When entertaining, it is often the presentation that lends an air of elegance, of expense of sophistication, not the actual ingredients. Take in point, one famous New York City Restaurant that offers $25 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Not, it isn’t some rare form of exotic jelly that is used, nor are the peanuts crushed by hand. It is simply the presentation of the sandwich that creates the sense that it is worth more than the cost of its separate ingredients.
I have another example for you. Take your normal vegetable platter. You cut up celery and carrots into sticks, arrange them on a plate and add a bowl of dip in the middle. All of these ingredients can be had for very little cost. You could also do what high end caterers do. Take those veggies and place a few of them at at time into individual glass votive candle holders (with a little dip at the base) that guests can pick up and carry as they mingle around the room.
Take these lessons and adapt them to your own holiday celebrations. It is the presentation and the little details that matter. So choose your basic ingredients for your holiday food (bonus if you can get them on sale and with coupons) and then get creative to turn the ingredients into something special.
It is okay if the creativity doesn’t come naturally to you. There are dozens and dozens of ideas to be had out there. Check out Pinterest boards, food websites and magazines for ideas that you can copy or adapt. Of course, you can also enlist a friend for help as well, if you like.
Here are some ideas to get you started.
Santa Strawberries
http://pinterest.com/pin/257479303666491867/
Elegant Party Appetizers
http://www.marthastewart.com/902957/french-cheese-straws
http://www.campbellskitchen.com/Recipes/RecipeDetails.aspx?recipeId=60132
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