Party Recipes

Sticky, sweet and oh-so-delicious chicken wings – a cheap but tasty part of the bird. This is a very simple dish that invests in big  flavours , so it only needs griddled bruschetta and sliced pickled onions to serve. SERVES 4 - 6 COOKS IN1H 15M DIFFICULTYNOT TOO TRICKY Ingredients 4 cloves of garlic 3 large red onions 1 fresh red  chilli 16 free-range chicken wings 1 small handful of raisins olive oil 1 x 400 g tin of quality plum tomatoes balsamic vinegar runny honey 2 sprigs of fresh rosemary Method Preheat the oven to 170ºC/325ºF/gas 3. Peel and finely slice the garlic and onions, then deseed and finely slice the  chilli . Layer up 2 large sheets of tin foil and pile the chicken wings in the middle. Season with a good pinch of sea salt and black pepper, gather up the sides of the foil to make a big bowl, add a splash of water then scrunch all of the edges of the foil to make a parcel. Pop the parcel onto a baking tray and cook in the oven for 4...

Every time I visit the Cheesecake Factory, I always order their avocado egg rolls as an appetizer. It’s crazy good and I can’t get enough of it. I’ve also ordered their egg roll sampler, which consists of tex- mex , crispy  cuban , firecracker salmon, and of course avocado egg rolls. This recipe is my recreation of their avocado egg rolls using as few ingredients as possible; all you need are egg roll wrappers, avocados, tomato, and oil for frying. I’ve also included one of my favorite sauces to date: a red sriracha-based dipping sauce that’s both spicy and sweet with a sticky texture. When I first started making avocado egg rolls, I  really  wanted to cook them any other way than frying. I tried baking them, and they tasted terrible and did not even come close to fried egg rolls. There’s really no substitute for frying. To be exact, I deep fry the egg rolls, which means that the egg rolls are submerged in hot oil in a large stovetop po...

After roasting quick-cooking shrimp on a sheet pan, toss them together with orzo, cucumber, red onion and feta for an easy make-ahead meal for a crowd. Total:1 hr 35 min Prep: 20 min Inactive: 1 hr Cook: 15 min Yield: 6 servings Level: Easy Ingredients Kosher salt Good olive oil 3/4 pound orzo pasta (rice-shaped pasta) 1/2 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (3 lemons) Freshly ground black pepper 2 pounds (16 to 18 count) shrimp, peeled and deveined 1 cup minced scallions, white and green parts 1 cup chopped fresh dill 1 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley 1 hothouse cucumber, unpeeled, seeded, and medium-diced 1/2 cup small-diced red onion 3/4 pound good feta cheese, large diced Directions Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Fill a large pot with water, add 1 tablespoon of salt and a splash of oil, and bring the water to a boil. Add the orzo and simmer for 9 to 11 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it's cooked al dente. Drain and pour into a large bowl....

The herb mixture in this recipe plays two roles: Half of it serves as a flavorful rub for the chicken, and the other half is mixed with yogurt for a cool table sauce. Total:2 hr 10 min Prep: 30 min Inactive: 10 min Cook: 1 hr 30 min Yield: 6 servings Level: Easy Ingredients 1/2 medium red onion, roughly chopped 1/2 cup roughly chopped fresh parsley 1/2 cup roughly chopped fresh cilantro 1/4 cup roughly chopped fresh tarragon 1/4 cup roughly chopped fresh dill 1/4 cup chopped walnuts 3 cloves garlic 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper 1 cup plain yogurt 1 6- to 7-pound roasting chicken 2 pounds plum tomatoes, halved lengthwise Directions Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Pulse the onion, parsley, cilantro, tarragon, 2 tablespoons dill, the walnuts and garlic in a food processor. Add 3 tablespoons olive oil, the vinegar, 2 teaspoons salt, and pepper to taste; pulse until smooth. Stir half of the h...

If your cold-weather get-together includes gathering around the TV for a football game, then be sure to make these restaurant-style potato skins a star player in your appetizer lineup. These hearty skins are a great appetizer for a summer cookout or Fourth of July party. Ingredients 6 russet potatoes, scrubbed and pricked with a fork 3 tablespoons olive oil, plus extra for drizzling 6 strips applewood-smoked bacon 1 teaspoon garlic powder 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes 1 cup refried beans 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese 1 cup chipotle guacamole 1 cup salsa chopped scallions and sour cream (optional) Directions 1: Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Drizzle the whole potatoes with olive oil and place on a baking sheet. Bake for about 60 minutes or until the potatoes are tender. 2: While the potatoes are baking, cook 6 bacon strips until crispy and then set aside to cool. Once cooled, roughly chop the bacon. 3: Remove potatoes from oven and let them cool until they ar...

You've probably eaten ravioli more times than you can count, so how about snacking on a toasted version? Unfortunately, I haven’t lived in St. Louis since I graduated high school and my craving for these amazing toasted ravioli has been high, especially during my latest pregnancy.  I almost made the  7 hour  drive to St.Louis just to get some. Well, I finally broke down and made them. Life changing! I put off making these for so long because I thought it would be complicated but it turns out it is easy.  A little too easy. Like, I might gain 22 pounds because… UNLIMITED supply of toasted ravioli!!! Classic Toasted Ravioli is made using meat filled ravioli, coating it in bread crumbs and frying until golden and crisp.  Then it’s served garnished with fresh grated Parmesan and marinara sauce for dipping. I actually had a somewhat difficult time finding meat filled ravioli that were square.  If your local store doesn’t have it in the refrigerator sectio...

It seems like such a pity to not take advantage of nature's bounty during the warmer months. Garden-fresh bell peppers are a must. This bell pepper and mozzarella combination could not get any easier, but sometimes the simplest recipes are also the most delightful. With only three major ingredients, this scrumptious appetizer couldn't be simpler. Ingredients 2 bell peppers, one yellow and one red 1 tub fresh mozzarella, preferably in the cherry size Olive oil Salt and pepper and/or your seasoning of choice 3-4 fresh basil leaves Directions 1. Set oven to broil. Line a baking sheet with foil. Place the whole peppers on the foil and place under broiler. When the tops of the peppers have turned black, rotate peppers with tongs. Keep turning peppers until the skin is completely charred. Place peppers in a brown paper lunch sack or in a large ziplock bag. Close; let steam for 10 minutes. Remove peppers to a cutting board and allow to cool. 2. After peppers have c...

Recipe by: JTWTECH A near perfect strawberry margarita with frozen strawberries and limeade concentrate. Ingredients 5m 4servings 6 fluid ounces tequila  2 fluid ounces triple sec  8 ounces frozen sliced strawberries in syrup  4 fluid ounces frozen limeade concentrate Directions Prep  5m Cook  10m Ready In 5m Fill a blender with ice and crush. Pour in the tequila and triple sec. Add the strawberries and limeade. Blend for 30 seconds or until smooth. Serve in margarita glasses with the rims dipped in powdered sugar. Source:www.allrecipes.com

Everybody loves  punch . It’s fun, fruity and easy to drink. Best of all, where there’s punch there’s a party. I adapted this recipe from a cocktail my partner and I created back in my beverage catering days. It was always a big hit at events. Just like any well-made punch, it appeals to a variety of tastes. Unique enough to impress your guests, yet simple to prepare in advance, your friends will happily serve themselves a glass . . . or four. Strawberry Pisco Punch Everybody loves  punch . It's fun, fruity and easy to drink. Unique enough to impress your guests, yet simple to prepare in advance, your friends will happily serve themselves a glass . . . or four. Servings: 1 punch bowl INGREDIENTS 1 bottle pisco (750 ml bottle) 1 cup St. Germain elderflower liqueur 1 1/2 cups strawberry syrup 1 1/2 cups lime juice 2  bottles  sparkling apple cider (750 ml bottle) 2 limes (for garnish) ice block (large) 3/4 cup water 1 1/2 cups str...