Free-Cooking-Recipes.info

Serving With Style

•  Appetizers should be easy to handle, easy to eat, and take no more than a couple of bites to finish. Set out bowls for olive pits, toothpicks, and kabob skewers. And don't forget lots of cocktail napkins.

•  Arrange cut-up vegetables on a tray or in a large basket lined with plastic wrap and covered with a bed of curly endive, green or purple kale, or other leafy salad greens.

•  For a change of pace, serve dips and spreads in hollowed-out loaves of bread, squash, or cabbages.

•  For a buffet-style party, use flat dishes that hold a generous quantity of food. To create the most dramatic presentation, add height by placing some platters on inverted baking dishes or on boxes covered with napkins that are color-coordinated with the tablecloth.

•  Store-bought crackers come in a wide assortment of shapes and flavors. Plain or mildly seasoned crackers, such as sesame or poppy, are the most versatile and can accompany a variety of savory spreads and pates. Herb- and garlic-flavored crackers compete with, rather than complement, aromatic spreads or strong-flavored cheeses. When serving thinly sliced bread (French baguettes work well with many dishes), store in plastic bags until the last minute to keep the bread fresh.

•  Homemade toasts, from pita bread wedges or thinly sliced baguettes, are a welcome alternative to crackers and they're easy to make. Brush the bread with olive oil or melted butter and bake in a preheated 350°F oven until lightly browned, about ten minutes. Store at room temperature in an airtight container.

•  For the most flavors, remove cold appetizers from the refrigerator about thirty minutes before serving, but don't let them stand at room temperature for longer than two hours.

•  The microwave is ideal for reheating non pastry appetizers, such as Chicken and Beef Sate. Appetizer pastries are best reheated in a conventional oven-micro waving makes them soggy.

This site is for educational purposes only. The information provided should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease. If you have, or suspect you have a health problem, you should consult your health care provider.