Cocktail Food and Recipes

Serving Caviar:  Don't worry - it's much easier than you think! While Begluga and Osetra caviar are delicious and rare, there are other less expensive options that are still very tasty. Look for American Caviar or Hackleback Caviar if you want to save some money but still treat your friends to an indulgent treat. Remove the caviar from the refrigerator and let stand for about 15 minutes. Open and spoon it into a small dish that rests on a bed of crushed ice to keep it fresh and cold. If you are serving it in the container it came in, place the lid name-side-up.  Traditionally caviar is served with a mother-of-pearl spoon. If you can get your hands on one (think Ebay!), it's an elegant touch. Caviar accoutrements: Serve your caviar with: blinis, toast points or assorted crackers, crème fraiche, hard boiled eggs (egg yolks and egg whites chopped finely and served separately), minced onions and lemon wedges.  As we say in Russia, "Budem zdorovy!"

Remember Ice Box Cake? Cherry is may favorite because my mom use to make it all the time. We offer an ice box Viennese with 8 choices at our parties, and people love it. But you can easily make it at home. It takes 10 minutes to whip up!

People just don't eat a lot of dessert anymore. We see it all the time at our parties. This past year we started serving mini parfaits in shot glasses with demitasse spoons.Everyone loved them. They were small enough so one could avoid feeling sinful, yet delicious enough to satisfy the sweet tooth.

I love Kielbasa. It has a great smoky flavor, it's inexpensive and easy to make. If you are watching your weight turkey kielbasa is a great alternative. Try preparing grilled Kielbasa with spicy mustard and warm parsley scented potatoes.

Quinoa Risotto is a delicious and a nutritious powerhouse. Quinoa is a grain...but not really. It is a combination of gluten and wheat-free, and it is a fabulous risotto, rice, or orzo substitute. Plus, its packed with protein, and how great is that? We recently put it on our "Going Green" catering menu and the crowds have gone wild. Try mushroom truffle and parmesan scented - Yummy!

I love grilled cheese! Who doesn't? We bake our own mini breads to jazz them up, but you can easily cut off the ends and go to town with a small cookie cutter. Try Grilled Asiago cheese with Ham and sliced Pickle or traditional American with Tomato and Bacon. Or how about Mozzarella with Prosciutto and Basil? Delicious!Ingredients:White BreadBacon (cooked)Sliced pearSharp cheddar Butter (soft)

Arancini, or Sicilian Rice Balls, make an excellent antipasti at parties. Make them in small batches with different fillings. I like Peas and Prosciutto, Truffle and Marscapone, and Chianti and Smoked Mozzarella. Below is the recipe for Arancini with Prosciutto and Peas. Be creative and put your signature on this. You can do it!

My fellow Italian-Americans are sure to remember this nostalgic dish. My Grandmother served it up on crusty Italian bread for breakfast and sometimes dinner...ah the good ol’ days! I've taken that tasty treat and transformed it into a bit size hors d'oeuvre.

Serve steamed dumplings or potstickers to your football lovin' guests. Its a healthier alternative to the usual fatty football fare, yet still delicious. Buy a bamboo steamer at your local restaurant supply store and steam away. Try serving them with this simple sauce.

Stuffed Peppers are making a come back. Let's face it, they are appealing to your eye as well as your palate. Try stuffing them this weekend for your football gathering with a low-fat turkey chili. We serve these all the time at our house parties and they always are big crowd pleasers.