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 | HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN PARTY PLATTERS |
Here are some tips & idea's that you can use to create your own party platters. Use these tips as a guide to create your own platters, use food that your guest will enjoy & that is easy for you to prepare.
Almost all of the items listed can be prepared in advance & refrigerated until time to put on platters. You can make extra's & keep them refrigerated allowing you to easily refill platters if you want.
THE PLATTER ITSELF: You can use plates, serving platters or make your own platter using cardboard covered with foil. Place a bed of green's on the platter, such as Bibb or reed leaf lettuce, fresh spinach or even endive. If you are serving a dip for each platter it can be in a small bowl placed in the center of the platter with the food arranged around it. Try the super-market style of arranging food in sections, such as 1/3 of the platter has hot wings, 1/3 chicken wings & 1/3 chicken strips, with each section separated with such items as radishes, green onions, olives, small sweet pickles or fruit. Be sure to have plenty of toothpicks, tongs & small napkins spread out all over.
CHICKEN PLATTER: Chicken Strips; Chicken Wings; Hot Wings. Ranch-style dip will go well with this platter.
SEAFOOD PLATTER: Stuffed Shrimp; Wrapped Shrimp; Baked Fish Sticks (from the grocery freezer). Include a Shrimp Cocktail sauce with this platter and Ranch dip also goes well. You might consider a Horseradish Sauce as well.
BEEF PLATTER: Glazed Ribs; Sweet & Sour Meatballs; Baby Dogs. Create a BBQ flavored dip with horseradish & crushed tomatoes.
VEGETABLE PLATTERS: Zucchini Strips; Cherry tomatoes; Celery Sticks; Carrot Sticks; Button Mushrooms or Marinated Mushrooms; Cauliflower & Broccoli floweret's; Sliced Cucumber. Use a good Onion Dip.
DEVILED EGGS: Deviled Eggs & Tomato; Stuffed Eggs Jalapeno; Deviled Egg 2; maybe even Pickled Egg. A dip using horseradish & mustard might be considered.
CHEESE PLATTERS: Cheddar; Swiss; Monterey Jack & Pepper Cheeses cut into bite size pieces can be arranged in sections o just mixed together on a bed of greens. Place a toothpick in each piece of cheese.
SANDWICH PLATTERS: Prepare your sandwiches & cut into quarters cutting diagonally. Try Roasted Vegetable Sandwich; Santa Rosa Sandwich; Ham & Cheese Sandwich or Haystack Sandwich.
FRUIT PLATTERS: Melon Balls; Grapes; Pineapple Wedges with a Ranch-style dressing on a platter with sections separated by Baby Corn on the Cob.
DESSERTS: Brownies cut into small bit-sized pieces; Cookies decorated for the holiday; Candy Apples.