» Meet 
Whipping up a homemade gourmet spread for six or more can be a little daunting, especially when pressed for time (and who isn't these days?). Sure, Martha makes it look so simple, but she is Martha, after all. But, even for mere mortals, the array of prepared foods found in the supermarkets these days makes it a breeze to dress up a dish and make it look like your very own. With a few fun and creative tricks no one will ever know!
Do the Taste Test... Before you order a pound of something at your local gourmet shop, taste it first! Make sure it's what you had in mind and, most importantly, make sure it's super tasty.
Don't Go Topless... It's amazing what a little topping and a few garnishes can do to dress up a deli chicken or takeout soup from your favorite bistro. Grated Parmesan, crumbled Bleu, croutons, fresh herbs, toasted pine nuts, dried cranberries, chopped scallions, you name it -- stock your kitchen with all kinds of garnishing goodies. Colorful toppings punch up any dish and make everything look that much more homemade. One of our faves is parsley, which sometimes gets a bad rap, but we love its versatility. Let's say you're decorating a platter of storebought sliced beef or grilled salmon. Just grab a bunch of fresh sprigs and place them all around the rim of your dish, almost like a wreath. Then stick a few right in the center. Somehow the parsley instantly makes the food look like you were slaving away for hours. Add some sliced lemon (for fish) or a small bowl filled with mustard or horseradish (for beef) -- and voila!
Do It Halfway... Don't be afraid to go homemade where it counts and skimp where it doesn't. For example, whip real cream (it looks much classier than the stuff out of a can, tastes better than the fake stuff, and only takes a couple of minutes) and add fresh berries to jazz up store-bought pound cake. Or buy shredded coleslaw mix and add a sliced green onion and jarred buttermilk ranch dressing for "homemade" coleslaw that tastes worlds better than the deli counter version.
Fake It Till You Bake It... Fill your home with the scent of freshly baked goods -- only you have to know that all you did was bake them! From bread to pizza crust to chocolate chip cookies, save tons of time by buying the dough and just popping it in the oven.
Head for Home Plate... Obviously, you want to avoid placing food on the table in the plastic or paper cartons it was purchased in -- a big fat give-away! Break out your nicest serving platters, dishes, and bowls and present everything in a first-class way -- as if you had spent hours and hours slicing and sautéing.
Divide and Conquer... Instead of serving everything in "bulk" so guests have to serve themselves, divide store-bought food into single-serving bowls or glasses. Offer diced veggie salad in martini glasses as a first course...a shot glass of carrot/ginger soup garnished with a breadstick as a second course...individual pastries topped with whipped cream and cinnamon to finish things off after your main course. And just like that, turn your easy-as-pie grocery goodies into a four-course gourmet feast!
27 Comments
LEAVE YOUR COMMENT
You must sign in to leave a comment