Mark Silverstein: Hi! I am Mark Silverstein, here with my tips for summer entertaining. I call these tips accent on ease. To go easy on yourself, to reduce the pressure when you have guest over for the summer. First thing you need to do, you set the ambience, a great party starts off with great atmosphere. So what I do, I went to the store, I got some tiki torches and some lights, some lays, some umbrellas. It really sets the tone when people walk in, they are feeling up, they are ready to enjoy themselves that's a great way to launch the party.
Now, another thing to do before you go out to the grocery store, you think ahead, what do I already have that I can serve for the party. Look in your refrigerator, look in your cabinets. In this instance, I had vegetables, I had some pretzels. I am going to put that out with a dip, a wonderful dip to go with it. Robert Rothschild Farm, Roasted Pineapple and Habanero. Nice bold flavor. You put it out with the vegetables and the pretzels, people really enjoy that it's a good way to get the party started.
Now, I am going to double up trough with the dip, I use it as a marinate. So I got a very mild fish, a fish that taste, that's easy to find; tiliapia, you can get yourself some tuna. You can get halibut or trout, whatever you like. I use the dip as a marinate, I put it into a plastic bag and let it sit for half an hour in the refrigerator or you can put it in the refrigerator overnight and have it for the next day. You take it from the plastic bag, you put it on the grill, four minutes aside, it's a dish that everyone can enjoy, whether they are vegetarians or meat eaters.
Here is another idea, you can get prepackaged items, it takes some of the pressure off of you as you entertain. Morningstar Farms Veggie Bites Mushroom Mozzarella, it comes with portabella mushrooms, mozzarella, sun dried tomatoes, and I serve it with this wonderful dip. I call it Momma's Marinara. Let me show you how I make it. First thing to do, I am going to sauté a little garlic and some crushed red pepper in a pot where I had already put some olive oil. Let that heat up for a few minutes till you get the wonderful aroma, mix it around. Then you take a can of crushed red tomatoes, you pour it in, some basil and you let that simmer for about ten minutes and then wonderful flavors will come up and you top it with some parsley and you serve it with the Veggie Bites. It's a great way to go.
Now, guests are going to come. Of course, you will need to serve drinks, you have to have the standards of water, soda, juice. Everyone loves wine, here is a wonderful wine I suggest riesling and shiraz. Here is the new thing, it comes with screw tops that is the new twist on things. You just serve and then at the end of the party, you don't have to go and looking for cork screws, you got the caps, it keeps it nice and fresh and it goes with everything.
Dessert, you want people leaving, remembering a great flavor dessert. I suggest the Kozy Shack original rice pudding, it's all natural, comes in ready to serve home milk. All you have to do, pour it into a cup, put some fruit. I have some strawberries here, some blueberries, layer it in, and parfait for my party. Great colors, people are going to leave remembering you. For more of these tip, check out more about that info and enjoy your party.
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