Best Panini Maker

Dinner Party?

I am having a bunch of old friends come over for a dinner party and would love to make some sophicated, yet easy dishes. I have a fondue maker as well as a panini maker. I hoping you guys would have some interesting ideas to make me look like a great cook...when really it was a piece of cake! :)

Public Comments

1. Bake chicken in the oven. Take some thighs and season with salt and pepper, maybe some lemon pepper. Cook in a 375 degree oven for 45 minutes. While that is cooking, cook your favorite vegetable on the stove. I use frozen vegetables a lot since they are always picked at the height of the season, and are sometimes better than fresh. (Depends on when and where you buy the veggies.) During the last 10 minutes of cooking, bake some low-fat dinner rolls. For dessert, wash some fresh strawberries. Take a can of sweetened condensed milk and pour into a coffee creamer cup, or small bowl with a spoon. Serve with the fresh strawberries. Enjoy!
2. Go to Food Network.com Decide on theme of food, build on that. Mexican, BBQ, Italian, Burgers, Appetizers Come back and ask more specific questions
3. Why not just make it easy and fun on yourself just set up a panini bar have everything that they can put on it them selves this way everyone gets what they like ant then for the fondue why not do chocolate everyone loves chocolate and do skewers of fruit for them to dip into plenty of drinks, and fun music and some snack foods and maybe some deviled eggs, macaroni salad and potato salad and then also set up a tray with diff. olives and some pickles on it . Have fun!
4. Since you mentioned the panini maker and fondue pot I am assuming you want to use them. Use your panini maker for appetizers. If you would like to have a more interactive party you can prepare the paninis before hand and let the guests prepare them themselves. If you would like to have everything prepared in advance make the paninis and then reheat in the oven right before the guests arrive. When I was in Italy my favorite panini was tomato, prosciutto, fresh mozz cheese and fresh basil. If you are going to make them in advance I would suggest that you spread the bread with pesto instead so the basil doesn't get too wilted. It will turn brown and look gross. A close second was chopped spinach & ricotta. I made these at home once and had a small problem, I didn't add enough salt and pepper. Make sure you taste your mixture before hand. I suggest minis because they are apps, so get a loaf of french bread. For dinner this is a really simple pasta recipe, it does cost a little bit of money, but it's totally worth it. I make this for 4 people, but there was a ton of it. And it's a piece of cake. In a large pot add a little bit of olive oil. Add 3 diced cloves of garlic, one small diced onion,, salt and pepper. Let this cook until the onions are just transluscent. Then add 3 large cans of diced tomatoes and 2 cups of chicken stock. Let this simmer for about 1/2 hour. You can actually make this ahead of time. While the sauce is simmering add some halibut (I bought two pieces and cut them in half so each person would get a piece), let this cook for about 5 minutes covered. Then add peeled deviened shrimp, and little neck clams (I allowed for 6 per person), let this cook until the clams are opened up. Serve over linguini. I actually cooked the whole box of linguini and put in in a really large bown and topped with the sauce. Serve with a green salad and bread. For dessert melt nutella and heavy cream in the microwave. I bought three containers of nutella, and had to measure out the cream until I found the right consistency. Put this in your fondue pot. Serve it with mini canolis. Yum.
5. Fondue is always impressive!!!! CRAB CHEESE FONDUE 2 c. Velveeta cheese 2 c. cheese 1/2 c. milk 1/4 c. wine, white 2 tsp. lemon juice 1 (7 oz.) can crab meat 1 (7 oz.) can shrimp Melt cheese with liquids, blend in seafood. I usually prepare this on top of the stove and then put in fondue pot (sprayed with Pam). Serve with pieces of French bread to dip. (Can use all crab meat.) SICILIAN PANINI 1/2 lb. mortadella 1/2 lb. hot capicola 1/4 lb. prosciutto 1/2 lb. provolone pickle slices (sweet or sour) hot pepper relish extra virgin olive oil 4 grinder style sub rolls Set panini press to "Sear" (High). Cut grinder rolls in half lengthwise. Brush outside, top and bottom with olive oil. Spread inside, top and bottom with hot pepper relish On bottom roll. Line with 3 pieces Mortadella, then top with 3 pieces of hot capicola. Top that with 2 pieces of prosciutto. Place pickles over the meats. Fold 2 pieces Provolone in half and cover pickles. Add remainder. Roll half on top. Place on panini press and close for about 2-3 minutes until lightly browned and grilled lines appear.
6. Lasagna, toss salad, and dessert. Lasagna 2lbs hamburger 1 lb Italian sausage 2 large cans tomato sauce 2 Tablespoons Italian seasoning 2 Tablespoons garlic 1 box no boil noodles 1 tub ricotta cheese 2eggs 2-3cup pack shredded mozzarella cheese 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese Cook meat until done, drain add sauce and spices simmer, while sauce simmers mix 1 pack mozzarella cheese, ricotta, Parmesan and eggs. Start by layering noodle in glass bake dish, cover with sauce {use generous amount} sprinkle a couple hands full of cheese mixture then repeat 3 times.ending with cheese then sprinkle remaining bag of mozzarella cheese For salad just mix lettuce a few diced tomato's 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese and 2 cups Italian dressing { this tastes like Olive Garden Salad} Then for dessert try this 4 cups graham cracker crumbs 1 stick melted butter 1/2 cup sugar Mix well and press in bottom of glass bake pan 1 large tub whip cream 1 8oz bar cream cheese Softened 1 cup powdered sugar mix well and spread over crust, then top with your favorite pie filling chill at least an hour