Day Two of the New Year (and I still haven’t written about the tarot cards) January 2, 2008
Posted by charmingbutsingle in Blog 365, Cooking.trackback
I’m feeling a bit scatterbrained today. Deep in my soul I was sure it was Monday, so I was extra grumpy, only to realize that it was actually Wednesday and, thus, I should be happy for a short week.
But really, all I could think of today was nesting far away from the cold outside (anything less than 40 degrees is frigid to me) and what movie I should see with the ladies this weekend and how I couldn’t wait to be cooking up a storm this weekend in preparation for next Monday’s Big Game watching party. (We shall toast to our victory and feast triumphantly!) And cooking up a storm became a little more fun Chez Charming since I was blessed with gifts of KitchenAid knives and a Cuisinart mini food processor for Christmas. I have been anxiously looking for reasons to slice and chop and grind.
But, dear readers, I can’t pick just one recipe. So, I’ll share my ideas and you can share yours and together we can all decide which vegetarian (the hostess is veggie and I must be polite!) savory appetizer-style dish I should bring to the celebration.
First off, we have the Charming Standbys:
- Hot spinach and artichoke dip – I think I used to alter a Rachael Ray dip when I made this, but I’ve made it so many times that I just make it – one pack thawed frozen spinach, one can artichokes (in water) drained and chopped, a handful of minced garlic cloves, enough mayo to make it stir and a handful or two of cheese (usually mozzarella and Romano). Stir it all up, add spices of choice (I usually add dried Italian seasoning, Cajun spice, black pepper, paprika and maybe cumin if I’m feeling crazy.) and bake until everything melts. Open chips. Get ready to be worshipped.
- Stuffed mushrooms – Seriously, I couldn’t even write a recipie for these if you paid me to – I make a stuffing out of what I have on hand, like the cleaned mushroom stems, tomatoes, cheese, random seasoning, bread crumbs, olive oil, eggplant, squash. (Not all at once. Usually.)
Then we have the new, Internet-found recipes:
- Barefoot Contessa’s Sundried Tomato Dip
- Barefoot Contessa’s Pan Fried Onion Dip
- Olive Cheese Bread from The Pioneer Woman
So what should I cook, my dearies? Be nice and I’ll write all about the tarot card lady tomorrow, I promise!
That Onion Dip and the Olive Cheese Bread made my mouth water. I’m drooling. Seriously.
Umm I can’t pick because I want you to make every single one of those things. That site you got the olive cheese bread from is sooo cute…the pics are amazing and yes, drool-worthy! I love stuffed mushrooms too. And anything the Barefoot Contessa makes is fine by me.
I got the Cuisinart blender/food processor combo for Christmas. LOVE it!!
It really depends on the occasion, right? Is it semi-formal, or to be part of a complete deal/dinner? Me, I’d try to come up with something with a bit more team spirit if it was just for a ‘game’ watching sort of meet-up. How about finding something with team colors in it? Dare we even suggest the dreaded ‘Jello salad’? Always fun, unexpected & certainly under utilized. Sort of like ‘No one expects the Spanish Inquisition’, but slightly tastier, and generally no more dangerous than the infamous ‘comfy chair’. So the famous question remains, where do you go to find the purple food in this day & age? Cheers & Good Luck, ‘VJ’
I missed you VJ. Happy new year, pal.
And me, I say you have to make some steaks and bring them. I know what you’re thinking ‘Wailin! The host is a vegeterian!’ and I will say ‘But I’m not, and not everyone is, so piss off or eat a steak!’
Mmmmm, steak…. *drool*
No, no jello salad…sorry to the above commenter, but that is for old ladies. I vote for the olive cheese bread and definitely the spinach dip.
everything I’ve ever made from the Pioneer Woman has been a crowd pleaser.
Your spin-art dip sounds yummy … that would be my top pick and the the olive cheese bread looks great as well.
Under no circumstance am I bringing Jello salad. I think I just threw up in my mouth a little bit just thinking about Jello salad …
Also, Wailin, this might just be the Southern girl in me, but it is terribly rude to bring something other than what was requested to someone’s gathering — appetizers were requested, so I bring appetizers, not steak. Also, as a former vegetarian, I almost always bring vegetarian appetizers. I know it is tough to find good meat free stuff at parties, and I like to help my veggie friends out.
I’ve been dying to make that olive cheese bread from Pioneer Woman! I vote for that so you can tell us how good it was.
Anything the Pioneer Woman makes is AWESOME! Haven’t tried the Olive Cheese Bread yet but I worship her.
I think I might make that olive cheese bread for the weekend. Sounds awesome. My appetizer stand by has recently become Hot Clam Dip. I don’t know if your people are nervous about sea food, but it is really yummy.
a) absolutely artichokes
b) i lovvvve my mini food processor!
S’okay, Charming. I’m not exactly a southern gentleman. And I’m sure steak can be made into some sort of appetizer. Just stick toothpicks in bite size pieces and VOILA! Appetizer!
Anything under 65 is getting cool, and <60 is down right COLD!
I think I’m late to the game, but I’m a fan of mango salsa (you can make it spicy, mild, etc). Once you try it, you’ll never go back to jar salsa.
I vote for the Onion Dip! It sounds so good….yum. Thanks for considering us vegetarians Charming- people seem to forget that there are plenty of great appetizers out there that don’t have meat in them. Happy cooking!
Here is a no fail dip that I make:
Take one onion, chop it up, pretty finely, and saute it in a pan with some olive oil until caramelized. At the last second while the onion is still on the heat, add a splash of balsamic vinegar and let it cool.
Take a thing of sour cream and add in some seasoning salt, whatever you like, to flavor the sour cream. When the onions are cool, mix them in with the sour cream. Chill. Serve with potato chips, crackers, even veggies. YUM.
Oh, and PS: It’s always better after it sits for one day so make it one day ahead.
Just thought I’d share. Have a good one.
I hate mayo (and pretty much all creamy dips), so none of those really appeal to me, but in order to keep from leaving an entirely unhelpful and inane comment, I want to mention that Epicurious has these really tasty-sounding Herbed Tomato Tarts that can be made up to two days ahead. I’m sure whatever you make will be well-received.
If you trade in the mayo for a mixture of low-fat sour cream and low-fat cream cheese the S&A dip will be to die for!!
It would be great if you made the onion dip - you could be the test kitchen before I attempt it for my brother’s farewell, as he loves store bought french onion dip.
Umm… I am SO not the person to be taking cooking advice from. So I’ll just wish you good luck with the cooking and leave it at that. Have a fabulous weekend!
I’m partial to spinach and artichoke dip. Also, it sounds like you can make it in your sleep and everyone loves it, so why not. I know you’ll be very busy decking yourself out from head to toe in your LSU-finest.
I CAN NOT WAIT for the game. Words cannot express my enthusiasm.
Spinach artichoke dip sounds incredible, and as a former 20-year vegetarian, one of the appetizers that always made my eyes and heart light up is deviled eggs with a touch of paprika sprinkled across the top for color. These can also be food colored into festive team colors, if it’s that sort of party
You had my mouth watering at the spinach & artichoke dip…I think you should go with that! Everyone loves it. I wish I were coming!
Girl I love me some spinach and artichoke dip… my absolute fav appetizer