Hosting a surprise party shouldn't stress you out. We'll show you how to make an easy get together that your guest of honor will never see coming.
Gameplan
Day Before Party:
Assemble, mix and refrigerate Blue Cheese Caesar Dressing for salad.
Mix topping for Strawberry, Rhubarb and Banana Crostata, refrigerate.
2 Hours Before Party:
Blind bake tartlet shells for the Caprese Tartlets.
Mix, whisk and refrigerate Roasted Garlic Vinaigrette for Shrimp Spiedini.
Slice tomato and mozzarella for the Caprese Tartlets.
Assemble and then bake the Caprese Tartlets.
1 Hour Before Party:
Chop and mix filling for Strawberry, Rhubarb, and Banana Crostata, place in baking dish, sprinkle with topping. Set aside till ready to bake.
Wash then shred the salad greens, toss with Blue Cheese Caesar dressing and place in Romaine leaves for serving.
Wrap, skewer and grill shrimp for Shrimp Spiedini. Top with Roasted Garlic Vinaigrette.
At the party:
Place the Strawberry, Rhubarb and Banana Crostata in the oven to bake.
Eat and Enjoy!
All of your poultry questions will be answered today because we’re serving the best and easiest birds around. It starts with our Crushed Chicken and ends with our fluffy meringue eggs in a green custard nest.
Gameplan
Day Before Party:
Coat bread cubes to make croutons for Pea Panzanella
Mix and blanche pea dressing for Pea Panzanella, refrigerate for party
Pull croutons for Pea Panzanella, set aside
Morning of Party:
Mix and puree pistachio custard for Meringue "Eggs" with Pistachio Custard and Chocolate Drizzle
Mix and poach meringue eggs for Meringue "Eggs" with Pistachio Custard and Chocolate Drizzle
45 Minutes Before Party:
Season and brown chicken for Chicken Ala Vendimia
Mix pea dressing with coated croutons, pour into spring mold for Pea Panzanella
Reduce sauce for Chicken Ala Vendimia
At Party:
Unmold Pea Panzanella, top with salad
Add grapes to Chicken Ala Vendimia and serve
Eat and Enjoy:
Assemble and serve Meringue "Eggs" with Pistachio Custard and Chocolate Drizzle
Eat and Enjoy Dessert.
Chef George Stella is joined by best-selling cookbook author Dana Carpender to prepare some of her favorite quick and easy, low carb gourmet meals. Together they make a heaping fresh spinach salad topped with toasted pecans; a feta-spinach salmon roast; a dish Dana calls "Little Mama's Side Dish" which uses chopped cauliflower as its base mixed with green pepper, chopped onion and sautéed bacon; and finally a simple dessert called strawberry cups topped with a pretty fanned strawberry and a dollop of homemade whipped cream.
Top 5 Tips
1. Cauliflower is a great stand-in for potatoes and rice, adding texture while picking up the flavor of whatever it is cooked with.
2. Low carb is about freshness, but not everyone has time to prepare a fresh meal everyday. Stay healthy by preparing things in large quantities and saving the leftovers. Protein-packed chilis and meat roasts are easy to make and can last for days in the fridge.
3. Watch out for unsuspecting veggies. Onions are what George calls a "borderline vegetable" since it contains so many natural sugars. Limit yourself by using one onion for up to four different meals.
4. Olives are a great salty snack alternative for low carb diet programs.
5. Berries are an excellent choice for low carb dieters. They are lower in sugar than their fruit counterparts and are packed with anti-oxidants.