More Make Ahead Appetizers for Your Parties
As you know by now, I love parties and I love to be part of the fun. When I plan my dinners whether for 4 or for 40, I make sure that most of my foods can be prepared ahead of time to be baked, warmed or served as is on the day of the party. I try to pay attention to colors and textures. If you have creamy spread, offer next to it fresh green salad. In last week's blog I posted couple spreads black olives and red bell pepper. Today you will have a green spread, white spread and scallion salad.Green Olive Tapenademakes 3 cups1 1/2 cups pitted green olives1 cup walnuts3 scallions, chopped1 jalapeno, seeded and chopped1 cup chopped parsley1/2 cup lemon juice4 tablespoon olive oil-Place all ingredients in a food processor. Using about 10 on/off turn, process until mixture is chopped finely but not pureed.Yogurt and Bulgur Dipmake 3 cups4 cups non-fat plain yogurt1 cup #1 bulgur or very fine1 small sweet onion, chopped1/2 cup coarsely chopped walnutssalt to taste1 tablespoons sesame seeds-Stir and pour 2 cups of the yogurt in a cheesecloth bag. Place the cheesecloth in a colander and let it drain for 8 hours. What remains is a thick creamy spread, similar to cream cheese. Cover and refrigerate eh cheese.-Mix the bulgur wheat with the rest of the yogurt. Cover and let it stand in the refrigerator for a t least eight hours.-Mix the bulgur yogurt mixture with the yogurt cream cheese, onion, walnuts and salt. Place on a flat serving dish. Sprinkle with the sesame seeds.Scallion and Mushroom Saladserves 43 cups chopped scallions3 cups thinly sliced white mushrooms1/2 cup chopped cilantro1 teaspoon sweet basil1/2 cup lemon juice6 tablespoons olive oilsalt and freshly ground black pepper to taste-In a salad bowl, toss the scallions, the mushrooms and the cilantro.-Whisk the lemon juice with the lemon juice and the sweet basil.Drizzle over the mixed vegetables, sprinkle with the salt, the pepper and toss gently.All the spread can be made 3 days before the party. Chop all the vegetables for the salad on the day before the party and mix with the dressing just before the party start.