Gourmandise - 3 Favorite Recipes to impress your Guests!

Today I have decided to share some of my best kept secrets with you, my dear readers, as I feel we all should never underestimate the joy and impact of good hosting! So here's my take on how to WOW the tastebuds of your nearest & dearest.






Numero 1.) Fab Faultless Feta Dip

You just CANNOT go wrong with this addictive 5 min prep time winner. I have made this on several occasions and Guests ALWAYS have been all over it. ("What?? You made this yourself???")
So here's the how..

Ingredients (for approx 6-8 people):Base:

- 5-6 ounces Feta

- 4 Cream Cheese (full-fat or low-fat)

- 4 Yoghurt (full-fat will taste better! 

- 2 cloves of Garlic 

- Oregano, Salt & Pepper 

Add either of the next to determine the flavor:

- Sundried Tomatoes (Divine!) OR

- Grilled Peppers OR 

- Green Olives

Instructions:

Just mix all the ingredients! Put it into the fridge for one or 2 hours and decorate it in a nice bowl with some Oregano on top! Voila! 

Dip Appropriate Soundtrack:

While preparing and mixing the ingredients, I would highly recommend AC DC's High Voltage, which built up beautifully while the Dip transforms into a creamy dream of mediterranean flavor!

When the guests arrive I would heat up the room with 2003 Eurovision (EuroTRASH) winner Turkey's Sertab Erener – Everyway that I can, and greet your guests with some Shakira-esque moves (or not)! 

2.) Perfectly Palatable Puff Pastry Petits Fours

If you think the the Feta Dip was easy, check this one out! The perfect allrounder Puff Pastry will enable you to create the most amazing looking little appetizers in just minutes of prep time. (And 10 min max in the oven!)

Ingredients:

- Puff Pastry to build little pockets in all shapes (You can also buy special forms if you like)

- 1 Egg to brush the Puff Pastry before baking

- CHeese to sprinkle on top (For example Parmesan)

Toppings:

WhatEVER you like! That's the beauty. :)

As a base I would recommend a spoon of either 

- tomato sauce or 

- a bit of Bechamel sauce or 

- Cream Cheese/Sour Cream

Then on top of that as you like

- Figs & Goat Cheese

- Ham 

- Cocktail Tomatoes

- Tuna & Olives

- Clams

- Shrimps

- Artichoke hearts

- Duck Pate

- Salami

- Feta or Mozzarella

- Crab Meat

- Brie/ Camembert (with a little but of Fig Butter)

- etc etc

Soundtrack:
Preparation: Carla Bruni Quel'qu on m'as dit
After: Katerine - La banane

5.) Easy Breezy Dipped Strawberries & Almonds

Ok, this can't get any easier.. Especially if we consider at what ridiculous prices choccolate dipped Strawberries get sold. $5 for one strawberry??? Excuuuuuussseeee me??
So from now on, just do it yourself! Your guests will LOVE it!

Ingredients?
- Strawberries
- Almonds
- Dark Chocolate (Good one!)

Instructions:
Melt the chocolate in a saucepan placed in another larger one containing boiling water. If you don't want to chocolate to crumble or get clotted, make sure its melting slow and not too hot.
Then, happy dipping! :)

Soundtrack:
Stevie Wonder - For once in my Life

Bon appetit!