Food Blog: Mini-Party Food & Drinks

Monday, December 28, 2020

Mini-Party Food & Drinks

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Monday, December 28, 2020

Good morning!

I pretty much never need an excuse to have a snacky meal, the kind that doesn't force me to sit in front of course after course of food until I feel like I need a nap. I love the flitting nature of a sip or two, a bite or two, then some chatting, repeat as needed. Hm, I think this is what's called a "party," distant as the memory of such things might be. As this is not the kind of New Year's Eves most of us will be having, I've rounded up a few favorites that have a smaller, or easily whittled down, yield, as well as those that seem sneakily meal-like. Conveniently, just about every cocktail recipe on SK makes just two drinks, and not accidentally, both suggested desserts contain chocolate. I hope from here you can pluck a few favorites to cozy up on the couch with this week and toast the end of a year that has been few of our favorites. 2021, bright with promise, is just around the corner, and I cannot wait to spend it cooking with you.

Cheers,
Deb

Fresh and New

small-batch eggnog

New: This fuss-free, small-yield eggnog recipe makes just enough for two tumblers, cozy and perfect for our scaled-down holidays this year, and for all of the eggnog lovers whose families do not share their excellent taste. Merry Christmas, to those of you who celebrate, and cheers to you, for making my 2020 much brighter.

Mini-Party Foods

feta tapenade tarte soleil

A radiant appetizer to welcome the longer, sunnier days ahead. Don't be intimidated by the shape -- once your puff pastry is defrosted, this can be assembled and baked in very little time.

pimento cheese potato bites

Bite-sized, bronzed, melty, and completely-impossible-to-stop-at-one potato bites, perfect with (or for, heh) dinner tonight or for a luxe, snacky meal on New Year's Eve.

cider-glazed bacon-wrapped dates

The most popular appetizer at every party is also the easiest to make, thus there's no reason to miss out even if you stay home this year. I am anti-stuffing (too fiddly, takes forever), but pro-glazing, and this one, with cider vinegar, maple syrup, flaky salt, and aleppo pepper, makes what is already impossibly delicious even more so.

caesar salad deviled eggs

Deviled eggs are only for parties? Not around here. These are bright and zingy and deliciously crunchy on top and I have absolutely no qualms about eating them for breakfast, lunch, or dinner today.

scallion meatballs with soy-ginger glaze

These bite-sized meatballs check all boxes, and they're a kid-and-adult favorite too. Colorful cellophane-d toothpicks optional, but who are we kidding, not really.

flatbreads with honey, thyme and sea salt

The combination of crisp flatbreads (and the easiest recipe for them, ever), fruity olive oil, sharp cheese, warm honey, thyme leaves, and faintly crunch sea salt are so good here, I am (almost) glad I don't have to share them this year.

endives with oranges and almonds

The happiest commingling goat cheese, almonds, oranges, chives, sea salt, endives, sherry vinegar and olive oil. I once heard these called "hand salads" and was delighted by the concept, because if you think I eat those little endive boats with a knife and fork, you might be mistaking me for someone with better breeding.

garlic butter roasted mushrooms

What would happen if you gave mushroom caps the escargot treatment? Roasted in a glorious puddle of garlic butter then zinged with lemon juice and showered with chopped parsley before being scooped onto a crusty baguette, appetizer magic is what.

Yield: 2 Drinks

white russian

I think we don't make enough White Russians — cozy and lightly sweet while packing a sneaky punch. They’re also stunning -- a whirl of light and darkness in a rocks glass.

boulevardier

A three-ingredient, perfectly cozy, gorgeously-hued cocktail that's become my absolute favorite. It's a cousin to the Negroni, but it uses bourbon or rye instead of gin. The result is more mellow and 100% perfect for right now -- or five minutes after my kids go to bed tonight.

Mini-Party Sweets

fudgy bourbon balls

The 1960s holiday party standard is back with bourbon instead of rum, a brownie's worth of chocolate, a dab of molasses for intensity and a tumble in sparkly shimmery coatings. They age well (just like us!) so go ahead and make them tonight to get your candy for grown-ups in order.

silky, decadent old-school chocolate mousse

My friend Sarah (who, possibly predictably, grew up in Paris) has a tirade about what people pass off as chocolate mousse. Mousse contains chocolate, butter, eggs and cream, or it is simply not mousse but "moussey cream!" [Imagine uttered with a perfectly accented sneer of contempt.] Don't upset Sarah. Make this real-deal old-school very authentic chocolate mousse and be done with pale imitations forever.