Putting a little thought into the snacks served at a party can mean the difference between a festive evening and a dull night for everyone, including the host. Guests shouldn't be expected to be the source of amusement. Show them some effort went into the soiree by offering light fare that inspires conversation, cocktail drinking and anticipation of a fun night. A.J. Rathbun's Party Snacks! will help any host serve party snacks with confidence.
Party Planning
Step one to a successful party is making a plan. This means sitting down with pen and paper, and making some decisions about what kind of night to have, and how much effort to put into it. Next, choose ingredients that can make life simpler by learning when to cheat a bit. Have a few good tools on hand to keep snack fixing a breeze, then think about some good-looking ways to serve your party fare. Finally, remember that a happy host means happy guests. Have a good time at the party, and guests will too.
The Recipes
There are enough different types of recipes in Party Snacks! to handle any sort of party, whether it be cocktails only or pre-dinner fare. Chapters are organized into food types starting with things made fast (Caprese Pizza Puffs, Easy Antipasto, Edamame with Ginger Salt). Then comes Tasty Toppings (Blue Cheese and Caramelized Onion Dip, Gorgonzola Canapés with Walnuts, Mozzarella'd Baby Potatoes). There's a chapter on all things skewered (Bacon-Wrapped Scallops, Mellon Ballers), and one for stuffed goods (Blue Cheese Olives, Savory Cannoli). Finally, a section on Baked Bites (Leek and Swiss Tartlets, Sweet Chicken Wings) should make everyone happy.
Cooking Instructions
For such a tiny book, there's a lot of information packed in, including a helpful party basics chapter that includes some super-fast recipes, cocktail-pairing tips and measurement equivalents. There are lots of great photos, too, to help you make your party fare selections.
Recipe Excerpt
Monterey Cremini Quesadillas
Makes 12 to 16 Triangles
Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1 pound Cremini mushrooms, sliced 1/4 inch thick
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 4 large flour tortillas
- 2 cups grated Monterey Jack cheese
- 1 cup salsa of your choice
Directions:
- Preheat the oven to 200 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the mushrooms and, stirring regularly, sauté until they've released their liquid and it's cooked off, about 15 minutes. Add the garlic, chili powder, pepper and salt, and cook for 2 minutes more. Pour the mixture into a bowl.
- Wipe out the skillet and place over medium-high heat. Add one-quarter of the butter to the skillet and use a pastry brush or spoon to swirl it around. Place one tortilla in the skillet. Evenly spread half the mushroom mix on the tortilla, and top with half the cheese. Put another tortilla on top. Dot the top tortilla with a second bit of butter.
- Cook the quesadilla for 3 minutes, pressing down lightly on top with a spatula. Flip the quesadilla and cook for 2 minutes more, again pressing down lightly with a spatula. Slide onto a baking sheet and keep it warm in the oven. Repeat with the remaining tortillas, butter, mushrooms, and cheese.
- Cut each quesadilla into 6 or 8 wedges. Serve on a platter with the salsa on the side.
Title: Party Snacks!
Author: A.J. Rathbun
Publisher: Harvard Common Press, 95 pages
Price: $12.95
ISBN: 978-1-55832-347-6
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