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« Older Entries |Fast & easy Christmas appetizers
Monday, November 30th, 2009
McNeil House & Geri Harper shared some of her fastest, easiest and most popular Christmas appetizer recipes with us. You can entertain like a chef this holiday season.
Proscuitto wrapped and roasted Asparagus
12 slices of prosciutto
24 fat asparagus spears (or 48 skinny ones, but the fat ones are the best)
Grated parmesan cheese
Fresh grated black pepper
Cut each slice of prosciutto in half lengthways
Peel the bottom of each asparagus spear with a potato peeler
Wrap the prosciutto around each asparagus spear; lay on a lightly oiled baking tray. Sprinkle with a little parmesan and a twist of black pepper. Bake at 375 degrees for approx. 6 minutes. Serve warm.
Quails Eggs with Zaatar Dip
Allow about 3 eggs per person. (These can be bought in the oriental supermarkets)
4 heaped Tbs. of dry toasted sesame seeds
2 Tbs. thyme or oregano
2 Tbs. powdered sumac
1 tsp. cumin powder
4 doz. Quail eggs
Place the eggs in a large pan and just cover with water, bring to a boil and turn off the heat, leave for 4 minutes, gently drain and allow the eggs to dry.
Mix all the ingredients for the Zaatar mix together and keep in a screw top jar ’til needed.
You can add half a teaspoon of salt to the mix if you desire.
Goat cheese Tartlets with Cranberry Onion Orange Comfit
Store bought 3” pastry cases, baked
1pk. Goat cheese
1pk. Philly plain cream cheese
1pk. Fresh cranberries
1 cup sugar
1 cup and a splash of orange juice
1 large red onion chopped finely
1 small jar orange marmalade
Chives to garnish
Make up the cranberry sauce, (follow directions on the packet, but with less liquid) allow to cool and thicken.
Sweat the onions in an ounce of butter with a spritz of oil.
Add the cranberries and the orange marmalade to the onions with the zest of an orange, allow to simmer until thick.
Let the comfit cool and store in the fridge.
Mix together the goat cheese and the Philly until smooth spoon or pipe into the pastry cases and spoon on the cranberry. Add a small snip of chive to decorate.
Devils on Horseback
36 prunes without stones (dried apricots are an alternative)
12 strips of bacon
Cocktail skewers
Stretch each strip of bacon with the back of a knife until doubled in length, cut into three.
Wrap each prune with a small strip of bacon and skewer.
Place on a baking sheet and bake at 375 degrees for about 10 minutes until the bacon is browned and cooked. Serve warm.
Angels on horseback are scallops or water chestnuts wrapped in bacon.
Tags: appetizers, Christmas cooking, easy, fast, hors d'oeuvres, instant entertaining, tempo toronto
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Office Christmas Party etiquette
Wednesday, November 25th, 2009
You may already know how to conduct yourself at the company Christmas bash. Why not share these seven rules of etiquette with younger colleagues?
Coach your younger colleagues how to conduct themselves at your upcoming seasonal party so that they – and you – have the best time ever, without embarassment. They will thank you and you’ll be able to relax and have a good time yourself.
When you were younger and had less business experience, what should have been an enjoyable evening often turned out to be a nerve-wracking night spent worrying about how not to make a fool out of yourself. By fifty-plus, we have learned our lessons well. Now it’s more likely that you have a group, department or entire company reporting to you, so how about showing some leadership this year? You can mentor the younger ones in your group to have perfect etiquette by sharing these seven rules for success at the company bash.
1. DO attend
If the thought of attending your office Christmas party makes you blurt, “Bah Humbug”, you need to step out of your Scrooge mode. Although you may not want to give up a precious evening socializing with co-workers, you must. Arrive on time, with a smile. A brief two-hour appearance is all you need to make them know you ARE part of the team.
2. DO dress appropriately
Don’t fool yourself. The Christmas office party is more business than party. Management is paying attention, so don’t dress as if you are at a nightclub. Stay clear of too much holiday sparkle; avoid anything slit up to your thigh, too tight fitting, or that reveals an embarrassing amount of cleavage. Instead, go for understated elegance. If you have to ask yourself, “Is this too much?”, it is.
3. DO mingle
Put your shyness aside. Circulate and talk to everyone. Avoid gossiping, telling off colour jokes and never complain. Take advantage of the night and introduce yourself to senior management you normally wouldn’t have access to. Instead of chatting about business, ask them about their hobbies and interests. Keep things light and positive and don’t talk too much about yourself.
4. DO mind your manners
Finger foods abound at the Christmas office party. Be sure to place your nibbly on a napkin first instead of popping it directly from tray to mouth. Avoid wobbly, tricky-to-eat appetizers, and don’t double dip! Also, brush up on your dining etiquette. Nothing undermines your professional image more than holding your knife and fork like a hillbilly.
5. DON’T overindulge
A glass of beer or wine is fine. Two “purple Jesus’” and a “sex on the beach” will cause you to do humiliating things (not to mention leave you looking like Rudolph the Reindeer!) No matter how hard you try to make up for drunken foolishness later on, your bad behavior this will haunt you for years. Set a limit and stick to it. Also, never let yourself be photographed holding a drink in your hand.
6. DON’T flirt
It’s easy to feel all huggy and kissy at this time of year with the liquor flowing and dull corporate types suddenly looking like movie stars. Now is not the time to snuggle up to your colleague and whisper you’ve always had the hots for them. Avoid mistletoe, and remember what seems like a friendly link-up tonight could become a sexual harassment complaint tomorrow.
7. DO thank your host
No matter how you feel the morning after, arrive at work on time with a positive attitude. Write your boss a thank you note for the party telling him or her how much you enjoyed and appreciated it. It’s a simple touch that speaks volumes, and will definitely not go unnoticed.
Deborah Boland
Deborah Boland is a leading Image and Etiquette Consultant who specializes in helping executives, professionals, and entrepreneurs upgrade their image and refine their etiquette skills for greater success. She is the owner of the Image and Etiquette Finishing School in Toronto, which offers 1- and 2-day programs in acquiring Executive Finesse.
For more information and to sign up for Deborah’s monthly newsletter visit www.deborahboland.com
Recruitment and Search Consulting Services
www.ic-solutions.ca
Tags: Business etiquette, Christmas party, good conduct, image coaching, office party, tempo toronto
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