12-12-12: A Fabulous Holiday Party

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Cookin-1212.mp3

Wondering what appetizers to make for your holiday party? Sascha Wolhandler of Sascha's 527 restaurant lets Tom in on her secrets for great appetizers to serve during your holiday entertaining.

WYPR  December 2012 Appetizer and Party Ideas

Charcuterie
Purchase two types of pates - one mousse, one country - two types of salamis, two types of hard sausage, prosciutto, speck, olives of different types, cornichons, tiny pickles, and onions.  Arrange artfully on a wooden board, decorated with fresh herbs. Provide artisanal breads like olive, rosemary, French, etc. Cut bread in slices. Provide crackers and mustards.

Cheese
Purchase three or more types of cheese: a blue, a hard cheese (such as cheddar or imported Swiss), bouchon or goat cheese or other soft cheeses, such as brie, camembert, or St. Andre.  Serve with assorted crackers, olives, and breads.

Antipasto Roasted Vegetable Platter
Assemble roasted cauliflower, parsnips, sweet potatoes, red potatoes, turnips, and carrots.  Pull apart cauliflower into florets and peel parsnips, sweet potatoes, red potatoes, turnips, and carrots. Cut into appropriate shapes, disks or - on an angle - into 1 inch slivers or quarters. Toss in olive oil, add salt and pepper and roast at 425 degrees fahrenheit for an appropriate amount of time for each of the vegetables - approximately from 10 minutes to ½ hour for potatoes - and check periodically for tenderness. Arrange artistically on platter.  Server with honey balsamic glaze.

Balsamic Glaze
½ cup balsamic vinegar
½ cup honey
Combine and heat for 5 minutes on stove top until the mixture is reduced to syrup. Drizzle over vegetables.

Potato Pancakes Minis
4 Yukon Gold Potatoes
1 large onion
2 eggs
2 tbs. flour
½ teaspoon baking powder
½ cup canola oil
1 teaspoon kosher salt
½ teaspoon pepper
Grate the potatoes and onion in the Cuisinart or by hand.  Place in colander and squeeze out all of the water.  Combine in a bowl with eggs, flour, and baking powder.  Heat oil, and test one pancake to make sure the mixture holds together.  If not, add a bit more flour and taste for seasoning.  Add more salt and pepper for flavor.  Drop 1 tablespoon of the mixture into hot oil and flatten a bit with side of spoon to make pancake.  Or create a pancake by hand and drop it into the oil.  Fry till golden on each side, place on paper towels.  Can be done in advance and reheated in the oven on a sheet tray at 350 degrees.
Topping Suggestions:
Sour cream, sour cream with dill and slivers of smoked salmon, sourcream with caviar, apple sauce, chutneys, or pesto.