Monday, November 25, 2013

The Dreaded Thanksgiving Hors d'oeuvre Dilemma

Thanksgiving dinner is undoubtedly the biggest meal I cook all year. It's not that we have so many people but everyone seems to have a special dish without which it's just not Thanksgiving. I must not be the only person who feels this way because I just heard about a woman who contacted all her guests in advance to be sure no one will be disappointed at Thanksgiving dinner.

Since there's so much food, I tend to be inclined to skip hors d'oeuvres. I mean, really folks, just sit down and eat! But every year, somebody comes in search of just a little nosh before we eat. Even if we're ten minutes from eating. Even if the turkey is already on the counter, beautifully done. I guess that makes me sound like a Thanksgiving Scrooge, which I'm not – really!

So it's always a dilemma. I don't want anything that will tie up the oven. I'll be busy making gravy and juggling all those other dishes, so I really don't want to have to make anything time-consuming. No one wants anything heavy. I know you're thinking so put out a cheese platter and be done with it.  Um, yes, that's what I usually do. A quick platter that everyone ignores!

This year, as I perused recipe ideas that ran from odd (balsamic drizzled radicchio) to weird (whipped ricotta with chilies and green olives) to too plain (popcorn), I stumbled across this brilliant idea in Food and Wine. Mini mac and cheese!

It does tie up the oven for 10 minutes, but I can live with that. Best of all, it can be made a day ahead, so when chaos reigns in the kitchen, all you have to do is pop them in the oven. Unless someone eats a lot more than one or two, they won't spoil their appetite for dinner, and there are very few people who won't eat mac and cheese.

The recipe from Food and Wine by Grace Parisi had a couple of great features. She used Parmesan to line mini-muffin tins, which adds a lovely little salty crunch to the sides. And she tossed in an egg yolk to keep everything together. Very clever.

Now, to be honest, I think you could make this with your favorite mac and cheese recipe. Just cut it in half and be sure to add an egg yolk. I used an extra sharp cheddar and cream cheese, just to give it that creamy texture I like so much. When it comes out of the oven, turn a deaf ear to pleas to eat it (they smell divine!) for five minutes. They have to cool a little bit to set, otherwise you'll have a big mess.


Three-Cheese Mini Macs
by Grace Parisi in Food & Wine
tweaked by moi
Makes 24+



1/2 pound elbow macaroni 
1 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter, plus more for brushing  
2 tablespoons plus two tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan cheese 
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour  
3/4 cup milk 
6 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
2 ounces soft cheese (brie or cream)
1 large egg yolk, lightly beaten  
1/4 teaspoon smoked Spanish paprika

2 tablespoons Panko bread crumbs

Use a 24 cupcake mini-cupcake pan or two 12 cupcake mini-cupcake pans

Cook the macaroni according to package and drain.

Preheat oven to 425. Brush each well of the pan with butter. Sprinkle the wells with a total of two tablespoons Parmesan cheese. Over the sink, turn the pan to distribute, much as you would to flour a cake pan.


Melt the butter in a pot and whisk in the flour. Cook about two minutes and whisk in the milk. Bring to a boil and cook five minutes. Add the cheeses and whisk until melted. Remove from heat and whisk in the egg yolk and the paprika.


Fold in the macaroni. Use a measuring spoon to add a heaping tablespoon to each well. Mix the remaining two tablespoons of Parmesan with the Panko bread crumbs and sprinkle over each well.


*At this point you can can cover and refrigerate overnight.*

Bake at 425 for 10 minutes. Let stand for 5 minutes. Use a thin knife to loosen and remove.



Did you know that Daryl Wood Gerber, Lucy Burdette, Julie Hyzy and I are having a contest? You could win a fabulous basket from our favorite cookbook store, Salt & Pepper Books!


Click here to start! http://statictab.com/zm2dowd

And my dogs and cats are still looking for more dogs and kitties to join their MURDER, SHE BARKED street crew! Leave a comment here today to enter!

Riggins, the Bookends Literary Agency Mascot!

Sunny says it's not just for dogs.
Laura Baker Collins's Alona



JJ Murphy's Lemon & Dunkin

Happy Thanksgiving! May your blessings be many.

22 comments:

  1. Yum, mac and cheese is one of my favorite foods! In fact, I just might be tempted to eat these instead of turkey for Thanksgiving. This recipe is one I'll try for sure. Hmmm, I wonder if anyone has come up with the idea of a mac and cheese-stuffed turkey? I think I'll google it -- you never know what you might find on the internet these days!

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  2. I agree with everything you say. The idea of itty bitty mac and cheese's is brilliant!!! I was just thinking (the other day) that there was no mac and cheese on my menu. Thanks for the idea. Happy Thanksgiving to all!!!

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    1. Oh, great! Glad to help. Of course, I made it before Thanksgiving so I could post it here. We had way too many so I stashed the extras in the freezer. I'll let you know how that worked out!

      ~Krista

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  3. These are adorable! I'm going to try them for our next wine tasting party. They will be perfect and something different.

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    1. Peg, I was thinking they might be fun at Christmas parties!

      ~Krista

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  4. What a clever idea. The Parmesan dusting in the muffin tins is a great idea, too.
    Love the pictures of the street gang!

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    1. Aww. I'm enjoying the pictures so much. There are a lot of wonderful people out there who adore their dogs and cats.

      ~Krista

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  5. Krista, love these. Cute. But I do have to say a good cheese platter at my house never has anything left on it. So perhaps it's the cheese selections you're using? Add a little honey pot or jam pot or nuts to mix up the flavors.

    That said, love the picture of you at the bottom of the post. So pretty!!!! And Sparky is still playing with his bandanna. :) He'll continue to share the fun on FB occasionally, up to your release date.

    Daryl / Avery

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    1. Maybe it is the cheese selections! LOL! Never thought of that.

      Sparky is so adorable. I love that little guy!

      ~Krista

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  6. What a terrific recipe, Krista. I am going to use it as an appetizer for our family party on December 14th. I'll be a hero!

    Hugs,

    MJ

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  7. This is amazing, Krista. You had me at mac and cheese, but then you add this clever twist with the parmesan. I'm making these for Thanksgiving brunch (that turkey takes forever to roast).

    ~ Cleo

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  8. Oh Krista, I know you made these for me, didn't you?? Me and Cee, I mean. The trouble is at your house I'd eat so many of these, I'd have no room for anything else:). Love the street team (go to Krista's website and see all of them!)--and your mom is a brilliant photographer!

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    1. Actually, I was thinking about the fact that you like mac and cheese so much! I can just see you adding a few to your dinner plate.

      I need to let people know where they can see all the pictures. Must remember to do that next Monday! I'll pass your praise along to my mom. I'm amazed that Buttercup played along!

      ~Krista

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  9. Thanksgiving is the day where you eat ALL day long-so bring on those extra goodies!

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  10. Chloe Duncan here again. Would love love to wear one of those scarves. Please pick me. :)
    My mom Sandy can't wait to try those mac and cheese bites. Me I have to be grain free so I won't get any :( She does not like turkey so I will be getting the meat. .
    sandydunc66@yahoo.com

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    1. Lucky you, Chloe. Well, not to be grain free, but turkey is yummy!

      ~Krista

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  11. Did my family bribe, beg, or sweet-talk you into posting this recipe? I've never seen anything more perfect. Just a warm mac-and-cheese nibble for tummies that have been waiting oh SO long for that turkey that now sits there, glistening, untouchable, and so tempting. What a marvelous idea! Thank you, Krista. I'm very thankful for all of you mysteriously brilliant cooks here.

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    1. LOL! I hope they love this! Thank for calling us mysteriously brilliant! I like that.

      ~Krista

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