Alcohol and Food suggestion for a Cocktail Party I am having

Hi Ladies, need your help and opinion:


I am hosting a cocktail party at my home for the girls at my office to kick off summer. IT will be on a Thursday after work.

There will be 12-13 people attending in total. All Average drinkers.

I was going to do as follows:

Alcohol:

2 pitchers of home made peach sangria

3 bottles white wine
3 bottles red wine

12 pack of Blue Moon Beer

Food:

lemon hummus plater with pita wedges, mini carrots, sliced cucumber abd sliced yellow zuchinni

shrimp cocktail

hot spinach artichoke dip with chips

fancy cheese plate with 3 nice cheese wedges, grapes, sliced baugette and some meat like a peppered hard salami or something

mini crab cakes with dip


ANY OTHER SUGGESTIONS??? Please help and please voice honest opinion!

Thanks!!!!!!!

Re: Alcohol and Food suggestion for a Cocktail Party I am having

Maybe add a quiche or mini-quiches?

Re: Alcohol and Food suggestion for a Cocktail Party I am having

what about having one signature hard liquor drink...like dirty martini's or cosmos

and sweets.

maybe brownies or a cookie platter or a while chocolate martini

the food sounds good.

maybe some kind of green salad.

but other than that, sounds delicious.

bonne fete!

Re: Alcohol and Food suggestion for a Cocktail Party I am having

i would add some snacks that can be picked at - like nuts, m&ms, etc...

Re: Alcohol and Food suggestion for a Cocktail Party I am having

Posted by Ophelia

what about having one signature hard liquor drink...like dirty martini's or cosmos

and sweets.

maybe brownies or a cookie platter or a while chocolate martini

the food sounds good.

maybe some kind of green salad.

but other than that, sounds delicious.

bonne fete!

Re: Alcohol and Food suggestion for a Cocktail Party I am having

Posted by Lucky09

Posted by Ophelia

what about having one signature hard liquor drink...like dirty martini's or cosmos

and sweets.

maybe brownies or a cookie platter or a while chocolate martini

the food sounds good.

maybe some kind of green salad.

but other than that, sounds delicious.

bonne fete!

All great ideas!

Re: Alcohol and Food suggestion for a Cocktail Party I am having

Berry Fruit Tart can be made for dessert 1 day in advance. A huge hit with my friends...

Here's a picture of the one from their website:



FYI - Double the recipe for the pastry cream below. The original recipe doesn't yield that much.


Ingredients:

For the pastry:

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1/4 cup granulated sugar

1/8 tsp. salt

8 Tbs. (1 stick) cold unsalted butter, cut into
1/2-inch pieces

1 egg yolk, beaten with 2 Tbs. heavy cream



For the vanilla pastry cream:

3 Tbs. granulated sugar

1 Tbs. all-purpose flour

1 Tbs. cornstarch

2 egg yolks

2/3 cup milk

1/2 tsp. vanilla extract


4 cups mixed berries, such as blueberries,
raspberries, strawberries and blackberries

Confectioners’ sugar for dusting


Directions:

Position a rack in the lower third of an oven and preheat to 425ºF.

To make the pastry, in the bowl of a food processor, combine the flour, granulated sugar and salt and pulse a few times to mix. Add the butter and pulse until the mixture resembles coarse meal. Add the egg yolk mixture and pulse until the dough holds together when squeezed. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead a few times until it comes together in a ball. Shape into a 5-inch disk, wrap with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, make the pastry cream: In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat the granulated sugar, flour, cornstarch and egg yolks on medium speed until thick and pale yellow, 2 to 3 minutes.

In a saucepan over medium heat, combine the milk and vanilla and bring to a simmer. While stirring, pour half the milk into the sugar mixture until combined. Then pour this mixture back into the pan with the remaining milk and place over medium-low heat. Cook, whisking constantly, until the mixture thickens and starts to bubble, 1 to 2 minutes. Be sure to scrape the sides and corners of the pan while whisking to prevent scorching. Pour the pastry cream into a clean bowl and cover the surface with parchment paper. Let cool to room temperature, then refrigerate for 1 hour.

On a floured surface, roll out the dough into an 11-inch round. Transfer to a 9-inch tart dish and trim the edges to make them flush with the rim. (If the dough starts to break, just piece it together in the dish.) Reduce the oven temperature to 350ºF. Using a fork, poke holes in the bottom of the crust. Bake until the crust is golden, 15 to 20 minutes more. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool for about 1 hour.

To serve, spoon the pastry cream into the crust, arrange the berries on top and dust with confectioners sugar. Serves 8.

Re: Alcohol and Food suggestion for a Cocktail Party I am having

Yum!

I would also get a light beer... I would probably have a glass of sangria but would prefer to switch to beer afterwards and I dont like wheat beers, so if I were a guest Id want some light beers

Re: Alcohol and Food suggestion for a Cocktail Party I am having

What time is the party!!

It sounds great!!
I would also maybe do a guacamole dip
I also make a swiss cheese dip

1 cup mayo
1 cup vidala onion
1 cup shredded swiss cheese

bake until golden brown on top

Delicious and so easy to make and everyone loves it!!

Serve with cracker

Re: Alcohol and Food suggestion for a Cocktail Party I am having

I would love the receipe for the home made peach sangria

Re: Alcohol and Food suggestion for a Cocktail Party I am having

good suggestions ladies!

i am definitely going ot pick up corona lights and some limes

i may do another hot appetizer- i like the dip idea but i have a have the spinach dip so 2 hoty dips may be overdoing it...
im proibably going to to get some pigs in a blanket too - just to have another hot appetizer

as for desserts- good point- i will get some nice cookies from the bakery and was thinkngi a carrot cake or tiramisu anad some fresh fruit.


keep it coming with the suggestions- a signature cocktail suggestion w/ easy recipe would be nice

thanks!

Message edited 5/22/2008 3:27:07 PM.

Re: Alcohol and Food suggestion for a Cocktail Party I am having

Pink Panty Pealer

grey goose (or other vodka. absolut, whatev)

cranberry

ice cubes

splash of sour mix or a hearty squeeze of a few lime slices.

viola

Re: Alcohol and Food suggestion for a Cocktail Party I am having

Baked brie in Puff Pastry

1/2 package frozon puff pastry, thawed
1 (8 ounce) package brie cheese, round
1/8 cup toasted almond, slices (optional)
1/4 cup apricot or raspberry preserves

1 Preheat oven to 425.
2 Lightly grease cookie sheet.
3 Roll puff pastry out slightly.
4 Place cheese wheel on top (leave rind on).
5 Place preserves on top of cheese.
6 Place almonds on top of preseves.
7 Bundle Puff Pastry up and around the cheese.
8 Bake for 20-25 minutes.
9 Let cool for five minutes.
10 Serve with your favorite crackers.


Avocado, Tomato and Mango Salsa

1 mango - peeled, seeded and diced
1 avocado - peeled, pitted, and diced
4 medium tomatoes, diced
1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1/4 cup chopped red onion
3 tablespoons olive oil

In a medium bowl, combine the mango, avocado, tomatoes, jalapeno, cilantro, and garlic. Stir in the salt, lime juice, red onion, and olive oil. To blend the flavors, refrigerate for about 30 minutes before serving.

Asparagus Wrapped in Crisp Prosciutto

1 tablespoon olive oil
16 spears fresh asparagus, trimmed
16 slices prosciutto

DIRECTIONS
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F (220 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil, and coat with olive oil.
Wrap one slice of prosciutto around each asparagus spear, starting at the bottom, and spiraling up to the tip. Place the wrapped spears on the prepared baking sheet.
Bake for 5 minutes in the preheated oven. Remove, and shake the pan back and forth to roll the spears over. Return to the oven for another 5 minutes, or until asparagus is tender, and prosciutto is crisp. Serve immediately.

Message edited 5/22/2008 6:40:36 PM.

Re: Alcohol and Food suggestion for a Cocktail Party I am having

These are always a big hit when I make them:

Pomegranate Martinis

INGREDIENTS
1 1/2 cups pomegranate juice
2 oz. Absolute Citron vodka OR white tequila
1 oz. Cointreau liquor
Cup of ice
Optional: Splash of sparkling water
Optional: Squeeze of lemon

Shake ingredients in a shaker and put in chilled martini glasses. Put pomegranate fruit into glass as garnish.


ETA: I just make a large pitcher of this - I don't mix individual cocktails.

Message edited 5/23/2008 1:40:59 PM.

Re: Alcohol and Food suggestion for a Cocktail Party I am having

Re: Alcohol and Food suggestion for a Cocktail Party I am having

Here's an easy appetizer recipe you may like:

Savory Chicken Satay

1 envelope onion soup mix
1/4 cup olive or vegetable oil
2 tablespoons firmly packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons peanut butter
1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts pounded and cut into think strips
12 to 16 wooden skewers soaked in water

In a large plastic bag, combine soup mix, oil, brown sugar and peanut butter. Add chicken and toss to coat well. Marinate in refrigerator for 30 minutes.

Remove chicken from marinade and thread onto skewers.

Grill or broil chicken until chicken is no longer pink.

Re: Alcohol and Food suggestion for a Cocktail Party I am having

dates wrapped in bacon... my tapas favorite

cut a piece of bacon in half. wrap around a pitted date and secure with toothpick. fry until bacon is golden all around and serve.

yum!