Entertaining

Braised Short Ribs with Honey Roasted Carrots: Recipe of the Day

by Slashfood Editor, Posted Feb 7th 2011 @ 10:00AM

Braised Short Ribs with Honey Roasted Carrots recipe Photo: Julie Toy

Is there anything more satisfying on a blustery winter day than hearty short ribs braised in a fragrant broth? Aussie Chef and upcoming "Top Chef Masters" host Curtis Stone has a recipe that takes all of the guesswork out of the dish. Once it's in the oven, all you need to do is call up some friends and open a bottle of bold red wine -- you've got February conquered.

Recipe for Braised Short Ribs with Honey Roasted Carrots

Filed under: Recipes, Entertaining

Champagne Punch: Recipe of the Day

COMMENTS 1

by Slashfood Editor, Posted Dec 31st 2010 @ 11:00AM

New Year's Eve Champagne Punch recipe Photo: New Media Publishing / Flat Art Studios.com

If you love Champagne and want to keep it flowing all night, mix up a punchbowl along with your naked bottles of bubbly. This recipe brings pineapple juice, Cointreau, brandy, and seltzer into the mix for a lively, refreshing drink that screams "festive"! Of course, you might not want to use the extra-special Taittinger Champagne for a punch; less expensive sparkling wines will do just fine. (For sparkler recommendations, see Bargain Bubblies.)

Champagne Punch Recipe

Visit KitchenDaily for more Champagne Punch recipes

Filed under: Drink Recipes, Recipes, Entertaining

Party Wines

COMMENTS 8

by Kristine Hansen, Posted Dec 30th 2010 @ 4:00PM

wine bottles for a party Photo: sebastien b., Flickr

When you're asked to bring a bottle of wine to a holiday party the last thing you want to do is come across as cheap -- or not know anything about wine.

We're here to help with a list of wines that cost $15 and under per bottle. Our criteria is that these wines have to be quality. (In other words, no watered down or excessively concentrated vino.) We wouldn't want to cultivate embarassment on your behalf, of course!

Yellow Tail 2008 Reserve Shiraz, South Eastern Australia ($11)
Now, before you groan and state that you would NEVER bring this to someone's house, you should know that the new Reserve line is much improved. There's ample chocolate flavor on this full-bodied, fruit-forward Shiraz, which might make it a good pick for pairing with the dessert table, but there is also dark cherry notes throughout.

CJR Reginato 2008 Blanc de Blancs, Mendoza, Argentina ($15)
It wouldn't be a holiday fête without a bottle of sparkling wine, right? And with this bottle you're turning to a new region (sparkling Argentinian wines are harder to come by than those in California, or even Spain). Seventy percent Chardonnay and the rest Chenin Blanc results in a wine that's crisp and refreshing with pear and peach notes.

Jaume Serra Cristalino Brut Cava, Spain ($10)
Another good sparkler is this one. Light, fresh and youthful, it's the perfect compliment to hors d'oeurves, whether it's basic (veggie platter, anyone?) or upscale (whatever your cheesemonger recommends). If you like a clean, citrus-y bubbly, this is it. A blend of Macabeo (50%), Parellada (35%) and Xarel-lo (15%) grape varietals were used to produce this cava. (Also see my post yesterday on Bargain Bubblies.)

Ecco Domani 2008 Pinot Noir, Italy ($12)
Normally we shy away from wines that dominate restaurant lists but in this case, the wine is worthy of swigging. Soft blackberries combine with subtle spices and bright red cherries for a winter-perfect warmer, yet it's also got a lighter body than California Pinots, and some silky elegance too.

Filed under: Drinks, Entertaining

Shrimp-stuffed Mushrooms: Recipe of the Day

COMMENTS 1

by Slashfood Editor, Posted Dec 30th 2010 @ 10:00AM

Photo:Better Homes and Gardens

Stuffed mushrooms are another classic appetizer to love; you can make them a million different ways. This recipe combines shrimp (or crabmeat) with bread crumbs, sherry, onion, garlic, and herbs for a delicate, very sophisticated filling for the 'shroom.

Recipe for Shrimp-stuffed Mushrooms

Watch this Video on How to Make Stuffed Mushrooms

More Stuffed-Mushroom Recipes

Filed under: Recipes, Entertaining

Recipe of the Day: Cocktail Party Appetizers -- Mushroom Bacon Tart

COMMENTS 0

by Slashfood Editor, Posted Dec 29th 2010 @ 10:00AM

Photo: New Media Publishing / Flat Art Studios.com

Salty bacon and earthy cremini mushrooms nestled in pastry are pretty pleasing in their own right, but they're also easy-to-eat-while-standing-with-a-Martini-glass-in-your-hand food. The savory tarts are part of KitchenDaily contributor Alexis Touchet's New Year's Eve Cocktail Party Menu, which also includes Roasted Chicken Skewers with Peanut Sauce, and eight other appetizers and drinks.

And stay tuned later today for our post on Bargain Bubblies.

Mushroom Bacon Tart Recipe

Filed under: Recipes, Entertaining

Swedish Meatballs in Dill Sauce: Recipe of the Day

COMMENTS 0

by Slashfood Editor, Posted Dec 28th 2010 @ 10:00AM

Photo: New Media Publishing / Flat Art Studios.com

Scandinavians know how to throw a party. And Swedish meatballs have been an essential at cocktail parties and smorgasbords seemingly as long as Nordic winter nights have been lengthy and cold. It's a tender appetizer that, if you've favored modern architectural finger food for a while, may bring classic comfort to your New Year's do.

This version, from KitchenDaily contributor Alexis Touchet combines ground chuck and ground pork with a full quarter-cup of fresh dill, some ground cloves, and other spices. The rich sauce is made from meat drippings, along with cream and butter. It's just one of 10 hors d'oeuvres and drinks that Alexis has developed for her KitchenDaily cocktail-party menu. See the links below.

Recipe: Swedish Meatballs in Dill Sauce.

Full Menu for A New Year's Eve Cocktail Party

Filed under: Recipes, Entertaining

Turkey Cupcakes -- Recipe of the Day

COMMENTS 1

by Slashfood Editor, Posted Nov 23rd 2010 @ 10:00AM

turkey cupcake decorating Photo: Seth Smoot

Crafty people, now is your time to shine! If you want to work the Thanksgiving turkey theme all the way from appetizer to dessert, give these turkey cupcakes a go, with the help of a video how-to from Creative Cupcaking team Karen Tack and Alan Richardson at KitchenDaily. And if you're the type to plan ahead, Karen and Alan's candy-spiked Dinner Party Cupcakes might be just the thing for New Year's Eve.

How-to: Turkey Cupcakes

Filed under: Holidays, Recipes, Entertaining

What a Ham! And a Meaty Halloween Centerpiece

COMMENTS 0

by Slashfood Editor, Posted Oct 29th 2010 @ 12:00PM

meat face Photo: Dot D, Flickr

How can a bunch of cold cuts and a few hard-cooked eggs turn into something so gruesome? OK, the Lady Gaga meat dress was pretty awful. One of our deliciously deranged editors pulled out the gelatinous stops to create this horribly fun Halloween-themed head out of ham, for an eye-popping holiday centerpiece. It's so bizarre we just had to give it a replay, along with a DIY guide. Head's up! (Ok, ok, but how could we resist that line?)

Filed under: On the Blogs, Holidays, Entertaining

Grapefruit Mousse

COMMENTS 0

by Jennifer Iserloh, Posted Jan 18th 2010 @ 1:00PM

Photo: Jennifer Iserloh, Skinny Chef

The major "eating" holidays are coming to a fast close after Valentine's day, but that doesn't mean that I'm entertaining at home any less. I still want to serve festive looking desserts to my friends without weighing down their digestion or tempting them to break their New Year's resolutions.

When I make a lighter dessert, of course, I think about calories, but what about flavor, enjoyment, and taste. Aren't these the things we are all looking for in food? Eating locally and in season is another great way to get more enjoyment out of cooking the dishes and desserts you love so. That's why I picked grapefruit for this week's dessert recipe, because it is prime growing season.

I'm a sucker for a graham cracker crust and most store-bought versions are good, but it's so simple to make one yourself. In this recipe, the cinnamon in this crust plays off the tartness without clashing. Kefir is easy to find in your local health food store and has ten probiotic cultures that aren't damaged through freezing.

Get the recipe after the jump.

Filed under: Recipes, Entertaining

Pretty Poached Pears

COMMENTS 4

by Jennifer Iserloh, Posted Jan 4th 2010 @ 1:00PM

poached pear Photo: Jennifer Iserloh, Skinny Chef.

Do you have a sweet tooth? So many people do, and sweets can be a real downfall when it comes to sticking to your New Year's resolutions. There's no need to feel deprived when you can simply make friends with your cravings instead. Life is to be enjoyed. Just remember that when you crave a bit of something sweet, creamy or tart, it's probably better for you when you make it yourself.

Pretty, simple, and even elegant, poached winter fruit can be turned into parfaits, tarts, mousses and more. They can even be added to your favorite brownie mix to make it moister.

Catching up with friends that you missed over the holiday season? Use this poached pear recipe that you can make hours in advance to show off your kitchen skills and good sense when it comes to eating well.

Filed under: Recipes, Entertaining