Easy Entertaining Ideas

While watching the fabulous Nigella Lawson today on her weekly show on the Food Network, I just had to pass on a couple of her ideas for an easy yet delicious and healthy dinner party at home. The meal is Mediterranean in style, and features several items you can essentially pick up at the market but enhance a bit by adding a few additional ingredients. I absolutely adore prosciutto, and why not steam or saute green beans, dip them in balsamic vinegar and wrap little bunches of 4 to 5 beans in a strip of prosciutto. Serve on a large platter and voila. For a superb dip, buy your favorite hummus and add a cup or two of Greek yogurt (which is widely available now - look for Pace brand) and combine. Serve in a pretty, shallow dish and add chopped parsley and paprika as garnish. Serve with toasted pita wedges and sliced vegetables. For the main, shrimp is a delicious quick cook - saute frozen or fresh shrimp with tail on with red pepper flakes, salt, pepper and chopped ginger until the shrimp are pink. Add chopped fresh parsley and serve. Round out the meal with roasted olives, a simple green salad and a selection of cheeses. Enjoy everything with delicious vino. Entertaining should be fun, and making these simple yet tasty and beautiful dishes lends itself to that notion perfectly.