On Thu, 08 Feb 2007 15:04:16 GMT, jay > wrote:


>It was a brie that had been covered in chutney and then with puff pastry
>and baked. Served with toasted French bread sort of crouton style.
>
>It was a lot of BANG for the $$, easy to do and delicious!

Good idea. A common version of that is brie, cranberry and walnuts.
Always good.

>One of the best things that was there is what I made..of course.
>
>I smoked a big red snapper and it was gone in minutes.

I often bring a smoked salmon. My SIL asked me not to this Christmas
because nobody would eat the dinner she was making. LOL

Lou

On Thu, 08 Feb 2007 16:51:07 GMT, jay > wrote:


>That is funny.

Funny but sad.

>I actually prefer guests not to bring anything.. a wine if
>they really feel the need to contribute.

It's polite to ask. If the host declines, wine, chocolate or flowers
always work.

>I particularly dislike it when a
>guest brings a BIG load of some nasty dip crap, or chips and salsa..that
>everyone has had too many times and that is off *course.*

I've attended party's that people stopped on the way and grabbed taco
dip from a grocery store. <shudder>

>If you bring
>something to a party..it should be something really good, not some cheap
>filler material and it should be in keeping with the main course.

Agreed. Sometimes it depends on the way the invitation is worded.
Come at 6 for cocktails and eat at 7 calls for something that a few
bites will take the edge off till dinner. I posted a tapanade recipe
in this thread that's perfect for this.

Her experience with my smoked salmon came from a party for out of town
family members. The invitation was "come at 1 and eat about 4." So I
smoked a 3 pound salmon in the morning and arrived at 1. My mom and
90+ year old grandmother had gone to church and then drove 2 hours to
get there. They were starving. The hosts snacks were passed up and
the salmon was devoured. I took pleasure in watching my grandmother
stuffing her face. LOL. The host commented "nobody's going to want
my hamburgers after this!" But he pigged out too. Later he had a
grill "malfunction" and over cooked the burgers, dogs and sausages.

>Sounds like you need to give the SIL some cooking lessons.

Every family has at least one member who could be considered a social
misfit. She's ours. I couldn't stay in a room with her long enough
to teach her anything. Her Christmas dinner was actually edible but
the prime rib was over done. Even though she didn't want any help she
made several references to the cost of the meal. The potatoes were
baked, sliced in half and topped with packaged cheese food and
reheated. The salad was packaged. I didn't go for the food. The day
was one of the most pleasant holidays I've had. The "80/20 effort"
rule holds true for cooking. She won't do it. But my brother loves
her and that's what matters I guess.

Lou