I've recently gotten back to my blog. Working on the creation of The Oregonian Cookbook put me out of the habit of writing about other cookbooks and I've been really rusty of late. Some great cookbooks got overlooked, and one of them is my good buddy Diane Rossen Worthington's SERIOUSLY SIMPLE PARTIES, published last fall. My bad--but I'm hoping you'll notice that we're entering the biggest time of year for parties. If any one planner/organizer/blueprint/elf-on-your-shoulder-cookbook can get you through the rigorous party, from simple to the elaborate, this cookbook takes care of every contingency.
As far as entertaining is concerned, Diane is not about stress at all, which is why she created her Seriously Simple series. The latest in this expanding library is SERIOUSLY SIMPLE PARTIES: Recipes, Menus and Advice for Effortless Entertaining (Chronicle Books; $24.95; ISBN: 978-0-8118-7257-7). Like Seriously Simple and Seriously Simple Holidays, this new cookbook is meant "show you how to pull together a festive meal for a small or large group that is tasty and beautifully presented, but doesn't require hours of preparation." Diane's formula really is seriously simple and if you plan any type of social event with food from a sit-down dinner, a family-style event, a buffet or potluck gathering to an outdoor party, Diane provides attainable solutions.
Once you've decided what kind of event you'll want to host, follow the SERIOUSLY SIMPLE PARTIES blueprint: choose your menu; select your beverages; check and replenish your pantry; make those lists; prep your kitchen a week or two before the party. "The Seriously Simple Party Pantry is all about having straightforward, uncomplicated ingredients on hand that can make a bold impact," writes Diane. "Even when you are putting together only a few simple dishes for an impromptu get-together." From syrups, broths, flour, pastas and marinades to olive oils, preserved meats, soy sauce, sugar, vanilla extract and various vinegars, here is everything you'll need to have on hand. With that out of the way, Diane gives advice on the kinds of plates, glasses, linens, serving pieces, and lots of other important details that count. Stocking the bar is essential to ensure a successful event--the more done in advance, the less anxiety in the execution.
There are twenty four menus in SERIOUSLY SIMPLE PARTIES with helpful sidebars on such things as crudités, doubling recipes, or serving cheese, with mix and match menus for other events such as birthday parties, a vegetarian dinner, a seafood menu for six, a birthday shower or luncheon or a dessert party for twelve or twenty-four. Then there are Diane's Seriously Simple recipes. Today's artisanal cocktails often mean having way too much going on in the glass. The Red Carpet Cocktail has three ingredients and it's delicious. The Mini-Corn and Crab Cakes with Grilled Tomato Aioli, pair beautifully here. Or in season how about the Prosciutto-Wrapped Figs with Burrata, Port and Balsamic Syrup? Cucumber, Pea and Mint Soup served in cups, is a good choice for a buffet. Diane's entrees always include a spectacular baked pasta dish, and this time, it's Baked Greek Pasta, which features lamb, eggplant, red wine, and the fragrant addition of cinnamon. Oven-Baked Paella, means no last-minute stirring on top of the stove. A Butterflied Dry-Brine Turkey with Maple Butter is a tenderizing way to ensure moist breast meat with crisp skin. Grilled Tri-Tip of Beef with Herb Rub, will feed a crowd for a barbecue. The cold leftovers are just as delicious.
Most of the recipes come with party prep--savvy advice, such as when to prepare a recipe--even if it requires advance multiple steps, how to store, etc. As in all of Diane's Seriously Simple cookbooks, many of the recipes also feature "The Clever Cook Could," tricks which are loaded with ingredient substitutions, advice on doubling the amount of a recipe, ideas for ingredients that enhance a basic recipe, serving hints, or tasty accompaniments, as well as presentation tips.
There is section on lighter entrees, which make for more casual events. Side-dishes, such as Israeli Couscous with Caramelized Leeks, Carrots and Zucchini and Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Winter Squash, offer fresh ideas for this category. For a party finale, every good host needs a grand chocolate cake in their rep, and Diane has found it with the Mocha Celebration Cake. The cake and the frosting are easy to prepare and make a stunning presentation. Basics such as Roasted Tomato Jam, Romsesco Sauce, and Seriously Simple Seasoning Salt make excellent pantry staples.
SERIOUSLY SIMPLE PARTIES ought be the go-to guide we all need to make our fantasies of entertaining a reality this season.
Mocha Celebration Cake
Mocha Celebration Cake
serves 12 to 16
My dear friend Denny Luria shared
this recipe with me, and now it has become our family tradition for many
celebrations. This cake consists of one large round layer, which makes it easy
to frost and serve. It looks beautiful sitting on a large cake platter. I have
also served it for summer buffet luncheons and at dessert parties. You will
need a 12-inch round cake pan, which you can find at any cookware or restaurant
supply store. Look for the chocolate covered
espresso beans at a gourmet food
shop. If you have any of this left over, you can freeze it and slice it after
it has defrosted.
Ganache frosting
3/4 cup
baker’s or ultrafine sugar
3/4 cup
whipping cream
5 ounces good-quality unsweetened
chocolate, cut into pieces
1/4 cup
strong coffee
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut
into small cubes and chilled
Cake
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon
salt
1 cup plus 3 tablespoons good quality
unsweetened cocoa powder
1 cup boiling coffee
3 large eggs
2 cups baker’s or ultrafine sugar
1 1/2 sticks
(3/4 cup) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Chocolate-covered espresso beans
for garnish
1. To make the ganache frosting: Combine
the sugar and cream in a large
saucepan over medium-high heat, stir
to combine, and bring to a boil. Reduce
the heat to medium-low and simmer for
3 minutes. Remove from the heat.
Add the chocolate, coffee, vanilla,
and butter and blend together, stirring
constantly until the chocolate and
butter are completely melted. Let cool
and then cover. Refrigerate until the
frosting has thickened, at least 1 hour.
2. To make the cake: Preheat the oven to
350°F. Grease and flour a 12-inch round
cake pan. Line the edges of a 14-inch
round platter with 3-inch-wide strips of wax
paper, which you will remove after
frosting the cake.
3. Sift the flour, baking powder, baking
soda, and salt into a medium bowl. Sift the
cocoa into a small bowl so it has no lumps, and then transfer to
a heat-proof 2-cup measuring cup. Pour the boiling coffee over the cocoa and
stir to dissolve.
4. In the bowl of an electric mixer,
combine the eggs and sugar and beat on
medium speed until the sugar is
dissolved, about 2 minutes. Add the butter and
beat for another 1 minute, until
blended. Add the buttermilk and vanilla and blend
again for 1 minute. Add the cocoa
mixture and beat until incorporated and no streaks
remain, about 1 minute. Add the flour
mixture and mix until blended, about 1 minute.
5. Pour the batter into the prepared
cake pan and bake for about 40 minutes, or
until a cake tester comes out clean.
6. Let the cake cool completely in the
pan on a rack and then invert it onto the
serving platter.
7. With a metal spatula, frost the top
and sides of the cake very thickly with half
of the ganache frosting. Let sit for
10 minutes to firm up, and then frost with the
remaining ganache. Remove the strips
of wax paper and use a damp paper towel to
remove any excess frosting from the
platter. Let the frosting set. Arrange a pretty
design of chocolate espresso beans on
the cake, and serve at room temperature.
Party prep:
The cake may be prepared up to 1 day
ahead, loosely covered, and left at room
temperature.
And for more in the SERIOUSLY SIMPLE series try these:
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