Hors-d'œuvres for Dinner, ft. a Wedge

I think hors-d'œuvres for dinner are perfectly fine when you’re having friends over and you’re pressed for time. Maybe it’s Friday and you’re just getting off from work after a long week of teaching and arguing with students over when’s an appropriate time to use a cellphone, but you’re excited at the prospect of what lies ahead over the weekend and in a spontaneous moment of excitement you invite your friends over for dinner and drinks (anyone?). Except you’ve invited them to arrive at 6:00, it’s 3:30, you haven’t even been to the store yet and you’re at a loss of what to make… Well, there has never been a better time to serve hors-d'œuvre for dinner. And a wedge salad, because sustenance. It’s fun, it’s unpretentious, and at this point it’s just an accompaniment to the camaraderie shared among friends trying to find a work/life balance.

Shrimp Cocktail - recipe found here on previous post

Charcuterie Plate

Ingredients:

-Several types of cold cuts such as prosciutto, salami, coppa, or a variety of all three
-Several large chunks of cheese such as Parmesan, Asiago, Manchego, Gouda, Brie, or any other type of cheese you like (a variety of textures is always nice)
-Fresh fruit such as grapes, blackberries, and sliced apples
-Fresh herbs such as rosemary, tarragon, basil, or dill
-Baguette, sliced
-Small ramekins of fruit spread, honey, or jams

Instructions:

1. Arrange the cheese chunks on a serving platter surrounded by the meats and fruits, then arrange the herbs around everything. You really have free reign over this, use your creativity. A pretty charcuterie plate definitely doesn’t go unnoticed. Serve alongside sliced baguette and the fruit spreads or honey, as well as a few knives for cutting.

Wedge Salad (serves 4)

Ingredients:

4-5 slices of good quality bacon cut into lardons
1 large head of iceberg lettuce, quartered
Blue cheese dressing (store bought is just fine)
1 small red onion, thinly sliced
8 oz cherry tomatoes, halved
Blue cheese
Parsley, chopped (optional garnish)
Fresh cracked pepper

1. Cook the bacon over medium heat until cooked through and tender, 8 minutes. Remove from pan to a paper towel to eliminate excess grease. Arrange the quartered lettuce on a platter and pour on as much of the dressing as you prefer. Arrange over the lettuce the sliced onion, tomatoes, bacon, and cheese. Sprinkle on some parsley and generously top with fresh cracked pepper.

Serve everything with your favorite drinks and enjoy!