DIY Network

Fake It With Take-Out Learn how to convert take-out food into a homemade delight. From "Home Made Easy" episode DHME-145

Guest Karen Bussen, DIY's Entertaining Made Easy contributor, shares some great tricks on how to turn take-out food into delicious, just-like-home made meals.

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Guest Karen Bussen, right, shows you how to fake it with take-out!

Having a dinner party is a fun way to entertain, but it can be a lot of work. Karen Bussen shares some great tips on how to save time with a few "Fake It With Take-Out" food.

Fake It With Take-Out Tips

• Whether you're in a pinch for time or you just want to host a party without spending days in the kitchen, you can use takeout food from you favorite place to create a delicious cocktail party, sit-down dinner or buffet feast.

• Always choose the best take-out you can get. The better the quality, the less you'll need to do to make it great.

• Plan your menu in advance if you can. This way you can add decorative touches and a few homemade details to make it special.

• Pick a theme. Thai and Indian dishes are great for an exotic cocktail party. Takeout rotisserie chicken and side dishes make a wonderful comfort-food buffet.

Double Happiness Dumplings

Double Happiness Dumplings With Ginger Dipping Sauce

Ingredients:

Take-out dumplings
1 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup rice wine vinegar
1 Tbs. freshly ground ginger
1 scallion, finely chopped
pinch of red pepper flakes (optional)

This dish combines quick takeout dumplings with a homemade sauce and a chic presentation. All you need to do is order your favorite dumplings and keep them warm in the oven or steamer until you are ready to use them. In the meantime, you can make this wonderful ginger dipping sauce.

Mix the following ingredients together in a bowl: 1 cup soy sauce, 1/4 cup rice wine vinegar, 1 tablespoon freshly ground ginger, 1 finely chopped scallion and a pinch of red pepper flakes. Arrange inexpensive Chinese spoons in a circle on a round platter, handles pointing out. You can get these spoons at your favorite Asian market.

Place a dumpling on each spoon, and then pour the dipping sauce into a bowl and place it in the middle of the platter.

Lettuce-Leaf Cups

Lettuce Leaf Stir-fry Cups

take-out stir-fry
1 head of iceberg lettuce
1 bunch of cilantro

Order your favorite stir-fry and then prepare the lettuce leaf cups. Take one head of iceberg lettuce and cut off the root end. Then cut the lettuce head in half lengthwise. Remove the larger outer layer of leaves. Keep peeling away the layers—they will become your cups. You can always double up layers if you like a crispier cup.

Arrange the leaves on a platter and fill each cup with the stir-fry—but be sure not to overfill them. Garnish with a few sprinkles of cilantro.

GUESTS :

Karen Bussen
Author, Simple Stunning Weddings
E-mail: Karen@karenbussen.com
Website: www.karenbussen.com