“Suddenly he—the captain, that is—began to pipe up his eternal song: ‘Fifteen men on the dead man’s chest— Yo-ho-ho, and a bottle of rum! Drink and the devil had done for the rest— Yo-ho-ho, and a bottle of rum!’ “ Robert Louis Stevenson, Treasure Island, 1883 With a long, storied […]
Asparagus, Prosciutto, and Parmesan Phyllo Rolls
Makes about 45 appetizer pieces No one will pass up these crisp and savory cocktail bites, but that’s okay because they are so easy to make, you can keep the party going.
Baba Ganoush
Makes 1 quart The puréed eggplant gives a silky smooth texture to this baba ghanoush. Enjoy it as a dip for vegetables or serve with pita bread. Its versatility makes it a natural candidate to put out on a meze table alongside other dips and spreads.
Bacon-Wrapped Shrimp Skewers with Sweet and Spicy Barbecue Sauce
Makes 30 pieces
Boulevardier
Makes 1 serving This drink is a cousin of the Negroni, replacing gin with bourbon. You can also add your own fun twist to this cocktail by replacing the Campari with other bitters like Gran Classico, Cynar, Cardamaro, Aperol, Ramazzotti, Averna, Nonino, Suze, or Bruto Americano.
Cheese and Potato Cigars
Makes about 20 small-bite servings These crispy little bites can be filled with spare mashed potatoes for a Thanksgiving appetizer, or leftovers for a next-day reward for a busy host! Though they are best fried, you can brush them with oil and bake them at 425°F for a little less […]
Chorizo-Stuffed Mushrooms
Makes 8 servings To make a savory filling for stuffed mushrooms, sausage and ham are added to the chopped stems, along with onions and garlic. The mushrooms are then topped with breadcrumbs or a combination of grated cheese and crumbs. For even cooking, quickly sauté the mushroom caps in olive […]
Cortland Jab
Makes 1 cocktail This recipe features some of the season’s favorite flavors, with a special ingredient that may be new to you. Before we even get to the shrub, though, we add just enough apple brandy to make it count, fresh apple cider (often produced with sweet Cortland apples, hence […]
Cured Sardines
Makes 1 1/2 lb If you love tinned fish, these easy-to-prepare homemade sardines will be your new go-to. Serve with lemon juice or with bread and a green salad.
Easy Puff Pastries Without a Recipe
Last minute entertaining doesn’t have to be stressful, as long as you keep one ingredient stocked in your freezer: puff pastry. Whether homemade or from the store, a sheet of puff pastry can mean breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner, or cocktail snacks in a matter of minutes. Here’s how! The Dough […]
Flavored Syrups for Cocktail Hour with a Twist
Making your own infused simple syrup is fun and easy. You can get creative with a variety of herbs or botanicals. How thick you want your syrup to be determines your water to sugar ratio. The standard ratio for sugar to water is 1:1 but you can always add more […]
Florida Vibes
Makes 1 cocktail