Who has some more original ideas other than wine and cheese?
Hubby & I are going out to dinner with 2 other couples tonight. We are all meeting at my house. I want to serve something before we go out other than 'wine and cheese' but, something that doesn't require a lot of cooking and prep. time. Any ideas?
10 MINUTE PREP>>>>NO COOKING>>>NO CHILLING>>>
This may SOUND or look like it's a lot of work,-IT'S NOT!
Saw this on Rachel Ray a while back and used the idea myself for a pre-outing get together.....was a big hit!
Once you get all the stuff, it only took me 10 minutes at the most to assemble it all on the tray. When placing on the tray, there's no order....it doesn't have to look "placed"...just throw it on and make it look fun! You dont' have to go with these specific items, go with what you like or heck, things you may already have!
Take a large wooden tray or cutting board to use as your serving platter. (or if you have some other large flat tray)
*Get some nice pepperoni &/or summer sausage and cut into angled slices and place in a "cascading" row(s)....
*do the same with some good gourmet cheese of your choice (not the standard Kraft blocks!)...alternate w/rows of meat
*Get a large bell pepper (any color) cut off the top about 1/4 way down, hollow out and fill with some really good dip (bought or homemade you can even just used ranch dressing!), place on tray and surround with cut veggies
*take either pretzel rods or bread sticks(the crunchy kind) and stand them up in a large brandy snifter or some other cute display and set on the tray amongst the beef, cheese, veggies
*IF you have any other cute little glasses (wine, martini, small glass cocktail bowls) you can fill them with assortments of nuts, &/or gourmet stuffed olives from olive bars found in most grocery stores now by Delallo, and just place them randomly among the tray-or to the side if no more room
As far as drinks.....I had a mini bar set up in which they could make their own either: martinis, vodka tonics, or 7 and 7. I also had some beer on hand for the less fussy drinkers...lol.
My guests were QUITE impressed and said they really liked how comfortable it made them feel....it wasn't "stuffy"
Not counting the mini-bar...I only spent about $20-$25 on enought for 10 people...and actually had some left. Hope that this helps or maybe gives you some ideas!
Red Wine + Cheese l Wine Spectator
