Pie in the Sky: The Party
April 26, 2009
marthastewart.com
Summer nights are made for eating outdoors with friends, preparing simple and delicious meals using the freshest seasonal ingredients, and laughing and talking by citronella candlelight long after the sun goes down. I invited a few friends for dinner last weekend, and served a casual feast of gourmet pizzas, chopped salad, and a decadent flourless chocolate cake for dessert. The pizzas are best served on a huge wood cutting board placed right on the table so guests can dig in.
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Plan of Attack
- A guest list of 6 – 8 works best for this party, and plan on making one 12″ pizza for every 2 guests.
- Morning of the party: set up patio area with tables, chairs, cushions, flowers, citronella candles, & mosquito spray. If you don’t have outdoor speakers, set up an iPod to play the party soundtrack. Set the table with all plates, glassware, flatware, & napkins, and cover with a sheet to protect from bugs and pollen.
- 1 hour before: Toss together all salad ingredients (except the dressing) and pop into the fridge. Chill wine & water.
- 30 minutes before: Prep pizza toppings before guests arrive, and start assembling the pizzas so they’ll be ready to slide right into the oven.
- When guests arrive, greet them with a drink and set out bruschetta to nibble on until dinnertime. Let them mingle while the pizzas bake, then recruit helpers to take everything outside to lay out the feast!
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The Libations
- Although I’m more of a Pinot Grigio girl, traditionalists dictate a red pairing, such as a Cab or Chianti. To keep things light and summery, try a Lambrusco, which is a sparkling red wine that’s not too sweet.
- Ice cold water is a must for balmy summer nights. Make it a bit more festive by dropping paper-thin slices of cucumber and lemon in the bottom of a glass pitcher before filling with water.
- With dessert, an effervescent Moscato d’Asti provides the perfect sweetness to complement the rich chocolate cake. Espresso is also delish.
marthastewart.com
Check back tomorrow for all the recipes, including Gorgonzola & Honey Bruschetta, Thai Chicken Pizzas, Waldorf Chopped Salad, & Flourless Chocolate & Orange Cake.
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FYI – Two quick tips (’cause I do this all the time with clients and friends)
#1 – Go to Whole Foods or Trader Joes and get Pizza Dough – You get the homemade from scratch feeling without all the work.
#2 – Give each guest a little ball of dough, and set out all the different toppings so they can make their own little mini pizzas – It’s a great activity, and you would be surprised how many people have never doen it!