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Easy Party Food

Ham and Swiss Party Sandwiches

Ham and Swiss Party Sandwiches

Dorothy Parker famously observed, “Eternity is a ham and two people.” As much as I admire Dorothy Parker and her wit, that’s nonsense. I--and I know I’m not the only one--love having ham leftovers, and they’re certainly not a burden as long as you plan ahead just a...

Roasted Cocktail Shrimp

Roasted Cocktail Shrimp

I’m sure we all know the easy way to cook a pile of raw shrimp. First you fill a big pot with water, salt, and crab boil and throw in a cut up lemon or two. Bring that to a boil and add a whole bunch of shrimp. Put a big colander in the sink. Watch the shrimp like a...

Marinated Cheese

Marinated Cheese

Of course you’ll need to take an easy, affordable, and festive hors d'oeuvre someplace this holiday season. I’ve got a really, really good one for you. I’ll be quick. I know you’re busy, and so am I. I first stumbled upon this Marinated Cheese recipe in a magazine,...

Chili for a Crowd (plus Indoor Hotdogs)

Chili for a Crowd (plus Indoor Hotdogs)

***HALLOWEEN EDITION*** Chili for a Crowd is an easy but delicious classic ground beef and bean chili. It’s pleasantly lively but not too spicy, so it works well for all ages. Chili for a Crowd regularly accompanies important football games and Christmas parade...

Homemade Guacamole

Homemade Guacamole

Homemade Guacamole is a thousand times better than the store-bought kind. And it’s easy. And fast. And super good for you! Fair warning: My Homemade Guacamole is mainly unadulterated avocado, lightly seasoned, doused with lime juice, and left a little chunky....

Lemon Artichoke Spread

Lemon Artichoke Spread

Lemon Artichoke Spread is one of my very favorites and another oft-requested recipe. I’ve been making Lemon Artichoke spread for at least ten years, and all of my party on the porch friends have had it by now. We had a tough time keeping it in the coolers at the shop...

A Hot Mess

A Hot Mess

I’m sure you’ve all heard of the beloved British dessert, Eton Mess. It’s a gorgeous jumble of macerated strawberries or raspberries, whipped cream, and meringue. I have a friend who had a restaurant in Tuscaloosa once upon a time, and when they came up with a brownie...

Reataurant-Style Salsa

Reataurant-Style Salsa

It’s so easy to grab a jar of salsa at the store. I used to do it all the time. That is, until the day I came home from the grocery store without it. By the time I realized my error I had enchiladas in the oven, rice on the stove, and I was setting the table for...

Black Bean Salsa

Black Bean Salsa

Black Bean Salsa is one of those recipes we make all the time at my house. I could live on it--and often do--especially in the summer. Black Bean Salsa uses mostly pantry ingredients, and the hardest part is opening the cans. I usually have fresh limes around, but in...

Grape Salsa

Grape Salsa

It’s summertime, y’all! And I have an easy and refreshing summertime snack for you: Grape Salsa. I served this Friday night at the Eastern Shore Art Center, and it seems many people had never heard of Grape Salsa. At first some people were confused. One sweet woman in...

Mexican Street Corn Salad

Mexican Street Corn Salad

I served this as a dip at an event on Cinco de Mayo and several people asked for the recipe. It’s a recipe we sometimes had in the catering shop coolers for TexMex Tuesdays, and it was popular there, too. Based on Mexico’s beloved street snack, elote--charred corn on...

Baked Ziti

Baked Ziti

***Lazy Chef Edition*** I love you, dear reader, I really do, and because I love you so, I have a gift. Below is a Baked Ziti as good as any on The Sopranos, but in a crazy easy one-dish pasta version. I’d appreciate it if you didn’t rat me out. It’s a week before...

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