The Caterist Files ~ A Winter Supper Club

The Winter Supper Club or Dinner Party can go in one of two directions, depending on the inclination of the guests!!! One way is Resolution Friendly, with a special nod to those who have made that resolution to eat lighter. The other runs straight into the arms of cold weather comfort. Anybody want to guess which way we're going?? *wink, wink*

Let's stop by the bar while you think about that!! I love this barscape because of the sleek simplicity of the nearly bare branches in the clear vase. We have simple silver ice bowls, one for wine another for our gentlemen's beer. Simple appetizers are found on this self serve bar, such as cocktail olives, cheese nibbles and spiced mixed nuts.

Even our signature cocktail may be placed on this type of set up!! We're going with a Cranberry Margarita for our signature Winter cocktail, and it fits the season so perfectly!! You also make it in a large quantity, and chill it in carafes that you place out, as needed! Party perfect!

To make our Cranberry Margarita, mix 4-1/2 cups of Cranberry Juice Cocktail with 2-1/4 cups of freshly squeezed lime juice, 2-1/4 cups of white tequila, 1-1/2 cups of Triple Sec and mix well.

Start with everything ice cold!! Yum

Thanks to Gimme Some Oven for the recipe and picture!!

Just keep the mixed concoction in carafes in the refrigerator until you're ready to serve them! Pour the Cranberry Margarita over ice in your favorite glass!

This drink is fun in a short bar glass, in a martini glass or in a margarita glass!!! Whatever you use, wet the rim with lime and dip the rim of the glass into coarse sugar for flavor and a festive look! A garnish of several frozen cranberries and a slice of lime, and you are ready!! If you want to, you could even freeze cranberries into the ice cubes themselves, it makes a nice presentation and doubles to keep that cocktail nice and cold!

Now, of course, you may want to have a full service bar. Most of our guys like the classics...you know, Jim Beam,

Jack Daniels, and their old friend Jose...Cuervo, that is!

In that case, you'll need a full table set up with your mains and mixers, bottled wines, beers in a tub on the floor by the bar, water, limes & lemons, ice, bar napkins and such...oh, and a couple of small bowls of nibbles.

I like to have the actual appetizer table(s) set apart from the actual bar, to promote mingling and to prevent that traffic jam at the bar!

These tall cocktail tables work perfectly for appetizer stations! At 47" tall, they're perfect mingling height!! The tabletop is about 2' across, so it's not overly bulky. Many rental companies rent these out for as little as $10 a piece, with set up fee. To fancy up the plain black cover, you could overlay with a white lace floorlength cloth, to carry out the Winter White theme...I'd top that with a round glass to protect from spills, though! Love the dramatic effect of the white lace over black!

They are pretty with any generous covering, gathered to bunch the material. Tuck the excess under, to help avoid mishaps...see that fourth table back? Someone's going to trip on that!!!

That second table is sort of risky, too!! Anyway, moving along!!!

Silver & White or Black & White are

striking in the Winter tablescape! So classic!

Remember to keep your centerpieces low enough to allow for conversation across the table!

Ok, it's time!!! Our guests are arriving, the bar is ready...lights, camera, action!!! A common question that I hear often is, 'How many appetizers do I need to have set out?'. There's actually a formula for that. If the hors d'oeuvres are the precursor to a substantial meal, Martha Stewart tells us to have 5 to 6 different appetizers, with 1 or 2 of each, per guest. You may get by with the 1 of each per guest, but I don't think I'd push the 2! In the years that I've been working our Supper Clubs, I've learned that that figure is way too much!! I guess it really depends on the crowd!! As the guest list 'matures', I've found that they prefer to have fewer hors d'oeuvres, as they want to enjoy the dinner without becoming overly full! And, we must save room for dessert!! We generally do 2 or 3 passed hors'deouvres or stationary hors d'eouvres, and the hostess will generally set out a bowl of nuts, cheese straws or other nibbles on the bar. And, there's always leftovers!!

Some Winter favorite classics on the hors d'oeuvres list are oldies but goodies!! Bacon Wrapped Stuffed Dates...Stuffed Mushrooms...Skewered Meatballs...Marinated Olives and Cheese... Caprese Skewers...Bruschetta...and Shrimp, in any form is always a hit!!!

No matter which you choose, for the Meet & Greet Hour, you'll want to keep the size of each to one or two bites. Bruschetta is about the largest, with three bites...if you're taking lady bites, anyway!

Anything larger than that threatens to make a mess!

Have simple flavors, too! Simple Toast Points with a Dill Cream Cheese Spread and a sliver of Smoked Salmon...Sausage Pineapple Skewers...Phyllo Cups with Spinach Dip...

Any of these are absolutely delicious, but there's still the King of the Appetizers! Let's talk a bit about that little Devil of the Sea, Shrimp! Everyone loves shrimp!! Especially our guys!! Set out a platter of shrimp and some cocktail sauce, and I can guarantee you, they'll inhale it!! Only problem there is that shrimp is one of our most expensive, per bite, appetizers!! Here are a few tricks to stretch that Seafood Splurge!!

Pair the shrimp with other flavors! These are cucumber slices topped with a dilled cream cheese and a medium or large roasted shrimp. Another option is tortilla crisps topped with avocado salsa and a roasted shrimp!

Make a Spicy Shrimp Spread!! This is a wonderfully flavorful way to stretch the shrimp! I like to use roasted shrimp, diced small, with scallions and minced celery, in a spicy spread. And they go perfectly on a Ritz!

Wrap them up! It turns that mere mouthful into two bites!! Well, in polite society, anyway! Wrapped in bacon, and baked until crisp, these are a delight! Put them on skewers to slow down the massacre!

Another fun idea is to wrap each well seasoned shrimp in a wonton wrap and fry or bake until golden and crisp!!

Just remember these three tips...

~ Keep it light

~ Keep it flavorful

~ Keep it fun!!

So, now, we're ready to move on to the entree course!

The Winter Dinner Party, to me, is just perfect with rich, warming comfort foods! Yep, you knew it, didn't you!!!

I love a slow cooked roast in the Winter, braised in a vegetable rich stock with a little wine thrown in for brightness, with hearty herbs flavoring the stock, thyme, rosemary, sage!

Sometimes we take the roast, and cut it into individual mini 'roasts', to keep the tenderness and the flavor in the meat...oh, so good!!

This roast can be the centerpiece to many oh, so wonderful sides!! Let's walk down those side roads!!

Atop a wonderful side of Polenta, the roast is magnificent! With a side of asparagus, it's an elegant and heart warming meal!

Polenta is the comfort food to Italy that Grits are to those from the Southern United States.

In their savory plan, the difference between grits and polenta is the cheese used. And about $8 if you're buying it in a restaurant!

We cook the Polenta in a blend of full flavor stock and milk, giving it the savory goodness that's needed for a substantial side to a nice, chunky roast! We finish with Parmesan, freshly grated, and freshly chopped parsley and chives. Select your vegetable side.

But, of course...there are always Mashed Potatoes to be had!! And of all sorts of varieties!! Buttery Mashed Potatoes, Sour Cream Mashed Potatoes, Horseradish Cream Mashed Potatoes, Loaded Mashed Potatoes, and whatever mixture you can come up with from betwixt and between!! And your choice of vegetable side!

And nothing says lovin' like beef and gravy over butter herb noodles!!! So very tasty!!

You can enjoy this finished Stroganoff style, with sour cream and dill; or, Italian Roast style, with a kiss of tomato concentrate in the sauce and a touch of capers. Enjoy your choice of vegetable sides to go with. This is the Italian Style Roast...looks good!!

To the left is the Stroganoff Roast Beef, with its thyme infused mushroom cream gravy...so very tender and delicious!!!

And, to finish, one of my most favorite!!!

Tomato Caper Beef over Rice! All of the beefy goodness in a tomato-y beef stock

base, flavored with herbs and spices of Spain! Wonderful Mediterranean richness!

Now, I think you see why we cut back on the appetizers!!! Our actual dinner is so wonderfully rich and filling, we need room!!! And there is, still, dessert!!

I love a Fruit Cobbler or Crisp for ending this very rich meal!! Apple, Cherry, Mixed Berry...whatever! It's the perfect end to the most illustrious beginning!!! Whether topped with whipped cream or ice cream, the end result is delicious!! And it's the perfect end to a wonderful Winter Dinner Party!! Rest well, My Friends, rest well!!

This menu is part of my available party plans at Kinsloe House. To book your Winter Supper Club or Dinner Party, call Jeani at Kinsloe House 903-874-5791 or cell 903-229-5787. Let's talk menus!

Email mamajeani56@gmail.com

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