On any given night, I'm way more inclined to have some good friends over for food and drinks than actually deal with the whole process of going out. Don't get me wrong — I do love the occasional excuse to dress up and socialize in the outside world, but DIY-ing your own get-together tends to be a little more special. Quality time with your favorite people, good food, and good drinks, are, after all, arguably the best things in life. And throwing an impromptu night in that goes beyond Seamless and a bottle of wine is not nearly as taxing as you might think. With just a little bit of work, you can add a dash of style to the proceedings.
We've teamed up with the Samsung Gear S2 to elevate your dinner-party game with a few simple appetizer recipes. They're all no-bake, easily customizable, and perfect for even the pickiest guests. Baguettes can totally be subbed for gluten-free options, herbs can be experimented with, and ingredients can be added or subtracted to fit all of your culinary desires. If you don't feel like a MasterChef yet, you will soon. Now all you need is a great playlist, some tasty cocktails, and some hungry friends (who maybe don't mind being your sous chef).
Prosciutto-Wrapped Caprese Skewers
- Proscuitto
- Mini mozzarella balls
- Grape or cherry tomatoes
- Fresh basil
- Extra-virgin olive oil
- Balsamic vinegar
- Sea salt
- Fresh ground pepper
- Small skewers
First, make sure that your tomatoes and basil leaves are washed and dried. Halve your tomatoes and rip basil leaves off by hand.
With your hands, pull long, thin sections of prosciutto. Wrap each mozzarella ball with a prosciutto strip.
Take a skewer, and start with one tomato half, open side down. Add a basil leaf, then a prosciutto-wrapped mozzarella ball. Add another basil leaf then another tomato half in the reverse direction.
Line skewers on a tray, and drizzle lightly with EVOO and balsamic. Sprinkle with sea salt and fresh ground pepper to finish.
Smoked Salmon Tartare Toasts With Creme Fraiche
- Smoked salmon
- English cucumber
- Fresh dill
- Red onion
- Lemon
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Fresh baguette
- Creme fraiche
- Fresh ground pepper
This recipe is very easily adjustable to the number of servings you're going for. I would allow roughly one piece of smoked salmon per person — the rest is very much up to preference.
Finely dice the salmon and cucumber in equal amounts. Mince the red onion and fresh dill to taste. Mix salmon, cucmber, red onion, and dill until combined. Drizzle with olive oil and add fresh squeezed lemon juice and fresh ground pepper to taste. Mix gently until combined.
Thinly slice your baguette and toast if desired. Then spread each with a dollop of creme fraiche, and top with a spoonful of the smoked salmon mixture.
Garnish with fresh dill.
Caramelized Onion And Goat Cheese Crostini With Thyme
- Sweet onion
- Butter
- Goat cheese
- Fresh thyme
- Fresh baguette
First, slice your onion into discs, and then into quarters. Melt a knob of butter in a roomy pan, then add onions and caramelize for about half an hour. Don't rush it! In hte meantime, slice your baguette. Toast them if you'd like.
Once your onions are ready, spread each slice of baguette with goat cheese.
Then top each with a small forkful of onions, and top with fresh thyme leaves.
Arrange all of your appetizers on some pretty plates, trays, or even a wooden cutting board for a super low-maintenance rustic vibe.
With the Samsung Gear S2, your incoming messages, important reminders, and dinner playlists are right at your wrist, so you can sit tight and wait for your guests to arrive. Now all you need to do is pop a bottle or two, queue up that playlist, and relax.
This post is sponsored by the Samsung Gear S2. Featured above: Samsung's gold watch face and native messaging app.
Photos: Lauren Perlstein
