Part of the charm of where I live is that family and friends, and friends of friends, can stop by on a moment’s notice, and maybe stay the weekend! But certainly for a drink on the porch or in front of the fire. And since we don’t have any grocery stores in my small town, food is a rare commodity. So I’m learning how to stock items you use to pull together an impromptu cocktail party or dinner. These are ideas pulled from friends and cookbooks and blogs, and we need more!
There are lots more ideas to add. Please please share your ideas to our Collection Community forum, and I’ll update them here! As the lists and categories grow, each section will have its own page.
Quick Hors d’Oeuvres
- Gourmet Cheese Straws
- Gourmet Natural Cranberry Nut Mix
- Hummus with pita chips
- Platter of cornichons, olives, nuts, crackers, marmalade (all from your pantry stash), cheeses like a block of parmesan cheese, sharp cheddar cheese, etc.
- Platter of sliced salami with cheese, crackers, grapes, nuts, dark chocolate
- Wrap a block of havarti cheese in rolled out crescent rolls, drizzle with honey and bake; serve with hard crackers
- Whatever fruit you have served with nuts and cheese
- Sliced avocado drizzled with EVOO and a touch of balsamic vinegar served with crackers and dried fruit
- St. Germain Gin & Tonic (21 and over) ~ 1 part Hendricks, 1/2 part St. Germain, top with ice and tonic, squeeze 2 lime slices over and stir
- Tequila Soda (21 and over) ~ 1 part tequila, 3 parts soda water, top with ice and squeeze 2 limes slices over and stir
When you literally have no food except what is in your freezer and possibly some lettuce
- Publix or Whole Foods Frozen Chicken Pot Pie + butter lettuce salad
- Costco Frozen Lasagna + butter lettuce salad + Mary B’s frozen biscuits
Super quick desperate pasta dishes
- Cooked Pasta + 2 spoonfuls Irish butter + dash white wine + fresh squeezed lemon + fresh grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese; serve with cooked frozen shrimp
- Cooked pasta + 2 spoonfuls Irish butter + 2 spoonfuls pesto (from a jar) + fresh grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese + crusty bread
If you happen to have a rotisserie chicken (or a frozen whole chicken you can roast)
- Rotisserie Chicken + roasted potatoes + steamed broccoli with drizzle of EVOO, S&P, splash lemon juice + butter lettuce salad + Mary B’s frozen biscuits
Lemon Parmesan Asparagus
- toast a handful of pine nuts in the oven
- heat EVOO in a skillet, add 2 bunches asparagus (ends cut off)
- add a shake ok kosher salt, pepper
- top with toasted pine nuts, splash of lemon juice and freshly grated Parmesan
Roasted Vegetables (works with gold potatoes, sweet potatoes, broccoli, asparagus, peppers, acorn squash, etc…)
- cut vegetables in bite-size pieces and spread on a sheet pan
- toss with EVOO (add first so the other ingredients stick to the vegetables), kosher salt, pepper
- add sliced shallots for flavor
- roast 400 degrees 30 min.
- add splash of lemon juice and sprinkle with freshly grated Parmesan
Quick Sweets
- Frozen Key Lime Pie
- Trader Joe’s Sublime Ice Cream Sandwiches