Timothy W Lawrence - Petite eats : appetizers, tasters, miniature desserts, and more

Copyright 2012 by Timothy W. Lawrence All Rights Reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any manner without the express written consent of the publisher, except in the case of brief excerpts in critical reviews or articles. All inquiries should be addressed to Skyhorse Publishing, 307 West 36th Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10018. Skyhorse Publishing books may be purchased in bulk at special discounts for sales promotion, corporate gifts, fund-raising, or educational purposes. Special editions can also be created to specifications.

For details, contact the Special Sales Department, Skyhorse Publishing, 307 West 36th Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10018 or . Skyhorse and Skyhorse Publishing are registered trademarks of Skyhorse Publishing, Inc., a Delaware corporation. Visit our website at www.skyhorsepublishing.com. 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available on file. ISBN: 978-1-62087-400-4 Printed in China Contents Introduction W hen I first heard about a tasting party, my mind immediately went to wine, cheese, and chocolate. But as tasting parties rise in popularity, the menus are also expanding.

Similar to tapas in Spanish cuisine, tasting parties are an opportunity for a host to showcase a wide variety of culinary creations in smaller portions. Almost any dishvery basic to very elegantcan be scaled down and served as a taster. The purpose of this book is to show how, with a little basic knowledge and a few simple skills, anyone can host a great tasting party with their favorite foods! Ive loved cooking for as long as I can remember, largely due to the fact that my mom is a great cook. Fresh, local, real ingredients: These are the keys to great cooking, whether youre preparing large or small portions, cooking entire meals or simple snacks. The fresher your ingredients, the less skill, time, and cost are required to produce something delicious. Think about it: Whats simpler and more satisfying to the palate than a tomato picked straight from the garden, sliced, and served with a few basil leaves? Not everyone has direct access to a garden for fresh produce or a farm for fresh meat or dairy products, and so it is perfectly acceptable to use the freshest ingredients your budget and local grocery store or farmers market can provide.

But there are a few ingredients that should never be substituted. Maple syrup, for example, should never be replaced with commercial maple-flavored syrups in these recipes. The results will be very disappointing. In the same vein, butter should never be replaced with margarine, and real vanilla extract will always yield noticeably better results than imitation vanilla extract. Other than that, dont stress too much about substituting ingredients to fit your tastes or resources. The recipes here exhibit a mix of different foods and preparations with the hope of inspiring you to host your own tasting party.

But dont stop with whats in this bookonce youve explored these recipes, you should have a better sense of how any of your favorite dishes can be presented creatively in miniature form. While putting this book together, I was reminded that sometimes the most satisfying dishes are also the simplest. Ive always believed that anyone with a little knowledge can prepare delicious, stunning food without needing fancy, expensive ingredients or cookware. I would like to thank my parents for their continuing support and love for me, and my mom for her love of cooking. I too would like to thank my wife, Abbey, for all of her love and support through the yearsyouve helped me more than you will ever know. Tasting Party Tips W hen planning a tasting party, consider making it themed. Tasting Party Tips W hen planning a tasting party, consider making it themed.

Here are a few ideas: Seasonal Tasting: Feature a food or several foods that are at their seasonal peak. For example, a spring menu might include prosciutto-wrapped asparagus (). Dessert Tasting: Serve only desserts and accompany with a selection of coffees, teas, and homemade hot chocolate (). International Tasting: For example, a Mexican tasting might include taco cups (), black bean dip, and margaritas. When planning your menu, choose five to seven different dishes. If you do more than that, youre likely to end up spending the whole party in the kitchen.

A big point of hosting a tasting party is to enjoy the time with your friends! Presentation can make as big an impression on your guests as flavor. Serving food on plain white dishes will allow the tasters to really stand out, but you can also utilize cutting boards, cocktail napkins, glasses, or spoons to display tasters of various shapes and sizes. Garnish dishes with a drizzle of sauce, a fruit or vegetable carved into an interesting shape, or edible flowers such as nasturtiums or violets. You dont have to do all the preparation yourself! Give your friends a chance to show off their culinary prowess by bringing a dish to share. Be sure to have extra serving dishes and oven space available in case guests bring food that needs to be plated or warmed up before serving. Cocktail Party Offerings Lobster and Fruit Cocktails MAKES 8 TO 10 SERVINGS . Cocktail Party Offerings