A new year is behind us, but carnival, or rather, the time for fun, is still going strong. During this time, we're eager to host parties, and—as we know—the foundation of a successful celebration is a carefully selected and delicious menu. In this short article, we'll try to answer frequently asked questions: where to begin preparing the right menu? Which dishes to choose? When to prepare them? How to entertain your guests while still having fun yourself?
Mini snack, maxi fun
A carefully selected menu is just as important as the music or the venue. When planning the menu, it's worth considering the taste preferences of our guests. It's great if everyone can find something they enjoy. Depending on the nature of the event, we can choose appropriate dishes. If we're planning a table-side party, we can easily choose hot and cold dishes, more complex ones. We'll have all the tableware at our disposal, so we don't have to limit ourselves. We can prepare a multi-ingredient dinner or several small or large appetizers. If we're planning a buffet party, the appetizers we serve should be simple yet impressive. Easy to eat, requiring no cutting, and small portions – perfect for a single bite, such as tartlets, canapés, tortillas, mini meat/vegetable/fruit skewers, or even mini pasta salads.
The menu we choose for our party should be tailored to our skill level. If you'd like to prepare a dish you haven't prepared before, try it out some time in advance – as a test. It's a good idea to divide party food preparation into stages. First, write a detailed shopping list. We prepare this in advance. On a piece of paper, we list the dishes we'll be preparing, then add a list of ingredients and other necessary items for preparation, presentation, and decoration. We recommend preparing more challenging dishes the day before, leaving the simpler ones for the day of the party, or preparing everything the day before and leaving only the decorations for the day of the party.
It's not about the food...
The most important thing to remember when organizing a party is calm and a good plan; then everything should go smoothly. Many things can go wrong when organizing a gathering, but the most important thing is to stay calm – if something goes wrong, a dish doesn't turn out well, just try to salvage it. If that's impossible, forget about it and move on to the next item on your list. Guests usually come to a party to have a good time, chat, and have fun, so the most important thing is to give them our attention. Don't over-exert yourself and spend the entire evening in the kitchen heating and serving food. Let's choose simple, tried-and-true menus that are delicious, and then just have fun and enjoy yourself!
These are just a few of our quick tips for organizing a carnival party. Below, you'll find a few more suggestions for healthy snacks that are perfect for any occasion. We hope the start of the year is as pleasant for you as the entire year of 2017! We wish you many joyful moments and much determination in pursuing your plans!
Recipes:
- Kale chips
Ingredients:
– green kale: the quantity depends on the number of guests, 400g is enough for 4-6 people;
– rapeseed oil: a teaspoon;
– a pinch of salt, sweet paprika.
Wash the kale, removing any thicker skin and stems. Tear into smaller pieces and place in a bowl. Add spices and rapeseed oil. Mix everything together and transfer to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake in the oven at 150°C (300°F) for about 5-8 minutes. It's a good idea to stir the kale during baking. The chips should be crispy.
2. Tortilla with chicken and vegetables
Ingredients for 8 small servings:
– tortilla (ready-made flatbread with good ingredients): 2 pieces;
– homogenized natural cheese: 2 tablespoons;
– chicken, fillet: 1 breast;
– iceberg lettuce: a handful;
– small onion: 1 piece;
- tomato,
– a tablespoon of rapeseed oil;
– a pinch of salt, pepper, sweet paprika, a clove of garlic (pressed through a press);
– cling film.
Wash, skin, and cut the chicken into fairly thin slices. Then transfer it to a bowl, mix with spices and oil, and set aside for at least 30 minutes. Meanwhile, wash the iceberg lettuce and cut it into small pieces. Wash and slice the tomato, and peel and dice the onion. After 30 minutes, grill the chicken on both sides in a suitable pan (if you don't have a grill pan, simply fry it). While the chicken is cooking, unfold a piece of plastic wrap on the counter. It should be larger than the tortilla, place a flatbread on it, spread it with natural cheese, then top with lettuce, onion, tomato slice, and grilled chicken. Roll everything up tightly, then wrap it in plastic wrap, and twist the corners into a "candy" shape. Roll everything up to make the tortilla as compact as possible. Repeat with the second flatbread. We place the wraps in the refrigerator, and before our guests arrive, we cut the foil and cut our rolls into 4 pieces, pierce them with a toothpick, and transfer them to a plate. It's ready.
Beata and Patrycja – creators of the blog Z Pamiętnika Dietetyka (Dietetics' Diary) , authors of a book about healthy eating, and sisters in private. They are a harmonious duo, despite their different worldviews. Beata, a dietitian by profession, loves to set high goals for herself, which is why she turned to dietary catering as a career, wanting to take care not only of her own health but also of all Warsaw residents. Patrycja, on the other hand, has a journalism degree and loves cooking and documenting her adventures in the kitchen. She works on the artistic side of the blog daily, and as she herself admits, nothing is impossible for her. She always strives for her goal, even though it's often uphill.
