Al Dente

Parties: What to Serve, What to Bring!

I love parties.  I love throwing them, attending them, and even crashing them.  Well, the latter isn’t exactly true--I haven’t crashed a party in years!  I love throwing parties because I truly enjoy them, meaning I don’t bog myself down with lots of work.  Let’s be honest here, I want to have fun too!  As I do on my Food Network show, Quick Fix Meals, I prep ahead for every party I throw.  In the show, I prep my weeknight meals a few days in advance so I can get a delicious, home-cooked, weeknight meal on the table in about 20 minutes.  My parties are no different.  For each party, I plan the menu (whether it’s a dinner party or just cocktails and hearty appetizers), do the grocery shopping and prep the food as far in advance as possible without compromising the quality of each dish.  The day of the soiree, I’m completely ready well before party time so that when my guests arrive I can spend quality time with them.  I always feel terrible for the host who spends the entire evening in the kitchen.  Truth is, that host was ME for my son Luke’s third birthday.  I thought I was fully prepped in advance--I made several trays of baked ziti, a huge salad, a train-shaped cake, and a bunch of yummy appetizers that simply needed to be plated and served (or, in some cases, heated, plated and served).  Turns out, because the party was outside and the ovens were inside, I spent the entire party running back and forth checking the oven and bringing out food.  I completely missed the bunnies I “rented” and most of the games Luke played with his friends!  I vowed never to do that again.  Below I’ve selected three super-simple dishes you can make ahead for your next party.  The ingredient lists are short, the instructions are simple but the results are divine!  I have more recipes just like them in my cookbook, Robin to the Rescue: Quick & Simple Recipes for Delicious Home Cooking (Taunton Press, 2008).

I also enjoy attending parties and love to think of fun treats to bring to the host.  My chocolate-covered pretzels have become one of my most-requested things to bring!  The tradition of making those gems started the year I decided to make them for the “caregivers” in my life.  I made batches for several teachers, neighbors, babysitters, and others that help make my life run more smoothly.  The best part about these heavenly morsels is that you can make them ahead and store them until you’re ready to hand them out (no need to stay up until midnight the night before baking batch after batch of cookies!).  I also love what a pretty presentation they make--I often put a “bouquet” of pretzels in a vase, wrap a red ribbon around the vase and give the whole thing as a gift.  People cherish home-made gifts and this is one they’ll truly adore.  For more recipes and information about my cookbooks, please visit www.robin-miller.com.  Happy holidays!

My Special Holiday Recipes That Include, You Guessed It--Leftovers!

The fall and winter holidays are, by far, my favorite celebrations of the year.  In fact, I love them so much, I start getting excited before Halloween!  Once the candy corn hits store shelves, I’m off and running, planning my feasts--from Thanksgiving through Christmas and on to New Year’s Eve (and sometimes even Super Bowl Sunday!).  I adore the holidays for two reasons.  First, I have wonderful memories of my childhood that include family gatherings and celebrations, both around the table and under the Christmas tree.  Second, thanks to my two amazing little boys, I’m building new traditions and creating memories that will last a lifetime for them AND for me.  I love watching their astonished little faces as they discover new experiences, new joys and new toys.  Being a mom has given me the opportunity to enjoy the season in a brand new light.  In fact, I feel like a kid all over again.

When it comes to cooking, I cherish the time I spend in the kitchen working side-by-side with my boys.  The holidays make kitchen-time extra special because it gives me the occasion to talk about traditions I grew up with, such as foods I made with MY mom.  I consider this time together truly precious and know they feel the same way. 

Since the holidays are also a time when visiting with family members and attending parties is status quo, I don’t like to feel overwhelmed with menu planning every single day.  That’s why when I make one spectacular meal, I make sure to have extras so I can make creative use of the leftovers!  In my books and on my Food Network show Quick Fix Meals, I call that “morphing”, which means taking leftovers and transforming them into completely new meals, dishes the whole family (and houseguests) will love.  Morphing is especially handy this time of year when there’s often an abundance of leftover turkey.  I’ve provided three of my favorite, “go-to” morphing recipes for your holiday table.  The first is a turkey tenderloin recipe that’s perfect when you want to serve turkey to a smaller group and don’t want to fuss with a 20-pound bird.  The second two recipes make incredibly delicious use of the leftover turkey.  You can also make the first dish with pork tenderloin and the second two dishes with leftover roasted chicken or a rotisserie chicken from the supermarket.  I hope you enjoy how warm and comforting these dishes are, and how easy they are to prepare.  For more recipes and information about my cookbooks, please visit www.robin-miller.com.  Happy holidays!