Entertaining | A Conscious Feast by Nicole Aloni - Part 2

Entertaining

Chicken with Artichokes & Olives Recipe

I made this recipe (adapted from Secrets From a Caterer’s Kitchen) for a potluck at a friend’s house. We do this every Sunday and ususally come up with some pretty terrific impromptu combinations.
Fattoush Salad Recipe

I first tasted this fresh, complex salad on a visit to Istanbul (sorry for the location-dropping, but it’s true). I was with my friend Susan (a chef and restaurant owner). After two bites, we quit eating, locked eyes, and starting pulling the salad apart while the staff looked on in horror. We sat there, in that exotic cafe, on a bustling Turkish street, and analyzed our salad until we thought we could replicate it at home. It was that good!
BEST OF THE MARKET COOKING PARTY

BEST-OF-THE-MARKET COOKING PARTY
I really, really love parties. I love going to them and (hey, it’s my job) I love giving them. And I’m as lazy and overworked as you are. So this new age kind of collaborative cooking party has become my favorite way to entertain.
I invite 6 to 10 friends over to [...]
Vegetarian Parties

According to Bon Appetit, vegetarian parties are the trend for 2010. And what a good fit for all of the things that light my lamp. Healthy. Sustainable (or at least, could be). No worries about how the animal or fish was treated. No need for special dishes for the vegetarians. And, usually, it costs lots [...]
Rosemary Martini Recipe

I was inspired to write this post up by my newly-scheduled martini festivities in Florida next month. The photographer who shot my cocktail book, Colleen Duffley, has opened a remarkable art gallery/salon/event space on the gulf coast of Florida called Studio b. I’ve been invited to sign books and create a special “pink martini” for [...]
Chocolate and Wine Together: Who Knew?

Because many chocolates and wines are delicious when enjoyed together, and if ever there was a time when chocolate is on everyone’s mind, it’s February, this post looks at the synergy of flavors that can be achieved when these two “healthy” treats are served together wisely.
Pomegranate Cosmos for a Crowd

Cosmos remain hugely popular and pomegranate juice is just plain delicious. Here these two favorites are combined in a variation on the traditional Cosmopolitan with directions that make it simple to serve at a party. By freezing the pomegranate juice into hot-pink ice cubes, you keep this cocktail cool on the buffet without diluting its potency. The colored cubes also create a pretty “sunset” pattern as they melt.
Organic, Free Ranging Holiday Cocktails

When I think about New Year’s eve a couple of things pop into my mind, probably the same ones that occur to you: Champagne (a literal pop), caviar with blini, funny hats, confetti, friends/lovers and a great, sensual cocktail. I can’t deliver caviar or champagne or the love of your life to to your doorstep, [...]
Celebrate Winter with a Soup Exchange

Here is my Christmas present for all of you holiday-harried, over-hooplah’d, package wrappers. This strategy for hosting a no-fuss party and creating a score of meals at the same time comes from my radio co-host, Jamie Peha (TableTalk).

When the weather turns cold and winter has taken over the neighborhood, a steaming bowl of homemade soup really hits the spot. It’s the perfect solution for those evenings when you just don’t feel like cooking, but still crave something hot and delicious.
Tips for Eco-Chic Entertaining

Green entertaining encourages a new way of looking at every aspect of how we celebrate. The obvious food issues—How were ingredients grown? How far have they traveled?—are just the beginning. Choices about everything else, from recycled invitations to Free Trade cappuccino, provide lots more opportunities to do the right thing.