Event planner Alyse Sobel discusses how to have a great dinner party without fussing over a stove all day. The secret: order takeout and dress it up in simple ways.
Roasted Chicken Takeout
Ingredients:
prepared roasted chicken
lemons
fresh rosemary
chutney
shoestring potatoes, fresh or frozen
kosher salt
herbs
Preparation:
Place the chicken on a large platter. Add fresh lemons and fresh rosemary for decoration. If the chicken doesn't have a golden brown color, brush it with chutney and bake in a 355-degree oven for 10 to 15 minutes, then another five minutes at 425 degrees.
Serve with shoestring fries, either frozen or fresh. Sprinkle with kosher salt and herbs of choice.
Takeout Pizza
- To dress up delivered pizza, remove it from box and put on a pizza board.
- Take a head of garlic, add a little salt to it and place it in the oven. This adds a pizza-like aroma to the air, making guests think the pizza is homemade.
- Order basic cheese pizza and have fresh toppings in small bowls for everyone to pick the toppings they like.
- Garnish with black olives, pepperoni and/or fresh tomatoes.
- Make a tossed salad.
- Fill a vase or pitcher filled with fresh flowers and place on the dinner table.
Chinese Takeout
- Pick up extra boxes with the food or purchase them in advance at a restaurant supply store.
- Set out all the food in various decorative bowls or platters, and give each person their own tray with Chinese boxes. This is a great way for folks to gather in front of the television to watch a sporting event or movie--and there's no mess. Just toss out the empty boxes when guests are finished eating.
- Serve with chopsticks and perhaps even hot tea.
- For dessert, have a bowl of Chinese almond cookies and/or fortune cookies. Melt some chocolate to use as dip for the cookies. Add sliced fresh oranges on the plate for an added touch.
