Some rainy Friday night, invite a bunch of your pals over, rent a full season's worth of a favourite TV series or a cheesy flick and share some wine and appetizers. There's nothing like it.
Here are some easy and delicious recipes that would be perfect with Downton Abbey or The Notebook.
Cheesy Bread
4 oz shredded mozzarella cheese
8 oz shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1/3 cup chopped green onions
1/3 cup mayonnaise
2 Tbsp sour cream
1 clove garlic, minced
¼ cup butter, softened (to the point of being almost melted)
1 loaf French, Italian or ciabatta bread, about 12 inches long
In a medium bowl, mix together the cheeses and the green onion. Stir in the mayonnaise and sour cream. In a separate small bowl, blend the butter and garlic until smooth, then combine the butter mixture with the cheese mixture. Preheat broiler; slice the bread in half horizontally and lay it crust-side down on a baking sheet.
Spread the cheese mixture evenly over the cut side of the bread, then broil until nicely browned, about three to five minutes. Remove from oven and let sit until cool enough to handle. Slice the bread with a sharp, serrated knife. Makes about 20 slices, depending on the size of the loaf of bread.
Cucumber & Smoked Salmon Bites
1 long English cucumber, peeled in alternating stripes (peel a strip, leave a strip of peel, peel a strip, etc.)
8 oz thinly sliced smoked salmon
1 tub of soft chive and onion or dill flavoured cream cheese Capers
Cut the cucumber into rounds approximately one-quarter inch thick. Place the rounds between layers of paper towel and blot to dry thoroughly. Put approximately one teaspoon of cream cheese on top of each cucumber round.
Cut the smoked salmon into strips about half an inch wide and form two or three strips into little rosettes on top of the cream cheese. Place a couple of capers in the centre of each smoked salmon rosette. Makes about 20 appetizers.
Cheater's Meatballs
(Nobody has to know these start out with frozen meatballs.)
1 package frozen meatballs (about 1½ lbs)
¼ cup red pepper jelly
1 Tbsp soy sauce
3 Tbsp mango chutney (finely chop any chunks of mango)
Pinch of curry powder ¼ cup plain Greek yogurt
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Remove about 30 meatballs from the package and return remainder to the freezer. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil and place meatballs in one layer on the sheet. Bake according to package directions. Meanwhile, in one medium bowl combine the red pepper jelly and soy sauce, and in another bowl combine the mango chutney, curry powder and yogurt. As soon as you remove the meatballs from the oven, place half of them into each bowl and stir to coat with sauces. Serve warm with toothpicks to spear the meatballs. Makes about 30 appetizers.
Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars
4 cups of semi-sweet or milk chocolate chips
1½ cups peanut butter (smooth or crunchy)
½ cup icing sugar
Lightly grease a nine-bynine-inch baking pan, then line it with two nine-inch wide, foot-long strips of parchment paper (one going each way). Melt two cups of chocolate chips in the microwave and pour chocolate evenly into the lined baking pan. Let the chocolate harden at room temperature, then refrigerate briefly until very firm. Mix the peanut butter and icing sugar together thoroughly, then carefully spread evenly over the hardened chocolate. Melt the remaining two cups of chips in the microwave and pour evenly over the peanut butter layer. Let chocolate harden completely at room temperature, then refrigerate.
When ready to serve, remove from fridge and let stand at room temperature for about 15 to 30 minutes. Using the parchment paper as handles, remove bars from pan and cut into squares or rectangles. Makes about 16 to 20 squares, depending on size.
Angela Shellard is a self-described foodie. She has done informal catering for various functions. Contact: [email protected].
