Category: Party food
-
Holiday Worthy Brioche Bread Pudding with Bourbon Butterscotch Sauce !
Ahhhh, bourbon and brioche. Two of my favorite things! You’ll Need: 1/4 cup bourbon 1/2 cup currants 1-1/2 pound loaf of Brioche, torn into 1-2 inch chunks, or cut into cubes – allowed to stale overnight 1 1/2 cups whole milk or substitute 1/2 cup heavy cream or…
-
Holiday Cheat Sheet- How Much to Shop, Cook and Serve!
As a professional chef, one of the most frequent questions I’m asked is how much food do you need to feed each guest? So, I decided to build a mini cheat sheet for the upcoming holiday season! Hope this helps! Every 2.4 pounds of food you donate creates a meal…
-
The Brussel Sprout Files!
Below is a formula sure to make your Brussels sprouts a success, no matter what flavor profile you’re after—sweet, salty, or tangy! Brussels sprouts are aggressive in flavor. You either love them or hate them. There are many ways to cook them, too—from baked chips to chopped salads. At home,…
-
Ultimate Cheese Fondue Recipe in Winter Squash
Drool! Fragrant melted cheese served in a communal pot, or a traditional caquelon or fondue pot over a little réchaud brought to temperature with a candle or various other types of flambe material. Small-bit-sized foods are consumed by dipping bread, assorted vegetables, and proteins dunked right into the warm, mouth-watering…
-
Leftovers? Make Mash Potato Bombs!
Baked or fried these are a fun way to use up any left-over mash potatoes… or, a good excuse to make more! You’ll Need: Filling: 3 cups chilled mashed potatoes 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded ½ cup bacon, chopped small dice 1 bunch chives, chopped Pepper to taste Breading Station:…
-
Make Ahead- Chocolate Espresso Pot De Crème!
Perfect sweet little finish to a large festive feast, just in time for the holiday! And make ahead the day before so you don’t need to worry about making dessert the day of your event. Also, great little treat just to have hanging around the fridge. If you can save…
-
Refreshing Lavender Lemonade with Butterfly Pea Flower
While all types of lavender are edible yet English and Provence varieties are widely for cuisine. If you use fresh garden buds, make sure they are free from pesticides. I’ve added organic dried butterfly pea flowers for the subtle violet color. The flower buds are steeped with sugar and hot water to make…
-
Homemade Holiday Marshmallows!
Try this homemade marshmallow recipe as a base formula. You can make additions of essential oils or flavored extracts along with organic food colors to create a variety of fun flavors. So easy, you won’t believe it. You will never want eat a store bought marshmallow again! You’ll Need: 3…
-
Stuffed Mushrooms with Italian Sausage, Sherry and Parmesan Cheese
First, a little “Housekeeping” regarding mushrooms: How to purchase a brown ( Cremini ) or white (Champion or Button) shaped mushroom. If you know me, you know I love to forge in the wild for mushrooms. Shopping for mushrooms in a large chain grocery store can be like hunting. By…
-
Carrot Salad with Roasted Cashew & Spicy Honey Vinaigrette
You’ll Need 1 cup unsalted cashews, roasted 2 cloves garlic, peeled1/2 teaspoon crushed red chili flakes1/8 cup fresh lemon juice 1/4 cup rice vinegar 1/4 cup local honey1/2 cup olive oilKosher salt and fresh ground pepper1 pound carrots, peeled, julienned Here’s HowPreheat oven to 350’F Degrees. Toast cashews on a…
-
Grilled Pizza! Get Your Pie Out-of-the-Oven and onto the Grill!
The trick to a perfect grilled pizza is all the preparations. Roast, sauté, cook, slice, and grate whatever toppings you like before you begin your grilled pizza journey. Adding those pre-cooked toppings to the pizza as it is grilling is the trick. The dough will only require a 3-5 minutes…
-
Skinny Garlic Pommes Frites
In the production of a really good ‘French Fry” the type of fat used to fry with can make all the difference. Not to mention the type of potato and the potatoes sugar content will make a difference as well. Seriously, this subject for scholarly debate! Many establishments that place “Pommes Frites”…
-
10 Minutes to Creamy! Chocolate Avocado Mousse!
Chocolate Mousse has never been healthier or faster! When choosing Avocados, use Haas variety- they tend to have a rich, smooth finish. Make sure to avoid any granulated sweeteners for a creamy mouthfeel. You’ll Need: 4-5 ripe avocados 3 tablespoons honey, maple syrup, or optional liquid sweetener. ( do not…
-
Stromboli- Dinner in 30!
Unlike a calzone, a stromboli does not contain sauce. Invented in the 1950’s on the east coast in Pennsylvania. An Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria claims to be the first to have used the name, Stromboli. Rumor has it the pizzeria owner had experimented with “pizza imbottito”, or “stuffed pizza”, and…
-
Empanadas- Savory Hand Pies
So many cultures have a recipe for meat wrapped in pastry. – I just love bold flavored, slow cooked juicy meats and veggies wrapped up in flakey pie crust served piping hot. Mmmmmm. Comfort food. I also love pasta sauce and Italian sausage or yellow curry and potatoes, but that’s…
-
High Protein, Low Carb Almond Crepes- Have your Crepe, & Eat it too!
If you are watching your macros, and counting carbs while increasing fats – this is definitely the crepe recipe for you! These are so yummy! I usually double the recipe. Ingredients: 4 ounces cream cheese, softened at room temperature 4 large eggs 3/4 cup almond flour 2 tbsp granulated coconut…
-
Authentic Fried Israeli Falafel
Here I am, an Italian-American trying to grasp the depths of an authentic Israeli Falafel recipe. Here is how I did it. I’ve turn to my favorite Falafel expert, and adapted from Joan Nathan’s book The Foods of Israel Today. Amazing book ! Read what Joan has to say about…
-
No Artificial Color- Empress Red Sugar Beet Cupcakes !
Ingredients: 1 cup puréed fresh red sugar-beets, (fresh cooked not canned) 1/3 cup coconut oil, slightly heated to pourable state 1 1/4 cup granulated organic sugar 2 teaspoons Madagascar vanilla extract 1 1/4 cup all purpose flour 1/4 teaspoon salt 2 Tablespoons natural cocoa powder ( do not use Dutch…
-
Spicy Turkey Zucchini Boats! Like a Taco without a Shell. Whatever Floats Your Boat, Right?
Ingredients: 8 medium zucchini 1 cup chicken stick 1 pound ground turkey, chicken, beef or Italian sausage 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 onion, peeled and chopped small dice 1 cup mushrooms, quartered ( optional) 2-3 cloves garlic, minced fine 3 cups pasta sauce 1 Tablespoon oregano, minced fine 1 Tablespoon…
-
Chocolate Cake Day! No Flour? No Problem!
Oooooh La Lahhhhh! It’s National Chocolate Cake Day here in America, why not celebrate with … well,…. A CHOCOLATE CAKE! I’m craving a chocolate flourless cake so here it is! Chocolate Flourless Cake with Chocolate Ganache You’ll Need 1 cup semisweet or bittersweet good quality chocolate chips such as Guittard 1/2…
-
Bourbon Maple Meatballs for Cocktail Time! Oooohh yeah!
These little appetizer meatballs are a delicious start to kick off your party ! Ingredients: 1 pound ground meatloaf mix, (ground beef, pork and veal) 1/3 cup seasoned bread crumbs 1 large egg 2 clove garlic, minced fine 1 tablespoon good quality olive oil 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder 1/2 teaspoon…
-
Classic French Profiteroles with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream and Chocolate Sauce
A profiterole is a classic tiny filled ball made from the French Pâte à choux dough. ( the only dough cooked twice) typically sweet, but can also be savory. This pastry is used to also make, croquenbouches, éclairs French crullers, beignets, St. Honoré cake, Parisian gnocchi, and gougères to name a few of my favorites. Dessert profiteroles are usually filled with whipped cream, custard, pastry cream, or as in the USA,…
-
2016 Post Election, Red Wine and Chocolate Popsicles !
I know it’s 5 o’clock somewhere ! Here is a fun pick-me-up after a long stressful election year. Try my frozen popsicle recipe strictly for adults. Cause, sometimes we need a break too! Not only will these take the edge off the 2016 Election, it will also turn your lips and…
-
Sweet Potato Gnocchi with Fried Sage and a Chestnut Cream. Oh yeah!
‘Tis the season! Old world Gnocchi made from sweet potatoes, paired with the crunchness of fried chestnut and sage. Delicious. I’ve also bumped up the flavor profile by serving it in a pool of brown butter chestnut cream sauce made with wholesome nut milk — this recipe is heartwarming belly…
-
Loaded – Jalapeno Popper Potato Skins!
Ingredients: 3-4 jalapeños 2 pounds small round baby potatoes, about 2 inches in size. 2 Tablespoons organic canola or vegetable oil, divided 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt 8 ounces cream cheese, softened 1 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese 1/2 pound pancetta or center cut strip bacon, cooked crisp, drained of excess…
-
Fun P B & J Sushi Rolls The Littles Can Make Themselves!
Kids should be in the kitchen as little as 2-3 years old with supervision! Teaching them and getting them get tactile is so important in so many ways. Here is a good introductory lunchtime activity to get them involved. Keep in mind, kids are more likely to eat what they…
Chef Gigi Gaggero 