This past weekend we had a few of my husband's clients over for a barbecue and it gave me the perfect opportunity to share the go-to recipes I use when I don't want to serve burgers and hot dogs for the umpteenth time! Because, really, by the end of the Summer I'm a little burgered out! But these recipes are so easy, and make such a nice presentation, I think they're worth passing along.
Appetizer: Cucumber Cups with Roasted Pepper Hummus
And I have to share with you this awesome tray I have that helped keep the cucumbers cold... it's a tray with three removable "ice packs." You freeze the ice packs, place them right into the tray insert before serving. It's awesome.
I got this as a freebie through work ages ago, so unfortunately I don't have a buying source for you. But I found some alternative cold serving trays here.
Side Dish: Along with corn on the cob, and a green leaf lettuce salad, I made this Greek Pasta Salad. I used mini farfalle pasta (a.k.a. butterfly or bow tie pasta) with chick peas, crumbled feta cheese, sliced black olives, grape tomatoes and cucumbers, all brought together with a bottled greek salad dressing. An easy dish you can make in advance.
The main entree: Grilled Bruschetta Chicken. I have been making this for a few years now, and it always comes out moist and is always a hit. In fact, half of the platter was gone before I remembered to take a photo! It's grilled chicken topped with a mixture of sun-dried tomato salad dressing, basil, chopped tomatoes and shredded mozzarella--grilled chicken with an Italian twist! It's actually a Kraft Foods recipe, and you can find the recipe here.
And finally for dessert, I made the Raspberry Pretzel Salad that I've posted before. Despite my blurry photo, it was yummy. (By the time I pulled the dessert out, I'd had a little too many daquiris! Shaky hands!) This is a nice, light dessert for a summer night. The recipe I used is here.
What I especially love about each one of these recipes is that they're colorful and relatively healthy (or lower in calories than other barbecue favorites). It was a fun night and the clients left happy!
Do you have any go-to recipes?? I'd love for you to share. And please let me know if you are interested in seeing any more of my (non-party) home entertaining!
Sharing with
Like you I find myself doing a fair amount of entertaining (without the decor). These recipes look so good.
ReplyDeleteIf you get a chance I would love for you to share them at my Pin Party.
http://sarahdawndesigns.blogspot.com/2012/08/pintastic-monday-link-party-5.html