Special-Occasion Dishes Made Easy

Special Occasion Dishes Made Easy

Looking for simple ways to create special-occasion dishes? You can add a few packaged ingredients to traditional favorites without spending any more time in the kitchen. Since "more stress" isn't on your wish list, put simple spins on everyday foods to turn them into party-worthy fare. The results will delight friends and family.

For "fancy" cheese and crackers:

Top gourmet-style crackers with specialty cheeses from around the world and garnish with thinly sliced prosciutto, cooked shrimp or a dollop of guacamole, chutney or marmalade.

To take a down-home appetizer upscale:

Wrap frozen biscuit or bread dough around pieces of gourmet-flavor sausage; brush the dough with beaten egg and Dijon-style mustard before baking.

For an unforgettable breadbasket:

Mix pumpkin seeds and shredded Cheddar cheese into a packaged muffin or cornbread mix before baking.

For restaurant-worthy bruschetta:

Use fresh store-bought Italian bread. Brush bread with butter and toast in oven. Top with a mixture of chopped plum tomatoes, olive oil-based Italian dressing and fresh basil.

To serve impressive hors d'oeuvre to last-minute guests:

Keep frozen shrimp on hand. Make a fancy shrimp plate in minutes with large or medium shrimp arranged on lettuce leaves. Serve cocktail sauce in a fancy dish or bowl. Heat up the sauce with horseradish if you like things hot.

To create restaurant-style sandwiches for your guests (perfect for picky eaters and folks on special diets):

Provide a variety of deli meats and cheeses. Set out whole-grain bread and crusty sandwich rolls. Offer a variety of accompaniments, including sliced tomatoes, shredded lettuce, spinach, sliced red onion, banana peppers, jalapenos and sliced black olives. Be creative with sauces like honey mustard, salsa, Caesar salad dressing and barbecue sauce.

Serve festive restaurant-style drinks to please the kids at a family gathering:

Add a splash of grenadine (cherry syrup, found in the ice cream topping section) to lemon-lime soda and garnish with a maraschino cherry.

For steakhouse-quality dessert on a budget:

Thaw a frozen cheesecake and top with pie filling in flavors like cherry, blueberry or strawberry. Or, try peach or blackberry. For fun, add canned or frozen whipped topping.

Enjoy entertaining with these quick, easy restaurant-style ideas. You can spend less time in the kitchen and more time with your guests.

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