Summit County Citizens Voice

A Smörgåsbord! PHOTO VIA WIKIPEDIA AND THE CREATIVE COMMONS.

The Mobile Chef gets creative with snack food

By Tom Castrigno

From backgammon and poker to Taboo, spending an evening playing games with friends is fun, relaxing, and an inexpensive way to have a great time. They say laughter is the best medicine, and laughing together with friends brings the added benefit of social bonding.

No matter how you spend the evening, having an appealing variety of foods to enjoy makes the night that much more enjoyable. And the same strategies can apply to watching your favorite team on cable. Here are some suggestions next time you’re preparing snacks for a group of friends.

First: Keep foods bite sized. Shrimp cocktails, cucumber rounds topped with smoked salmon, Belgian endive leaves filled with goat cheese and tomato, and baked mushrooms  stuffed with sausage all make easy and popular tidbits.

Choose foods that won’t fall apart or make lots of crumbs. While a taco bar may be  a crowd-pleaser, it will be a cleanup nightmare for you.

Sliced beef fillets, pork tenderloin, or salmon can all be offered on skewers with dips such as horseradish mustard or teriyaki. These items can be cooked on the grill ahead of time and served at room temperature.

Next: think creatively. Don’t worry too much about sticking to a theme. More important is to balance rich foods like cheeses or dips with lots of vegetables. Carrot, celery, and red bell pepper all make easy sticks to grab in the middle of the action. A more advanced version could be lightly steamed broccoli or asparagus spears. Soups make a fabulous centerpiece for any casual gathering. Butternut squash soup is my all time favorite for nights like this.

Finally: Time the servings. Build anticipation for each course by bringing out a few items at a time. Just because it’s a Smörgåsbord doesn’t mean you have to abandon the idea of eating in courses. Start with light items such as nuts, cheeses, and dips. Once the games are underway, move on to entree-type items like soups or meat skewers.

When champions begin to emerge, let them lead the teams to the dessert table. Two or three items such as pound cake with berries and whipped cream, chocolate truffles, or simply a few cookies are perfect. Avoid the temptation to serve ice cream. The coldness will slow down digestion and complicate what may already be meal that is less than ideal for guest’s bellies to handle. You do want to be a host who cares, don’t you?

Cocktails: If drinks are on the list for your group,consider making a pitcher of the nights feature drink, such as Mojito or even a simple Rum and Coke with fresh lime wedges. Limit the amount if ice you mix in to avoid watering down the “mojo”. Instead, provide a bowl of ice to refresh each glass with. Fresh brewed herbal tea makes a great alcohol free alternative.

To Add to the fun and make your life easier, invite guests to bring some of the items that would travel well, such as the lighter courses, desserts, or cocktails.

So gather your friends for game night and laugh away the night as host of a fabulous evening. It’s just what the doctor ordered!

Tom Castrigno lives in Frisco where he is known as The Mobile Chef. Learn some of secrets for healthy eating and find great recipes on his blog at www.healthymealsmadeeasily.com/blog. You are invited to leave your questions or share your thoughts in the comment box below.

More from Tom Castrigno:

• Food: Forget chicken soup — go piccata
• Thai comfort food: Pineapple fried rice
• Food: Mulligatawny soup made easy
• Food: Gluttony without guilt at Thanksgiving?
• Food: Talking turkey — and sides — with the Mobile Chef
• Food: Cookbooks versus the web
• Food: A classic French meal to share with friends
• Food: Noodling with the Mobile Chef
• Summit County: Celebrating Food Day
• Food: Seafood heaven in Puerto Morelos, Mexico

Filed under: Food, Summit County Colorado Tagged: | food, recipes, Smörgåsbord, Super Bowl snacks, Tom Castrigno