If you enjoy entertaining but find yourself with no time for elaborate preparations, Yael Morgan Walters has some great advice. A busy TV reporter and producer, Walters has had to prepare a complete meal with appetizers and drinks, and dress her table with elegance and class with as little time as a half hour. She shows us how it is possible to whip something up at the last minute that will surprise and please your unexpected guests. When your opportunity to entertain is limited by what you already have on hand, it is helpful to always keep some gourmet-type staples in your pantry. Walters' favorites are sun-dried tomatoes, olive paste, pasta, black bean dip, mandarin oranges and pine nuts. With these and a few other basics on hand, you can serve unexpected visitors some tasty recipes that take only minutes to prepare and will leave a delightful impression on your friends. - For a fast and fabulous hot hors d'oeuvre, slice some French bread and spoon on ricotta cheese, olive paste and a sun-dried tomato (figure A). Heat on a foil-covered baking sheet for a few minutes or until the cheese melts. Substitute any kind of cheese or bread to suit your taste.
- Surround a bowl of black bean dip with chips and bread slices and top with pine nuts (figure B).
- Boil some pasta and throw in some vegetables or leftovers. Sun-dried tomatoes and pine nuts also add quick flavor for a satisfying meal.
- For a nutritious gourmet salad with perfect presentation, top your favorite greens with mandarin oranges. Add pine nuts, if desired.
- To round off dinner and still beat the clock, keep bags of frozen fruit in the freezer. Defrost and top with whipped cream for a quick, fancy dessert.
- Frozen cocktails make unexpected guests feel more than welcome. In a blender, combine 1 can of your favorite frozen juice with ice and your favorite liquor. Pour into wine glasses for an elegant drink.
Walters tells us that food and drink are not the only things that will impress last minute visitors. The smaller touches really make a difference when setting the mood for entertaining. - Have plenty of cloth napkins on hand along with a spool of your favorite wire-edged ribbon. Tie a bow around a folded napkin and you'll never run out of napkin rings, no matter how many guests drop by.
- The quickest way to change the mood in a room is with the lighting. Candlelight brings an immediate importance to your dinner along with a relaxed atmosphere.
- A final decorative touch comes from the heart and the garden. Flower petals sprinkled onto the table show your guests how much they mean to you and add a delicate softness to the room (figure C).
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