Food for Fifty

Broccoli Salad

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A pretty salad for a holiday buffet. And it is one more “variations on a theme”.

Ingredients:

  • 8 lbs broccoli
  • 1 lb bacon
  • 1 red onion
  • 1 basket cherry tomatoes
  • 1 c garlic dressing (Store bought or try Dominico’s Garlic Dressing)

Directions: 

  1. Blanch broccoli flowers for 1 minute. (If using stems also, slice them thin and blanch for about 5 minutes, until tender.)
  2. Drain, rinse with cold water.
  3. Cut bacon into 1/2 inch pieces.
  4. Cook until crisp.
  5. Drain on paper towels.
  6. Slice onion into quarters and then into thin slices.
  7. Mix everything with dressing at last minute.

Serves: 20 – 25 on a buffet.

Source:  VAK

Notes: You can add grated cheddar cheese, slices mushrooms, anything else left in the frig.  Mayo can be substituted for the garlic dressing (but it won’t be nearly as good.)

Champagne Orange Punch

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A simple, tasty punch for a crowd.

Ingredients:

  • 12 oz frozen orange juice concentrate
  • 6 oz frozen lemonade concentrate
  • 1 1/2 quarts ice water
  • 1 large bottle California champagne
  • orange slices

Directions:

  1. In the punch bowl, dilute orange juice and lemonade concentrates with 1 1/2 quarts of ice water.
  2. Just before serving add well chilled champagne.
  3. Garnish with orange slices.

Serves:  About 30

Source:  Too long ago to remember.

The Longest Day of the Year – VPWL Gourmet June 2014

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VPWL GOURMET 2013-2014
LONGEST DAY OF THE YEAR
June, 2014

Fish and Cheese
National Seafood Month
Cold Shrimp with Creamy Shriaka Sauce and Aioli
Crab Pizza
Herring – Pickled, Sour Cream, Tomato Sauce (Purchase)
Sardines, Kippered Snacks (Purchase)
Cold Poached Salmon with Cumin Raita and Sweet Dilled Mustard
June 4 is Cheese Day
National Dairy Month
Assorted Cheeses and Crackers (Purchase)

Meat
National Steak House Month
Charcuterie (Purchase)
Roasted Fillet with Horseradish Sauce and Blue Cheese Butter
Easy Swedish Meat Balls
Lucia’s Paté
Rolls, Bread (Purchase)

Fruit and Vegetables
Georgia Blueberry Month
Blueberry Salad with Tequila-Lime Syrup
National Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Month
Asparagus Ricotta Tart
Fruit Tray with French Cream
Cucumber Month
National Turkey Lovers Month
Turkey Cucumber Wheels
Barbara’s Deviled Eggs (no recipe – use your grandmothers)
Assorted Olives (Purchase)
Bacon Wrapped Roasted Fingerling Potatoes

Sweets
June 5 is Gingerbread Day
Marie’s Ginger Cookies (no recipe – cruise the internet)
Lemon Month
Perfect Lemon Bars
National Candy Month
Selected Candy (Purchase)
June 7th is National Chocolate Ice Cream Day
Ice Cream Bar (Purchase)

Liquid Refreshments
National Ice Tea Month
Long Island Ice Tea
Ice Tea
White Wine: Silverado 2010 Chardonnay
Red Wine: Beaulieu Vineyards 2009
Beer
Water
Coffee, Cream, Sugar

June 21 – Summer Solstice, Longest Day of the Year
June 1 – National Donut Day
June 4 – Cheese Day
June 5 – Gingerbread Day
June 6 – Applesauce Cake Day
June 12 – National Peanut Butter Cookie Day
June 17 – Eat All Your Veges Day
June 18 – International Picnic Day
June 19 – Martini Day
June 25 – Strawberry Parfait Day
June 26 – National Chocolate Pudding Day
June 21- National Peaches and Cream Day
Georgia Blueberry Month
Men’s Health Month
National Dairy Alternative Month
California Avocado Month
Corn and Cucumber Month
Country Cooking Month
Lemon Month
Okra Month
Pluot and Aprium Month
National Steakhouse Month
Frozen Yogurt Month
National Turkey Lovers Month
National Hunger Awareness Month
National Mango Month
National Soul Food Month
National Papaya Month
National Seafood Month
National Candy Month
National Dairy Month
National Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Month
National Iced Tea Month

Long Island Ice Tea – Party Quanity

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Ingredients:                                                                Party Quantities

  • 1 part vodka                                                                      1 pint
  • 1 part gin                                                                             1 pint
  • 1 part white rum                                                               1 pint
  • 1 part white tequila                                                          1 pint
  • 1 part triple sec                                                                 1 pint
  • 8 part bar sweet and sour mix                                     2 1.75 liters
  • 4 part Coke                                                                       5 12oz cans
  • Lemon wedges for garnish
  • ice

Directions:

  1. Premix the 5 pints of liquor and re-bottle.
  2. At party, put one bottle of premixed liquor into pitcher.
  3. Add 22 oz of bar sweet and sour mix.
  4. 1 can of coke.
  5. Mix.
  6. Pour in tall glass filled with cracked ice.
  7. Make an additional pitcher when previous one is empty.

Serves: Depends . . . .

Source: The kids in college

Comment: Make by the pitcher full. It is wicked!

It’s never a good idea nor a safe idea to drink and drive. But if you do, you’d better know your limits.  See Blood Alcohol  Percentages in Beverages  in the Miscellaneous Information category and the Drinks category.

Turkey Cucumber Wheels

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I got tired of trying to spread the cream cheese, so I plopped it into a plastic baggie, cut a corner off, and piped it onto the cucumbers. It was a little easier that way. You could also use a pastry tube.

Ingredients:

  • 4 English cucumber about (1 ¼ inch in diameter and 8” long)
  • 1 pt whipped cream cheese
  • thin sliced turkey (the more thinly sliced the better)
  • toothpicks

Directions:

  1. Cut cucumber into rounds about ¼ inch thick.
  2. Use a small spoon or knife to spread cream cheese on half of the pieces.
  3. Cut or break each slice of deli turkey into 5 or 6 pieces and divide it evenly among the cream cheese topped cucumber.
  4. Top with another round of cucumber to form a sandwich.
  5. Secure with a toothpick.

Serves: 64 Pieces

Source: Cooking With My Kids

Easy Swedish Meatballs

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My Swedish mother-in-law might frown at the ready made meat balls – but she was practical so would forgive.

Ingredients:

  • 2 c beef stock
  • 2 c heavy cream
  • 6 Tab flour
  • 2 tsp soy sauce
  • 2 tsp black pepper
  • 2 Tab dried dill
  • 2 ½ lbs frozen cooked ½ oz beef meatballs, thawed
  • toothpicks

Directions:

  1. In a large saucepan, whisk together a little of the beef stock and the flour to make a paste.
  2. Slowly add rest of beef stock.
  3. Add heavy cream, flour, soy sauce, black pepper, and dill.
  4. Whisk until smooth.
  5. Cook and stir over low heat until thickened, about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  6. Stir in the meatballs, and continue cooking until meatballs are heated through, about 5 more minutes.

Serves: 80 Pieces

Source: allrecipes.com, submitted by: Mary B

Comment: Frozen ½ ounce meat balls are available at Smart and Final.

Cold Poached Salmon

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You can make this – or you can pay big bucks and get it from a caterer.  Make it and make your reputation as a great cook!  Too impressive – and easy with Costco’s salmon slabs.

Ingredients:

  • 3 c dry white wine
  • 1 small onion, chopped
  • 1 lemon, sliced thin
  • One skinless salmon fillet (approx 4 – 5 lbs)
  • thin lemon slices, for garnish
  • thin cucumber slices, for garnish
  • Cumin Raita
  • Dill Mustard Sauce 

Directions:

  1. Place lemon slices in center of pan in one layer.
  2. Place the salmon on top of the lemon slices.
  3. Add wine and onion .
  4. Cover tightly with foil.
  5. Bake at 350° for 20 minutes or until the salmon is opaque and flakes slightly with a fork.
  6. Using 2 spatulas, carefully transfer the salmon fillet to a large platter or tray.
  7. Let stand at room temperature for 15 minutes.
  8. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and refrigerate until cool.
  9. Garnish the salmon with the lemon and cucumber slices and serve with the Cumin Raita and Dill Mustard Sauce.
  10. Serve with crackers

Source: Food and Wine, Andrew Zimmern’s Kitchen Adventures

Cumin Raita

Ingredients:

  • 2 c plain Greek yogurt
  • 1/3 c seeded cucumber, finely diced
  • 1/4 c red onion, finely diced
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 2 Tab fresh lime juice
  • 3 Tab capers, minced
  • 3 Tab cilantro, minced
  • 3 Tab dill, minced
  • 1 Tab cumin, ground
  • Kosher salt
  • Freshly ground white pepper

Directions:

  1. In a medium bowl, combine all of the ingredients and mix well.
  2. Garnish with Cilantro and cumin.

Serves: 3 cups

Source: Food and Wine, Andrew Zimmern’s Kitchen Adventures

Dill Mustard Sauce

Ingredients:

  • ½ c Dijon mustard
  • ½ c sugar
  • 2 Tab plain or white wine vinegar
  • 2/3 c olive oil
  • ½ c fresh dill, finely chopped
  • salt and pepper

Directions:

  1. Place mustard in a bowl.
  2. Add sugar, vinegar and a pinch of salt and pepper.
  3. As when making mayonnaise, add oil drop by drop, stirring with a wooden spoon.
  4. At the last minute, mix in chopped dill.
  5. Chill until serving.

Serves: 1 1/2 cups.

Source: Gustav Anders

Comment: Will keep, covered, in the refrigerator for 2-3 weeks.

Mini Big Fat Bacon Sliders

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This is a recipe you make to take to a party once and ever after it is “bring those sliders you brought last time”.  They will disappear!

Ingredients:

  • 1 lb ground sirloin beef
  • 1 tsp ground black pepper
  • 2 tsp garlic salt
  • 1 Tab Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 lb bacon, regular sliced
  • ½ c barbecue sauce (Pay a little more for the good stuff.)
  • 32 sharp cheddar cheese, thin slices (shavings)
  • 32 small spinach leaves
  • 11 Bridgeford frozen rolls (11 of the 18 roles in the package)
  • party picks

Directions:

  1. Cut the frozen rolls into 3 pieces. (easier if they are half defrosted)
  2. Set cut roles on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
  3. When defrosted, roll into balls and place back on parchment paper to rise – about 2 hours.
  4. Heat oven to 350°.
  5. Bake rolls for 15 minutes, until browned.
  6. Cut in half to make mini hamburger buns.
  7. Combine ground sirloin with garlic salt, pepper, Worcestershire sauce.
  8. Knead with hands to combine.
  9. Form into (32) ½ oz balls.
  10. Heat oven to 450°.
  11. Cut slices of bacon in half crosswise, making 32 slices.
  12. Cook bacon on foil lined pan until almost done but still flexible – about 6-7 minutes.
  13. Drain off the bacon fat. Save the pan and foil.
  14. Wrap one half piece of bacon around ball of hamburger, pulling slightly to keep taut.
  15. Place patties, bacon seam side down, on a rack.
  16. Press gently on each patty to flatten.
  17. Refrigerate for 20 to 30 minutes to firm.
  18. Place rack on the tray you used to cook the bacon. It is already dirty!
  19. Brush each patty liberally with barbecue sauce.
  20. Preheat oven to 400°.
  21. Bake for 10 minutes, or until bacon is cooked.
  22. Remove from oven and lay a cheese shaving on each patty.
  23. Place spinach leaf on each bun bottom, top with patty.
  24. Brush bun top with more barbecue sauce.
  25. Place bun top on patty.
  26. Spear with party pick to hold together.

Serves: Makes 32

Source: Based on a recipe by Ree | The Pioneer Woman on May 25, 2011

 

Rosemary Roasted Cashews

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You know those nuts you stuck in the freezer and are now a little “not crunchy” – try this.

“This recipe is almost directly from the Bar Nuts at Union Square Cafe in New York City and its wonderful cookbook of the same name.”

Ingredients:

  • 1 pounds cashew nuts
  • 2 tablespoons coarsely chopped fresh rosemary leaves
  • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne
  • 2 teaspoons dark brown sugar
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 1 tablespoon melted butter
  • (I added about 1 teaspoon chopped garlic, because I like garlic)

Directions:

  1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
  2. Place the nuts on an ungreased baking sheet.
  3. Bake for about 10 minutes until they are warmed through.
  4. Meanwhile, combine the rosemary, pepper, sugar, salt and butter (and garlic) in a large bowl.
  5. Toss the warm nuts with the rosemary mixture until the nuts are completely coated.
  6. Serve warm.
  7. And they are even better the next day!

Serves: Approximately 4 cups

Source:  Ina Garten, Barefoot Contessa Show

 

Gourmet December 2013

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VPWL

GOURMET 2013-2014

Happy New Year!!!

Hors d’oeuvres

 National Bacon Day, December 30th
Sweet Chicken Bacon Wraps
Bacon Candied Apple Spiced Nuts

National Lager Day December 10th
Kielbasa Appetizers

Winter Solstice – for the longest winter night, December 21st
Warm Blue Cheese Dip

National French Fried Shrimp Day, December 21th
Shake’N’Bake Coconut Shrimp

Six Months ’til National Ham Day
Ham Nirvana

Mary Had A Little Lamb Day
Lamb Lollipops with Balsamic Reduction

National Hamburger Day, December 21st
Cocktail Meatballs

National Pastry Day, December 9th
Mary Kay’s Good Stuff

National Root Vegetable Month
Ham and Turkey Roll-Ups

Cobalt Ocean Celebrates Lime Day, 16th of every month
Southwestern Margarita Quesadillas

Issquah Salmon Days – a little late (October 5th)
Citrus Salmon

For National Sangria Day, December 20th
Chili Relleño Appetizers

Dessert

 National Fruit Cake Month
Nutty Fruitcake Bars

Cookie Day, December 4th
National Eggnog Month
Eggnog Cookies

National Gingerbread House Day, December 12th
Gingerbread Bars

Cup Cake Day, December 16th
Champagne Day, December 31th
Champagne Cup Cakes

National Chocolate Day, December 28th and 29th
Busterback Cross Country Ski Ranch Soda Cracker Candy

National Candy Cane Day December 26th
Candy Cane Sugar Cookie Bars

Coffee

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​National Coffee Percolator Day, December 26
National Eggnog Month
Homemade Eggnog Coffee Creamer

Wine

National Repeal the 21st Amendment Day, December 5th
Hostess Choice

National Stress Free Family Holiday Month

December 2013

  • National Egg Nog Month
  • World Wide Food Service Safety Month
  • Winter Squash Month
  • Quince Month
  • Watermelon Month
  • Root Vegetable Month
  • Exotic Fruit Month
  • Cookie Cutter Week – First Week
  • December 5 Comfort Food Day
  • December National Repeal the 21st Amendment Day
  • December 7: National Cotton Candy Day
  • December 12: National Cocoa Day
  • December 12:Gingerbread House Day
  • December 16: National Chocolate-Covered Anything Day
  • December 21: National Hamburger Day
  • Kiwi Fruit Day (California)
  • National French Fried Shrimp Day
  • Look At The Bright Side Day
  • December 26: National Candy Cane Day
  • December 28: National Chocolate Day
  • December 29: National Chocolate Day (2 is good!)
  • National Get on the Scales Day
  • December 30: Bacon Day
  • National Bicarbonate of Soda Day
  • December 31: Champagne Day