The Hip Hostess

Menus, tips and ideas for hosting with style!

Beet & Apple Slaw September 24, 2010

Beet and apple slaw is as delicious as it is healthy.  This simple slaw is the perfect side dish for a picnic; it can be made up to 2 days in advance and it travels well.

This original Hip Hostess recipe was published in Rochester Healthy Living Magazine (June 2010, page 19)

http://www.rochesterhealthyliving.com/past_issues/RHL_June2010.pdf

Beet & Apple Slaw

2 raw beets, peeled and shredded (2 cups)

1 large red apple, shredded (1 cup)

½ red onion, chopped (1/4 cup)

juice from 1 lemon (about 1/4 cup)

2 Tbs. olive oil

2 Tbs. red wine vinegar

1 ½ Tbs. Dijon mustard

1 Tbs. agave nectar or 2 Tbs. sugar

1 clove garlic, minced (1 tsp.)

½ tsp. salt

Fresh-ground black pepper to taste

2 green onions, thinly sliced (optional)

 

1. Toss together beets, apple and red onion in bowl.

2. Blend lemon juice, oil, vinegar, mustard, agave nectar, garlic, and salt in food processor until smooth.  Add to beet mixture, and toss to coat.  Garnish with green onions, if using.

Serves 6 (serving size = 3/4 cup)

 

Sweet Potato & Blackberry Quesadillas September 9, 2010

Sweet potatoes, plump blackberries and mild cheddar cheese unite for a delicious and super simple fall appetizer or vegetarian dinner.  These quesadillas are truly one of my favorite quick menu options; they take 25 minutes from start to finish.  They come together even faster if using leftover mashed sweet potatoes and cooking the quesadillas several at a time on a griddle.

You’ll love the unique flavor combination of these filling quesadillas.  Serve them with sour cream or Greek yogurt (a healthier substitute) and enjoy! 

Sweet Potato Quesadillas

2 large sweet potatoes

4oz fresh or frozen blackberries

8oz cheddar cheese, shredded or sliced thin

12 corn tortillas (8”)

Kosher salt

Sour cream (or Greek yogurt) and salsa

Chopped cilantro, for garnish (optional)

1.         Wash potatoes, scrubbing dirt from skin.  Poke several holes in potatoes using a sharp knife; wrap each potato in a single paper towel and microwave until soft when squeezed.  Once cooked, cut a slit lengthwise on each potato and let cool for a few minutes.  Peel off skin and place cooked potato flesh in a bowl.  Mash lightly with a fork, and sprinkle with salt to taste.

2.         Lay 6 corn tortillas on counter and divide mashed potatoes evenly among each tortilla.  Spread potatoes until almost at the edge of tortillas.  Top with blackberries (about 4-5 per quesadilla), pressing them into potatoes.  Sprinkle with cheese and top with remaining tortillas.

3.         Spray tops of tortillas with nonstick cooking spray and place top side down on preheated griddle or nonstick pan.  Spray other side of tortillas as they cook and flip when slightly brown.  Cook bottom until also slightly brown.  If making in batches, keep cooked tortillas warm on baking sheet in preheated 200 degree oven.  Cut quesadillas into 4 wedges and serve with sour cream and salsa.

 

Mashed Potato Martinis November 25, 2009

Mashed potatoes are made into cocktail party fare when served in a martini glass.  Set up a topping bar by setting out bowls of shredded cheddar cheese, crumbled bacon, sour cream, crispy onions and fresh chives.  Let guests top their taters with whatever they please.  Make sure you include spoons. 

 

On a practical note: Rinse the martini glasses shortly after the party is over to spare yourself the trouble of scraping dried potatoes off your glassware (trust me, it’s no party). 

 

Photo source:  http://loveandsplendor.wordpress.com/2007/10/25/danielle-paul-august-07/

 

Simple Thanksgiving Floral Arrangement November 24, 2009

No need to order a fancy arrangement from a floral shop.  Making a lovely Thanksgiving centerpiece isn’t as hard as it looks.  Here’s how:  Buy 3 bunches of flowers, choosing fall colored flowers in coordinating shades, and make sure each bunch provides a varying texture to the arrangement.  Start by holding three of the bushiest or tallest flowers (same type), and begin gathering the other stems, one by one, in a vaguely symetrical pattern around the center stems.  Continue until you have used all the stems (or save a few for a small bed-side arrangement).  Trim stems at an angle under cold running water, and place in a vase filled with sugar water.

 

Brie, Caramelized Onion & Craisin Quesadillas November 15, 2009

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Creamy brie, sweet onions and tart craisins combine to make an extraordinary quesadilla.  Think of these as a hip twist on traditional baked brie. Serve these quesadillas at a fall cocktail party, or as a Thanksgiving appetizer.  The onions can be prepared up to two days in advance; the quesadillas can be cooked several hours in advance, and warmed in a 250 degree oven before serving.


Brie, Caramelized Onion & Craisin Quesadillas

1 Tbs. butter

½ Tbs. extra virgin olive oil

1 medium onion, sliced

8 whole wheat flour tortillas, 8 inch

12oz brie cheese, cut into ¼” slices

1/3 C. craisins or dried cherries

1/3 C. cilantro, chopped

cilantro sprigs, for garnish (optional)

1.            Preheat oven to 250 degrees.  Line a sheet pan with tin foil and set aside.  Melt butter with olive oil over medium-high heat in a large non-stick skillet.  Add onions; cook until golden brown and soft, about 10 minutes.  Remove from heat, place onions in a medium bowl to cool.  Onions can be made up to two days in advance and kept in the refrigerator until ready to use.

2.            Wipe skillet clean and heat over medium-high heat.  Place 1 tortilla in the skillet, top with ¼ each of the brie, onions and craisins.  Sprinkle with chopped cilantro and top with another tortilla.  Cook until bottom tortilla is slightly brown and crisp; flip and cook other side.  Place cooked quesadilla on prepared sheet pan and keep warm in the oven.  Cook remaining 3 quesadillas, keeping each warm in the oven until finished cooking.  Cut each quesadilla into 6 wedges.  Serve immediately, garnished with sprigs of cilantro, or keep warm in oven until ready to serve.

Serves 12 as an appetizer (2 wedges per person)

 

Post-Thanksgiving Cocktail Party November 10, 2009

Host a post-Thanksgiving cocktail party with ideas from my monthly column on The Family Groove.

http://www.thefamilygroove.com/nov09_TheDinnerParty.htm

 

Pumpkin Hummus October 25, 2009

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Infuse the flavors of fall into a year-round favorite.  Adding pumpkin puree to store-bought hummus adds a slightly sweet, warm flavor to this crowd-pleasing dip, and a healthy dose of beta-carotene.  Serve this as part of a Halloween, Thanksgiving or fall cocktail party menu.  I even like to whip up a batch for an afternoon snack.


Pumpkin Hummus

1 C. garlic hummus (store-bought or homemade)

1/2 C. pumpkin puree (canned or homemade)

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1/8 tsp. ground nutmeg

1/8 ground cloves

1/4 C. toasted pepitas (green pumpkin seeds), optional

crackers, tortilla chips or pita wedges

Combine hummus, pumpkin and spices in a small bowl.  Stir until well combined.  Transfer to a small serving dish; sprinkle with toasted pepitas.  Serve with whole-grain crackers, tortilla chips or pita wedges.

 

Hip Tip – Mini Pumpkin Centerpiece October 21, 2009

baby_boo

Creating a centerpiece for a fall dinner is as easy as picking up a bag of mini pumpkins at the grocery store or farmer’s market. These adorable miniature pumpkins – the most common are Jack-Be-Little or Baby Boo – are inexpensive and hearty enough to last for weeks. Place the pumpkins on a simple cake stand or platter and pile them high. Tuck fresh leaves or cut branches of fall berries in empty spaces for a finished look. For a more modern version, use a white rectangular platter and place an odd number of pumpkins in a straight line, alternating with tea lights.

 

 
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