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If I have a tub of cooked blini at hand, I consider myself ready for a party. There’s nothing easier than laying these little pancakes on a tray and giving them a quick topping before passing them around. Blini are a Russian pancake, traditionally made with buckwheat, which makes them gluten-free, so long as gluten-free baking powder is used. -
Cute and tasty, these soups are a conversation starter as well as a sophisticated mushroom showcase, layering flavours in all their earthy glory. I’m not always a fan of truffle oil, but it really works here, highlighting the flavours of the fresh mushrooms. If you stumble upon actual truffles, they could be shaved over the top too. -
One of the many pleasures of cooking with Thermomix® is making from scratch things that everyone else buys. That’s part of the joy of these crackers, made with raw and cooked rice, and painted with a sweet-salt glaze. Start by making the Furikake, a Japanese condiment that you’ll want to sprinkle over everything.
I can already hear the hubbub when I look at this menu: people are clinking glasses, toasting health and happiness and generally making merry. With most dishes easy to make ahead, you can relax and be the life of the party.
These nibbles have robust flavours and rich colours and are easy to serve at a stand-up gathering. Passing trays around, or arranging dishes on a serving table makes for a lively, friendly mood.
Hot Tips
Play music, keep the lights low and add splashes of colour with napkins and table runners.
Mix and match dishes with the Plan Ahead and Barbecue chapters.
TO SERVE:
My thinking with the cocktails is that there’s a summer drink (Cherry), a winter tipple (Pear) and a trans-seasonal one (Rhubarb) – of course, you may like to serve all three! Have drinks, Crackers, Romesco dip and the Nuts on hand when people arrive, then pass around the other savoury courses. Finish with the amazing Tartufo.
Make Ahead
1 WEEK
Cherry syrup for Margarita
5 DAYS
Tartufo (steps 1–3)
4 DAYS
Nut clusters, Tartufo (steps 4–8)
3 DAYS
Pear Mulled Wine, Rhubarb syrup, Tartufo (steps 9–12)
2 DAYS
Romesco dip, Rice crackers, Sesame crème fraîche
DAY BEFORE
Mushroom soup, Blini, Kibbeh mix, filling and assembly, Green tahini
SAME DAY
Cook Kibbeh, assemble Mushroom cappuccino
Hot Tips
Play music, keep the lights low and add splashes of colour with napkins and table runners.
Mix and match dishes with the Plan Ahead and Barbecue chapters.
TO SERVE:
My thinking with the cocktails is that there’s a summer drink (Cherry), a winter tipple (Pear) and a trans-seasonal one (Rhubarb) – of course, you may like to serve all three! Have drinks, Crackers, Romesco dip and the Nuts on hand when people arrive, then pass around the other savoury courses. Finish with the amazing Tartufo.
Make Ahead
1 WEEK
Cherry syrup for Margarita
5 DAYS
Tartufo (steps 1–3)
4 DAYS
Nut clusters, Tartufo (steps 4–8)
3 DAYS
Pear Mulled Wine, Rhubarb syrup, Tartufo (steps 9–12)
2 DAYS
Romesco dip, Rice crackers, Sesame crème fraîche
DAY BEFORE
Mushroom soup, Blini, Kibbeh mix, filling and assembly, Green tahini
SAME DAY
Cook Kibbeh, assemble Mushroom cappuccino
SET THE MOOD FOR YOUR PROGRESSIVE DINNER EVENT WITH DANI’S SPOTIFY PLAYLISTS
This playlist starts upbeat and toe-tappy and just gets more funky as it goes on. I’m imagining that it sets a fun and lively mood as guests arrive and start to sip, eat and enjoy, then the music steps up so that – maybe, hopefully, you never know – people start dancing. I mean, seriously, I don’t know how you could stop your foot from tapping during James Brown’s Soul Power. Listen here.
