STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

kittenheels · Coach

What to cook for entertaining?

roxy · Nine West

Here are a couple of recipes that were big hits at a recent informal holiday gathering we hosted.

Italian-style baked mac and cheese:
My variation on this recipe is to use penne instead of elbow macaroni, omit the tomatoes, and add a teaspoon of dried rosemary into the milk while it's warming. The gruyere in this recipe is divine!
I'm a vegetarian, so I had my husband cube and pan-fry some pancetta as an optional topping for the mac. Seriously, even my mother-in-law couldn't resist complimenting me on this dish.
http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,1977,FOOD_9936_32868,00.html :)

Spnaci:
Fresh or frozen and well-drained spinach sauteed in olive oil, buter, garlic, juice of one large lemon, toasted pine nuts, kosher salt, and freshly ground black pepper.

Butternut or other winter squash are "wintery". Here's a caramelized recipe I like:
http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,,FOOD_9936_25285,00.html?rsrc=search

Butternut Squash and Pancetta Risotto is another option if the mac & cheese doesn't appeal to you. (Skipping the spiced butter in the recipe would make it easier):
http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,,FOOD_9936_22568,00.html?rsrc=search

You could keep dessert simple and hit a nice bakery for a fruit pie or cobbler that you could serve warm and à la mode.

I don't know your tastes, but maybe one of these wintery options suits you. They're all pretty easy to prepare before guests arrive, keeping in mind vegetables' tendency toward mushiness the longer they sit.

Good luck.

CjStar · Nine West

I would say the lasagne with salad and breadsticks but If you would like a new idea I've done this recipe and it was a hit.

I also recommend crab cakes ( add a little parmesan cheese to a basic recipe), with a green salad.

Shrimp and Wild Rice Casserole

Recipe courtesy Paula Deen

Show:
Paula's Home Cooking

Episode:
Comfort Food

1 (unce) package wild rice (use the rice mix that comes with a seasoning packet)
1 pound medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
2 tablespoons butter
1/2 green bell pepper, seeded and chopped
1/2 onion, chopped
1 (10 3/4-ounce can) condensed cream of mushroom soup
2 cups grated sharp Cheddar
Salt and pepper

Cook the rice according to package directions minus 1/4 cup water. Drain and cool.

Bring 2 cups water and 1/2 tablespoon salt to a boil in a medium saucepan and cook the shrimp for 1 minute. Drain immediately and set aside.

Heat the butter in saucepan and saute the pepper and onion until soft, about 5 minutes.

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.

In a large bowl, combine the rice, soup, 1 1/2 cups of cheese, shrimp and vegetables. Add salt and pepper, to taste. Mix well. Spray a 9-inch square aluminum cake pan or an 11 by 7-inch glass casserole dish with vegetable spray. Place the mixture in the pan and top with remaining 1/2 cup cheese. Bake for 30 minutes, until bubbly.

CjStar · Nine West

Oh I forgot, you could make jambalaya or a stew ( beef or rosemary chicken).

kittenheels · Coach

Thanks so much! Those all sound really good - for entertaining or just eating. I just bought Giada's family dinners and I'm getting some great ideas from there too.

Seems like the easiest entertaining is either roasting or making something like a casserole in advance.

So, my next question is what sort of wines do you all like for entertaining? Relatively inexpensive, so I can buy a lot - but still really nice!

roxy · Nine West

What's your price range and usual wine preferences?

kittenheels · Coach

about 15 dollars a bottle - but tasty! thanks so much for your help! I can't wait for the weekend when I can actually try out some of these recipes!

Suasoria · Chanel

Like Roxy, I'm a vegetarian, so I fully endorse a baked pasta dish when you're feeding people who may have diverse food needs. Most can be made in advance. The great thing about going "peasant Italian" is that you can offer a really robust, flavorful meal so even meat-eaters don't realize they're missing something.

Lasagne is a great choice. If you're industrious, homemade ravioli is always a treat. Check Food TV for a Mario Batali pasta recipe and stuff with a walnut/gogonzola filling. Fresh pasta is surprisingly easy and so darn good. Butter, fresh sage and parmesan is all you need to finish it. Salad, good bread, and wine...it's a perfect meal.

Where do you normally shop for wine? An Italian menu cries for Italian wines. I recommend red with a flavorous meal, even if it's meatless. I got a budget Barolo at Trader Joes's for I think $12 for Christmas dinner, and people raved about it. Do you have a BevMo near you? They have a French wine that's close to a Bordeaux blend - it's a Cab Sauvignon and Cab Franc called "Cabs." It's a goofy label but a good wine, and the sale price was $7 down from their usual $15. At Costco look for a cheap Bordeaux bottled by Christian Moeuix (I don't swear on the spelling) for about $8. It's a great house wine for the price.

The Wall Street Journal wine critics claim that even cheap 2004 chiantis are worthy, though I haven't noticed any vast difference in this particular vintage. Still - may be worth a bet. My grandpa was a winemaker who opened a winery in California when Prohibition ended, and he always said "Wine is like art. If you like it, it's-a-good. If you don't like it, it's-a-not-so-good."