Gina Rae Mitchell

5 Ways to Spice Up Your Dinner Party 

 

Dinner parties take a lot of planning. You have to decide who to invite, what to wear, when to have it, and most importantly, what to cook. Whether you’re cooking the meal yourself or hiring a chef to make the evening a bit fancier, you most likely want to keep the dishes interesting. Here are 5 ways to spice up your dinner party with some excellent fiery recipes from Food Network. 

Pesto Pizzas Pep Up the Dinner Party

Pesto, or pesto alla genovese, is a sauce originating in Genoa, the capital city of Liguria, Italy. It traditionally consists of crushed garlic, European pine nuts, coarse salt, basil leaves, and hard cheese such as Parmigiano-Reggiano or Pecorino Sardo, all blended with olive oil. Combine 1 cup ricotta and 1/2 cup each chopped basil and parsley; set aside. Form 1 pound refrigerated pizza dough into 3-inch rounds (about 12) on parchment; drizzle with olive oil. Slide the dough (on the parchment) onto a preheated pizza stone or inverted baking sheet and bake at 500 degrees F until golden, about 12 minutes. Spread pesto on the crusts and dollop with the ricotta mixture. Top with more basil.

Roast Beets and Pepper Jelly Bites: A Dinner Party Fave

The beetroot is the taproot portion of a beet plant, usually known in North America as beets while the vegetable is referred to as beetroot in British English, and also known as the table beet, garden beet, red beet, dinner beet, or golden beet. Top beet chips with goat cheese and sprinkle with salt. Top each with a small square of deli-sliced roast beef and some hot pepper jelly dip.

Are Chorizo Nachos on Your Dinner Party Buffet?

Most Spanish chorizos feature three common ingredients: pork, smoked paprika, and garlic. The pork is coarsely chopped and mixed with bits of pork fat and seasonings, which vary based on the region. The mixture is then stuffed into natural casings, and the chorizos are left to cure and dry. Spread 6 cups of regular or spicy tortilla chips in a baking dish. Top with one 15-ounce can of hot chili beans (warmed), 1 pound cooked crumbled chorizo, 2 cups shredded pepper jack, and 1/2 cup pickled jalapenos. Bake at 425 degrees F until the cheese melts, 15 minutes. Top with sour cream, cilantro, and scallions. 

Perfect Dinner Party Fish Tacos 

Fish tacos are a favorite quick and easy weeknight meal. Choose cod, tilapia, or halibut, quickly pan-sear in a skillet, and serve with a simple cabbage slaw. Whisk 2 eggs with 2 chopped chipotles in adobo and 1 teaspoon each dried oregano, garlic powder, kosher salt, and black pepper. Add 1 pound cod filets (cut into 1-inch strips); toss. Marinate for 15 minutes. Dredge in 1 cup each plain breadcrumbs and panko mixed with 2 teaspoons each cayenne and cornstarch and 1 teaspoon kosher salt. Deep-fry in 375 degrees F vegetable oil until golden brown, 4 minutes. Serve in small tortillas.

Fried Calamari – People Do Love It…just not me. 

Fried squid is common in the Mediterranean. In Lebanon and Syria, it is served with tartar sauce. Whisk 1 cup milk with 2 teaspoons cayenne. Add 1 pound cleaned squid (sliced into 1/2-inch-thick rings, plus tentacles); toss. Marinate for 20 minutes. Whisk 3/4 cup each flour and cornstarch, 3 tablespoons cayenne, and 2 teaspoons kosher salt. Dredge the squid in the flour mixture, then deep-fry in 360 degrees F vegetable oil until golden, 2 to 3 minutes. Season with salt. Serve with spicy marinara.

There you have it. 5 Ways to add some pizazz to your next dinner party.

Would your friends and family try these?

You might also enjoy my Veggie Pizza and crockpot recipes.