https://cupofjo.com/2022/10/05/dinner-party-starters/ Fashion, Beauty, Design, Culture, Food, Relationships, Motherhood Sat, 04 Feb 2023 21:40:04 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.1.1 https://cupofjo.com/2022/10/05/dinner-party-starters/#comment-3204963 Sat, 04 Feb 2023 21:40:04 +0000 https://cupofjo.com/?p=287402#comment-3204963 My husband has taken my kids out for the evening and to celebrate this exceedingly rare event I spontaneously invited four women I barely know over for dinner (maybe this comment belongs in the “doing brave things” post of a few days ago, ha!). Because we are new friends – or I hope to be, by the end of the evening – I decided to go fun and easy with the main course and put together a baked potato bar a la Alison Roman, with a kale salad on the side and slabs of salty chocolate for dessert. I was scrambling for something nibbly for aperitifs since chips feel a little redundant in this case, but I remembered this post and the treasure trove of comments and have just thrown a tray of the wine bar nuts recommended by another commenter (MWG, thank you!!) into the oven. I think they are going to be perfect and as soon as they are ready I am going to jump in the bath. I am feeling rusty and nervous but EXCITED to host again! Thanks as ever CoJ community – wish me luck!

]]> https://cupofjo.com/2022/10/05/dinner-party-starters/#comment-3187425 Fri, 18 Nov 2022 15:42:20 +0000 https://cupofjo.com/?p=287402#comment-3187425 In France apero is a holy moment, and I cannot have one without scamorza cheese and salmon dip with grilled bread !

]]> https://cupofjo.com/2022/10/05/dinner-party-starters/#comment-3179964 Wed, 09 Nov 2022 01:30:15 +0000 https://cupofjo.com/?p=287402#comment-3179964 We had friends over recently for homemade Detroit-style pizza (which is a process but so worth it!). I remembered this post while I was ingredient shopping and picked up some Ruffles, French Onion dip, and Castelvetrano olives to snack on when they arrived and while we prepped. What a hit! Will definitely be my go-to hosting move from now on so thank you for the tip!!

]]> https://cupofjo.com/2022/10/05/dinner-party-starters/#comment-3174250 Thu, 20 Oct 2022 16:14:40 +0000 https://cupofjo.com/?p=287402#comment-3174250 I love putting out bowls of Ina Gartens spicy rosemary cashews. Hits all the notes.

]]> https://cupofjo.com/2022/10/05/dinner-party-starters/#comment-3172005 Wed, 12 Oct 2022 14:36:53 +0000 https://cupofjo.com/?p=287402#comment-3172005 Late to the party (ha) but I love serving togarashi crunch (chex, bugles, nuts baked and tossed with coconut oil or butter/sugar/togarashi). It’s spicy, salty, sweet. Very addictive!
I also like to make a dip of some sort. Current favorites are the caramelized onion from Food52 and beet tehina from the Zahav cookbook.

]]> https://cupofjo.com/2022/10/05/dinner-party-starters/#comment-3171377 Tue, 11 Oct 2022 12:13:26 +0000 https://cupofjo.com/?p=287402#comment-3171377 We have family dinner here every other week and it always starts with popcorn in the whirlypop topped with olive oil, salt and pepper.

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