Make eating an experience instead of a ritual!
Unexpected Dinner for Friends??? Why Not?!!
By Carolynn Carreno
No need to stress.....Skip the painstaking prep and hours over a hot stove!
Nancy Silverton, LA chef, shares her favorite spread for an impromptu feast for 6...
Easy Starters, Crispy Roasted Chicken (takeout), savory Mediterranean sides and
artisanal chocolate! Here's how to host a fabulous meal for friends!
Her ingredient list:
24 long griffin(bread sticks)
Pita Bread
24 thin slices of prosciutto ham(6oz)
Mediterranean Dips
Hummus (1lb.)
Baba Ghanoush (1lb.)
Chick pea salad (lb.)
Muhummara (dip with red peppers and walnuts(yum!)
Verde Salsa- A vibrant drizzle of salsa verde.. a savory Italian condiment made finely chopped fresh herbs anchovies, and capers- add a little flourish to the presentation. Explains Silverton "It's ideal to make it the same day but you could prep it a day in advance.
3/4 cup Fresh Italian parsley leaves
1/3 cup Fresh Mint leaves
3 Garlic cloves
2 lemons
6 Anchovy fillets
2 tbsp capers
3 garlic cloves
2/3 Extra virgin Olive oil
1 1/2 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
Combined parsley, mint, marjoram, anchovies, capers, garlic and salt in the bowl of the food processor fitted with a metal blade. Pulse to roughly chop ingredients with motor running gradually add olive oil to the Bowl. Add remaining ingredients and puree. Add more olive oil if necessary to achieve a loose paste....stir in lemon juice taste for seasoning.
Sea salt
Kosher Salt
Truffle Salt
1lb. raw almonds
Fancy Chocolate bars(2-3oz.)
Fresh Flowers for the dinner table!!
2 Roasted Chickens with Salsa Verde- Silverton gets hers at Pollo a la Brasa, roasted
over a wood fire.
Party Wine- Bastianich Vespa Bianco's White($40)
La Mozza Aragone's Red($30)
Flor's Prosecco ($19)
Not over the top expensive but still tastes great!
Apps in a Snap:
Toasted Almonds with Sea Salt...Spread 3 cups of almonds in a single layer on the baking sheet; toast in the oven at 325 degrees F until slightly browned 12 to 15 minutes. Toss the almonds with 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil and 1/2 tsp sea salt.
Prosciutto- Wrapped Bread Sticks....Mix one stick butter with1/4 tsp truffle salt. Break each bread stick in half; smear 1 tsp truffle bitter on last 2 inches of broken end of each bread stick. Rip a slice of prosciutto in half; drape loosely around end of bread stick, over truffle butter. Repeat!
