TMCnet News
Small Plates for a Big PartyMISSION, Kan., Dec. 1, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- (Family Features) This holiday season don't let a main dish hog all the glory. Instead let guests feast on a festive spread of small plates and sides. Snack-size portions of a wide range of delicious dishes are the perfect solution for entertaining. Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20151201/292191 A large, heavy meal can leave guests feeling lethargic. Keep your party lively with lighter bites that guests can nibble on throughout the night. Another advantage of a small plate menu is that guests will appreciate the chance to sample many flavors without fear of over-indulging. Get your party planning started with these tips:
Give your holiday entertaining an extra boost this year with Jarlsberg Cheese's Great Holiday Giveaway, which runs through Dec. 31 and offers prizes for holiday entertaining, including a DSLR camera as the grand prize and weekly charcuterie party kits. Learn more and enter (once per day) at Facebook.com/Jarlsbergusa, and find more holiday entertaining recipes at jarlsberg.com. Asparagus Tart 1 sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed Heat oven to 400 F. Prepare baking sheet with parchment paper. Roll out puff pastry into 16-by-10-inch rectangle, trimming uneven edges. Place on baking sheet. With knife, lightly score pastry dough 1 inch from edges to mark rectangle. Using fork, pierce dough inside markings at 1/2-inch intervals. Bake until golden, about 15 minutes. Remove pastry shell from oven and sprinkle with shredded cheese. Trim asparagus spears to fit crosswise inside pastry shell. Arrange in single layer over cheese, alternating ends and tips. Brush with oil, sprinkle thyme leaves and season with salt and pepper. Bake until spears are tender, about 20 minutes. Tomato Gratin 8 medium ripe tomatoes Heat oven to 350 F. Cut tomatoes in half. In bowl, whisk together vinegar, olive oil, garlic, thyme, salt and pepper; gently mix in tomatoes. Transfer to ovenproof dish, turning tomatoes cut side up before baking 15 minutes. When tomatoes are cool enough, remove skins before returning to baking dish. Sprinkle tomatoes with nuts and cheese. Return to oven and bake about 10 minutes, or until cheese turns golden and bubbly. Serve as bruschetta on sliced, toasted Italian bread or as a side dish to fish and meat. Cheesy Mashed Potatoes 4 large baking potatoes, peeled and cut Heat oven to 350 F. Place potatoes in large pot of salted water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover and simmer until tender. Drain and bring potatoes to food processor. In food processor, add cheese, milk, sour cream, butter, salt and pepper. Process all ingredients with potatoes until smooth. Pour mixture into baking pan and cover with tin foil. Bake 30 minutes. Uncover potatoes during last 10 minutes to allow browning. Sensational Platters
Michael French About Family Features Editorial Syndicate To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/small-plates-for-a-big-party-300186383.html SOURCE Family Features Editorial Syndicate |