Easy Entertaining: How to Have a Wine and Cheese Tasting

Images by Arden PhotographyWhen I have to whip up something fast for a party, there is nothing easier to put together than a cheese board--- who doesn’t love cheese! Pair the cheese with a couple of wine selections and you have an instant party! A wine and cheese tasting can serve as both food and entertainment. Guests will love discussing what wine pairs best with what cheese, debating the best wine for the price, and you will all love finding new favorites for your next get together. Try a mix of old favorites with new finds for both the wine and the cheese offerings.

For some reason, selecting cheese is almost as intimidating as selecting wine. Since both wine and cheese can be expensive, and because there are so many options, I think there is some fear of making a mistake. Have no fear. Most stores have experienced help to guide you and many will let you sample before making a purchase. For a “tasting”---which means sampling, I will have five different cheeses to try, depending on the size of the crowd which include:

1-Sheep’s milk cheese

1-Goat’s milk cheese

1-Cow’s milk cheese

1-Soft cheese like Brie

1-Bleu, Roquefort, Stilton, Camembert or other “smelly” cheese

The following are some of my tried and true parings:

Manchego/Spain This hard sheep’s milk cheese from La Mancha, Spain is always my first choice. Everyone loves it and it pairs nicely with Spanish almonds, olives, Serrano ham, or chorizo. Serve with a Spanish red wine like a tempranillo or tempranillo blend. Osbourne Solaz is very good and very affordable, usually under $10 a bottle. Another nice option is Atteca at around $15 per bottle.  

Goat Cheese/ Belle Chevre / Elkmont, Alabama I always serve goat cheese prepared in a recipe on my cheese board. Goat cheese with chopped toasted pecans is about as easy as it gets. Serve it in Belgian endive leaves; your guests will rave. Other serving options are pears, honey, and wild mushrooms but you can serve goat cheese with almost anything. Pinot Noir pairs well with ripe or aged goat cheese. Try the Kendall-Jackson Pinot Noir for about $12 or the Wild Horse Pinot Noir for about $18. More goat cheese recipes are available from Belle Chevre.  

Parmigiano Reggiano/ Italy Most people think this famous cow’s milk cheese is just for cooking or grated over pasta, but it is wonderful alone or with crusty bread, dipped in good balsamic vinegar, and with olives. It has a complex nutty flavor and dense, slightly grainy texture. I could almost eat my weight in it. Slightly salty, it pairs well with Prosecco, the Italian sparkling wine. Try Riondo, about $11 per bottle or serve with a medium bodied Italian red, like Chianti. Try Ruffino’s Chianti Classico Aziano (around $12.99) 

Saint Andre/ France This semi-soft, smooth triple cream cow’s milk cheese is also on every single cheese board I present. Very rich and creamy with a soft, buttery, almost spreadable texture, this cheese is best served with a fresh baguette and pear or apple slices. Sometimes, I serve it with fruit in place of a dessert course. Pair it with a sparkling wine or Champagne. Get the Krug if you have no budget; otherwise try Antech Blanquette de Limoux Grande Reserve, around $15.

 Bleu D’Auvergne/France Bleu cheese is strong in both taste and aroma. From the D’Auvergne region in the South of France, this bleu cow’s milk cheese features a deep blue veining throughout, like most bleu cheeses but possesses a creamier texture and softer taste than many other bleu cheeses. Sauternes or other sweet wines, like Muscat or Riesling pair nicely with bleu cheese. Try Torbreck the Bothie Muscat, around $16.99.

Presentation is everything for a wine and cheese party. A gorgeous selection of ripe fruit, crackers, French baguette, and other accompaniments look as good as they taste when they are artfully presented. Ask if the wine counter will give you the top of a wooden wine crate. Use it to serve your cheese board. Guests will love this unique idea, and you’ll love the price: free! You’ll want your guests to really taste and enjoy the wine, so use crystal wine glasses. Don’t be afraid to mix and match your patterns if you don’t have enough of one type. These Allegorie wine glasses are crafted specifically for serving wine. But many people prefer the modern trend of using a stemless glass for wine, like this Boston tumbler.

Because I always get calls after the party from someone asking for the name of “that cheese I loved” as they stand in front of the counter at the grocery store, I provide guests with a list as they are leaving. Try this party the next time you quick solution for entertaining. Your guests will love it.

Host a Chili Cook-off for Game Day!

Are you ready for some football? Get the whole gang together and host a chili cook-off!

Bring a “throwdown” to your tailgate or your kitchen as the competition heats up when guests battle for first place with their best chili recipes. You might even make it an annual event with a "traveling" award that goes from winner to winner each year.

THE HOW-TO: Send out invitations or call your guests to issue the “cook-off” challenge. 

Your guests should bring their best chili concoction in a crock pot or slow cooker. Iinclude printed copies of the recipe to share with other guests, if desired.  

When the guests turn in the chili, number or name it for voting and make up a ballot. Ask everyone to taste and vote for their favorite. Award prizes for first, second, and third place.

Make a condiment station with different types of crackers, Fritos, grated chesses, sour cream, chopped scallions and peppers, chopped onion, Tabasco or other hot sauces, etc.

Find a good spot to set up the bar; make sure it is away from the food to avoid congestion. Bloody Marys are a good choice for this party. Ice down some beer or wine and your bar is set.

Get the game plan for a Bloody Mary bar...

Special thanks to Jim Dandy Cooley Dandy RV Superstore in Alabama for allowing us to use their gorgeous motorcoach for this party!! And if you are heading to the game, you can rent one! 

Easy Weekend Entertaining: Host a Wine Around the World Party Video on MyRecipes.com

If you need an easy idea for entertaining your friends this weekend or for your next supper club gathering, try our Wine Around the World Party! It's a breeze to host since everyone brings a wine and a dish from their favorite travel destination... it's a great way to relive the days you spent in Italy on the coast or riding with the gauchos in Argentina!

Wine Around the World Party Video- can't travel this summer? Experience it through wine!

Watch the how-to video or view the slideshow for all the details on hosting this simple, elegant, and affordable party!

Need more easy, affordable party ideas? Why not try one of these?

Girls Night In: Host a Picking Party- Make pickles, carrots, chow-chow, salsa, or limoncello to keep or gift!

Backyard Campout Party- for kids, adults, or a romantic date night; this one's a classic!

Bollywood Party- Dance the night away and the food is easy and unique!

Asian BBQ- A spin on a boring backyard BBQ!

For more easy entertaining ideas, visit the Martie Knows Parties portal on MyRecipes.com!  

Celebrate Spain's World Cup Win with Summer Sangria, Tapas, and Paella!

Spain's win in the World Cup yesterday inspired me to plan a weekend get-together with some Spanish flair. I love almost everything to do with Spanish cuisine and love tapas (little dishes) for almost every party theme. You can do a variety of hot and cold tapas and just graze all night, in fact!

SUMMER SANGRIA

You need to do this early in the day or even the day before you want to serve. This is a white wine sangria and there's no real need to measure. Chop up summer fruits: slice lemon, lime, apple, pear, cherries, strawberries, oranges; use whatever you have. Put these in the bottom of a large container. Add 2 tablespoons sugar over the fruit so they start to release their juices. Add 1/4 cup brandy and a bottle of dry white wine. Squeeze in the juice of one orange and one lemon. Allow to sit for at least 2 hours but longer is better. When you are ready to serve, transfer into a pretty pitcher or dispenser filled with ice and pour 1/2 bottle of club soda over the top for a refreshing fizz. I always keep some of the fruit on reserve and fill glasses with it for garnish. So pretty!

Or try this last minuteSangria recipe from MyRecipes.com.... it's really good and very fast!

COLD TAPAS SUGGESTIONS

Head over to your local Whole Foods or other quality market and look for Spanish olives, Manchego cheese, and Serano ham or chorizo.... these will be the perfect starters for this casual party theme. Put these out on a cutting board or serving platter with a fresh baguette. Try these ideas-- no real recipe necessary for most of them; they are very simple. But let me know if you need a specific recipe.

Aceitunas Alinadas: Marinated Spanish Olives

Salmón Curado: Cured salmon with dill sour cream on toast points (just add fresh dill to sour cream)

Berenjena Con Queso: Chilled grilled eggplant and goat cheese

Patatas con Alioi:  Garlic potato salad (add roast garlic to mayo before mixing)

Tortilla Espanola: Spanish omelette of potato and onion (really good recipe from MyRecipes.com)

Bacon Wrapped DatesHOT TAPAS SUGGESTIONS

Gambas Al Ajillo: Grilled shrimp with garlic lemon butter (make a garlic butter and drizzle over)

Champiñones: Stuffed Mushroom Caps (use your favorite recipe or this one for Sausage & Gorgonzola)

Queso De Cabra: Oven Baked Goat Cheese (serve with garlic bread)

Datiles Con Tocino: Roasted Bacon Wrapped Dates (my favorite!!)

Seafood and Chicken PaellaHere are a few of my favorite Paella recipes... if you want to serve a main dish. Personally, I love an evening of grazing with several substantial tapas dishes but men usually love a hearty main dish. Try one of these:

Seafood and Chicken Paella This one gets 5 stars on MyRecipes.com from viewers! It's great.

Kathy G.'s Spanish PaellaMy friend Kathy's paella is wonderful!

Tyler Florence's Paella recipe is also very good.... if you like his recipes, try it instead.

Hope you enjoy a night celebrating Spain! It's the perfect excuse to throw a party.

Wishing for Wimbledon? Host a Lawn Party, British Style

I just got back from visiting friends in the UK and I got a good dose of polo, British pub food and culture while I was there. Everyone was gearing up for Wimbledon, the oldest tennis tournament in the world which started yesterday at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club. The Wimbledon buzz inspired me to plan a Lawn Party.... British style!

About Wimbledon

Some of the traditions of Wimbledon have been in place for 100+ years! Wimbledon is played on grass, so even if you don't have access to a tennis court, if you have a patch of grass, you can host this great summer get-together. The women's final is on July 3rd and the men's final is on July 4th. What could be more appropriate than an all-American win on British soil on the date we celebrate our country's Independence?

The Invitation

Since a strict all-white dress code is in place for players at Wimbledon, it's always fun to stick to an all-white theme for the party. Ask guests to wear white attire and mention that lawn games will be involved. I always like to start this party late in the afternoon or early evening, after the temperatures have dropped slightly. A 6pm start time will give you several hours of daylight for games during the summer. White linen paper or card stock is just right for your party invite. A casual, handwritten note (very old school) is perfectly acceptable for this casual gathering.

The Party Menu

Wimbledon Strawberries and Cream

There are a couple of traditions at Wimbledon that you are a must for your party menu. Strawberries and Cream are a Wimbledon staple so dessert is going to be easy! In England, cream is always single or double cream and it is difficult to find the English version in the US. If you want to make it easy on yourself, just get some really good vanilla ice cream, let it melt until it pours. Pour some cream in the bottom of each dish and fill the bowl with strawberries. Serve with a pitcher of the cream for those who want extra. Make sure to get extra fresh and really delicious berries....  Try Driscoll's Berries. Always fresh, always reliable!

CHECK OUT 7 WAYS WITH STRAWBERRIES FROM MY FRIENDS AT MYRECIPES.COM FOR MORE GREAT STRAWBERRY RECIPES!

Pimm's Spritzer

Another staple at Wimbledon is a Pimm's Spritzer. Pimm's is to Wimbledon is what the Mint Julep is to the Kentucky Derby. I love a good Pimm's Cup. Pimm's is a gin based liquor and it's so refreshing on a summer day. The Pimm's Spritzer. Use my Pimm's recipe for this or add ginger ale in place of the lemon-lime soda. Add 1/4 cup of chopped fresh fruit with chopped celery and cucumbers if you want the traditional garnish.

Another great British beverage is the Shandy. A Shandy is half lager (shown below) and half lemon-lime soda. Believe me, I was a skeptic but it's delicious and refreshing on a summer day!

British Pub Food

Your menu can include traditional British Fish and Chips, and mushy peas. Or, something simple like sandwiches and crisps (chips). or Cornish pasties... easy to make ahead and serve room temp at party time. Mushy peas are just green peas that are slightly mushed up with a hint of olive oil, mint, and a little lemon juice. Maybe an acquired taste--- but very British. I really like them:)

The Decor

Since the mood for this part is elegant, you can use simple decorations like candles in glass containers. I put sand in the bottom of the glass and then add one pillar candle to each and place these around the space. If you want a DIY project, you can get small mason jars, add a little sand to the bottom 1/4 of the jar and add a votive or tea light. You can hang these anywhere you need a little ambience. They won't offer much light but are very pretty! A dozen mason jars at Wal-Mart is under $10. 

I like to set up a viewing area close to the games so guests can watch the competition. Set up lawn furniture in clusters and include a tray or a container of drinks close by. Fill large pitchers with ice water and float lemons or cucumbers in them so that guests can serve themselves. If you don't have enough lawn furniture, you can ask guests to bring a lawn chair or you can buy large 10 or 20 gallon plastic buckets for about a dollar at Lowe's or Wal-Mart. Turn them upside down and viola, you have seating! Granted, it's not the most comfortable seating, but it really works.

The Entertainment

This party starts with the lawn games so if you don't have access to a tennis court, set up a badminton net instead. Since croquet is also played at Wimbledon, you can also set up a croquet course in the backyard or at the park. Other fun lawn games include horseshoes, bocce ball. or lawn bowling. The game I came to know in Chicago as "baggo" is also fun for a lawn party. I always find lots of great lawn games at Target during the summer. Set up your game course in whatever green space you have. If the party is in the late afternoon, I like to string little while lights all around my game course.

This is a great summer evening party theme... try it for a rehearsal dinner or engagement party, a girls night out or guys night out  party, a neighborhood party, family get-together, or anyone's birthday party! You can make it kid friendly or invite the adults only, but no matter who attends, my Summer Lawn Party is perfect for any occasion!