone in their class. It is a good day to stop and recognize one another and show our appreciation. Americans love lovers and celebrates relationships between men and women with zeal. I have always loved that quality in my fellow countrymen. No matter what nationality though, love is always encouraged and welcomed.  I think that is the true value here.

So maybe it is more than a distraction from the winter clouds. Okay, I am looking forward to the holiday again. Happy Heart Day Charlie Brown!

Written by Kim LaBarbera at Delightful Biteful

Rule #1: Do not take on the challenge if you are not up to it. I learned that the hard way. Remember that people can sense what you are feeling in any situation, especially if you are apathetic. Your guests pick up on your feelings and it often sets the mood for the event. Now, that is a pretty powerful thing. I was approached by someone I met a long time ago. He became a long time acquaintance after arriving unexpectedly at a party I held.  This nice, shy man told me that my party turned into one of the nicest evenings he could remember. That particular evening was one of my most successful events. It was a night of good food, dancing and games where all of the guests were encouraged to participate. I was in a wonderful mood and it showed.

I used to hate to go to a party “in the third person” (welcomed to come with an invited guest) because it was likely that I would not know too many people and would feel a little bit out of place. This was often the case because the host or hostess did not make it a point to welcome me. I would receive a harried half acknowledgment as he or she rushed by and would think to myself “Alright, I can expect no help from you for comfort ability here; I’d better check for the nearest exit.” Do you know I have actually stepped through a couple of them? Courtesy is a big word and not always easy to spot.

Unexpected guests must be expected for a gathering to come off well. I see it as a compliment. Someone sees my home as a nice place to be and my friends as good people to spend time with. When I take the position of humility, I treat people the way I would like to be treated. It is the responsibility of the host/hostess to be organized and have room to take care of the needs of the guests, beyond the food and beverages. Make sure that they have someone to talk to and someplace to sit. You can build a strong reputation with something as simple as an enjoyable evening. 

Rules that have worked for me over the years are as follows: Smile and look your guests in the eye. Stop what you are doing and put the people first. This is done through careful preparation. Have everything together so that you can take the time to get to know someone well enough to introduce them around and join them with others that share similar interests. For instance I have brought together a music lover and an artist. It was the closest match I could think of and it worked very well. As a matter of fact the two of them are still married. It’s okay to ask for help. Get the brightest personalities among your friends to act as ambassadors, for guests that seem out of place. You may just give someone a night to remember.

Written by Delightful Biteful