Holidays That Go Clunk In Your Stomach. Or Not. | The Food Party! | Laura Stec | Mountain View Online |

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The Food Party!

By Laura Stec

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About this blog: I've been attracted to food for good and bad reasons for many years. From eating disorder to east coast culinary school, food has been my passion, profession & nemesis. I've been a sugar addict, a 17-year vegetarian, a food and en...  (More)

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Holidays That Go Clunk In Your Stomach. Or Not.

Uploaded: Dec 13, 2015

We leave many a holiday party feeling bloated and yucky. One reason is because today’s buffets are filled with an over abundance of fried food, beef, bread and cheese that all go clunk in your stomach.

So this year, make sure to serve a good portion of vegetables along with the rest of your party foods and mark my words, people will come up to you and say…

“Wow, your food is so good!”

One of the easiest ways is a platter or roasted and raw veggies, served with a tasty dip. I’ve made the recipe below four times already this season for various parties. It’s always a winner.

And on a nostalgic note – let’s visit some holiday Food Parties! of the past for other great ideas:

Still need a gift? Try culinary.

Home for the holidays and looking for a classic watering hole to show out of town guests “the local hood?” Click here.


Roasted Red Pepper Walnut Dip (Muhammara)

Makes 1 ½ cups

This is a favorite dip for roasted vegetables that also works nicely as a refrigerated condiment for vegetables and grains. Recipe from Cool Cuisine – Taking the Bite Out of Global Warming.

2 red bell peppers
2 tablespoons juice from the roasted peppers
½ cup walnuts
2 cloves garlic
2 slices whole wheat, nine-grain bread (substitute gluten free bread ok)
1/2 - 1 habañero pepper, seeded and coarsely chopped
1 tablespoon pomegranate molasses
2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon walnut oil (can substitute olive oil)
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon salt

Preheat oven to 375°. Place peppers on baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes, or until blackened on all sides, Remove from oven. Put the peppers in a bowl or plastic bag and cover. When cool, slit the bottom and pour juice into a food processor (avoid the seeds as much as possible). Peel off skins and remove remaining seeds. Set aside.

Reduce the oven to 350°. Put walnuts on baking sheet and lightly toast for 8 minutes. Remove from oven. Chop coarsely 2 tablespoons and set aside for garnish.

Add the peppers, the remaining walnuts and ingredients into a food processor and blend well. It’s best to grind the non liquid ingredients first, then add liquid. Transfer to a serving bowl and garnish with reserved walnuts.

Serve with a platter of roasted and raw veggies.

Can be made the night before and refrigerated over night.







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Comments

Posted by Probably74, a resident of Cuesta Park,
on Dec 17, 2015 at 9:41 pm

I'm a bit confused. Do the two slices of whole wheat, nine-grain bread go into the food processor, too? Do you toast them first?


Posted by Laura Stec, a resident of another community,
on Dec 17, 2015 at 10:44 pm

Probably74, yes everything gets whirled in the food processor. Taking the crusts of the bread off is optional.


Posted by Reader, a resident of another community,
on Dec 18, 2015 at 9:16 am

@Probably74:

Bread crumbs are a common binder and filling ingredient in many dishes. Many recipes for meatballs and meatloaf call for bread crumbs.


Posted by Happy Rose Day 2016, a resident of Greenmeadow,
on Feb 2, 2016 at 7:27 am

Thanks for your great ideas..i really liked them a lot..i will bookmark this site for your further posts :)


Posted by Laura Stec, a resident of Portola Valley,
on Feb 2, 2016 at 8:03 am

Thanks Happy Rose Day 2016!


Posted by ashley, a resident of College Terrace,
on Feb 2, 2016 at 8:54 am

I really enjoy simply reading all of your weblogs.


Posted by happy friendship day 2016, a resident of Gemello,
on Jul 5, 2016 at 4:13 am

happy


Posted by sourajit, a resident of Atherton: Lindenwood,
on Jul 19, 2016 at 10:00 pm

sourajit is a registered user.

Best


Posted by roxy, a resident of Barron Park,
on Aug 14, 2016 at 7:00 pm

Happy New Year 2017


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