Gluten-Free Cocktail Party

Hosted a little Cocktail Party for the Man's co-workers and spouses on Saturday night ... without a drop of gluten in sight!  I love, really love, to host .. . the planning, the prepping, the arranging - so fun for me! But this was the first time I was going to try to do it gluten-free ... and the task seemed daunting.  I did learn (in a leap of faith) that you can use the recipe off of any chocolate chip bag to make really good cookies, so long as you  use a g-free flour blend and add some xanthan gum to the mix! (And really, honestly, no one will know unless you tell them - I did since someone asked for their own gluten-reasons, but everyone who had already tasted them was shocked).  I also discovered a fondness for the Old Fashioned, and that a full bar set up looks really cool on the console in the dining room ... though admittedly is not particularly practical, or child-friendly.

Here's the menu for anyone interested ... and despite my best intentions, I have no photos to share so you'll just have to take my word for it that with the help of Z (skewering), the man (stuffing and wrapping dates), E-baby (being cute and letting us use our hands for things other than holding her) and a pal who helped shlep ice and booze back from the market, it was basically all ready when the guests arrived and looked pretty good! I had planned to roll the dip into balls, cover them in g-free panko crumbs and fry them, but opted for serving it as a dip with the chips rather than risk an oil splattered kitchen, ringing smoke detectors, and sad little fritters that might not have even tasted good (I don't really even know how to fry - I just thought it would be easier/neater to eat off of little pokers than dripping off of chips).  I was apparently on a little skewer kick, as you can tell ...

Cocktails:

·                 Old Fashioned

o   Orange slice/Cherry/sugar cube in glass - muddle & add whiskey/bitters/ice, splash of soda optional

·         Pineapple Infused Vodka - chilled

·         BAR Stocked with: Vodka (plain & vanilla), Gin, Whiskey, Tequila, Triple Sec, Creme de Cacoa, Rose's Lime juice, Bitters, LOTS OF ICE  [Garnish: Umbrella skewers of orange & cherries; Small bowls with Lemon wedges, Lime wedges, big stuffed Olives]

Wine:

·         White  - Pino Gris/Chardonnay

·         Red – Cabernet/Pinot Noir 

Hors D’Oeuvres:

Savory

·         Blue cheese stuffed dates, wrapped in bacon (a few w a pecan & brown sugar, no bacon)

·         Chicken Satay, Carrot & Celery Sticks w Peanut Dipping Sauce (surprisingly easy to make!)

·         Caprese skewers (Grape tomato, fresh basil, mozarella ball - balsamic, evoo, salt/pepper)

·         Cheese Plate – Gouda, Cheddar w chives, Asiago w Rosemarry

·         Chips w Peach Salsa (T-Joes) & Artichoke-Asiago Dip (mix: Mayo, Asiago, Artichoke, Garlic)

·         Nuts (Raw Cashews/Pecans/Almonds - roasted w Cinammon, Bbrown sugar, Rosemary, Salt)

·         Gimlet Olives (Pimiento olives soaked overnight in Vodka, Rose's lime juice & fresh lime)

Sweet

·         Fruit skewers w margarita dip (didn't love the dip but the skewers looked really pretty!)

·         White chocolate chip/dark chocolate chunk cookies (Gluten-free & homemade, natch!)

·         Caramel popcorn with nuts (Thatchers Gourmet brand - first time we had it, pretty yummy!)