Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Set Your Party's Mood Right With Appetizers

By Michelle Ann Gelder


They are small but their impact to a party could be big. Appetizers set the tone for the entire party and have the power to make your evening memorable or cut it short. Preparing these little treats can be daunting to the novice cook so many just pop store-bought ones in the microwave. This is unfortunate since there are many simple recipes that can entice guests and have them salivating for the main course.

If your party has a theme, you have to stick with it. Whether Italian, Asian, or Southwestern, different themes call for different kinds of appetizers. Then start scouring the Internet or your own cookbook collection in search for recipes reflecting these cuisines.

However, there are appetizers that do not belong to a certain theme and would go well with any. Crab Rangoon - fried crab meat filling wrapped in wonton - is one appetizer that would go well with Asian, as well as other cuisines. Making the filling for this appetizer is the easiest part, just combine crab meat with cream cheese and add minced garlic and onion. Splash on some soy sauce and you're done.

Classic Crab Rangoon

The wrapping part is where it can get a little intimidating. Wonton is a Chinese wrapper used to make dumplings. Similar to the phyllo dough used to make Greek dishes like Baklava and spinach pie, wonton is thin and delicate so you'd have to be careful. They usually come shaped like a diamond, so you fold them in half - like a tiny turnover. To make Crab Rangoon, you spoon the filling onto a wonton wrapper. Spread it out evenly and then take the edges of the wrapper and fold them to make a triangle. Don't forget to moisten the edges so that they will not unravel when you fry them. Push the moistened edges together to ensure this. Prepared triangles should be covered with a moist paper towel or cheesecloth until you are ready to fry them. They are guaranteed to emerge from the fryer mouth-wateringly delicious!

For Something Simpler...

For something a little simpler, you may want to try the Italian appetizer known as Bruschetta. This favorite is made by chopping together tomatoes and basil and then combining them with olive oil, garlic, salt and pepper in a small bowl. This mixture should stand for about 30 minutes. It is now ready to top a loaf of toasted French bread that has browned on both sides for extra crunch. Bruschetta is served warm, sometimes with Parmesan cheese added, for a delectable combination.

Also serve healthier options like crudits. Slice vegetables and serve with a variety of salad dressings as a dip. Another idea is simple crackers and cheese. Serve a variety of cheeses apart from cheddar and Monterey Jack to be unique. Don't always play safe though. Once in a while, try to go out of your comfort zone.

Sweet and sour meatballs, are made by combining ground beef with milk, salt, egg, breadcrumbs, and onions. Add Worcestershire sauce to make your guests wonder at the unique taste. Roll bite-sized balls and brown them in a skillet. After draining them of fat and letting them sit to cool a bit, prepare a sauce of brown sugar, cornstarch, pineapple, vinegar and soy sauce on the same skillet you used to fry the meatballs - this is the secret to intense flavor. When the sauce has thickened, add back the cooked meatballs. Put in chopped green peppers and you're done. The contrast of sweet and sour will thrill even the most discerning of palates.

Looking for ways to spice up your next party? Complete recipes for these and lots other adventurous appetizers can be found in cookbooks as well as over the internet. Go ahead; they are worth indulging in!




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment