Show off your culinary chops with bold dishes

November 06, 2009

Are you already bored with ho-hum winter casseroles? November 8 is Cook Something Bold Day, so take advantage of the holiday and plan a fancy and unusual feast to wake-up your taste buds.

If you haven't hosted a dinner party in a while, this is the perfect time. Create a menu based on your interpretation of the day. What does bold mean to you? You could serve guests something spicy and flavorful like spicy chicken paella, or just make something challenging that you've never tried before – attempting a soufflé with a home full of hungry guests is a very bold move indeed.

Of course, making your party a pot-luck dinner could take a little of the pressure off of you. It also encourages your guests to venture out of their culinary comfort zones. Don't give the dinner a theme or coordinate - the unexpected is part of the fun.

As host of a bold food pot-luck, provide appetizers and a dessert to your fellow brave chefs. Whip up something a little tricky like vegetarian sushi or mini chicken pot pies. For dessert, make your own ice cream or an old-fashioned pineapple upside down cake.