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Holiday Dinner Party with Mini Food

For a holiday party this year, I thought it would be fun to host a dinner party where all the food was miniature. My friend Andrea came up with the perfect mini menu. I wanted a fun way to present it so I went to the hardware store and bought some thin planks of wood and some bricks to line up all the pretty dishes down the table. It was so easy and looked so pretty. I always shop at Crate and Barrel for mini dishes (I have for years!). They have the best selection of appetizer plates and holiday entertaining supplies. Click through below to our party.

Holiday Entertaining with Appetizers in Mini Dishes | Oh Happy Day! Holiday Entertaining with Appetizers in Mini Dishes | Oh Happy Day! Holiday Entertaining with Appetizers in Mini Dishes | Oh Happy Day!

Mascarpone Mousse with Pomegranate and Mini Gingerbread Recipe | Oh Happy Day!

Mascarpone Mousse with Pomegranate and Mini Gingerbread

For pomegranate syrup:

  • 2 cups pomegranate juice
  • ¼ cup sugar

Combine sugar and pomegranate juice in a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally until sugar is dissolved. Continue to simmer about 20-30 minutes, until thick and reduced to about ⅔ cup. Cool completely.

For Mini Gingerbread Men:

  • 1/4 cup shortening
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 2 tablespoons molasses
  • 1 1/4 cups flour
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon ginger
  • 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 2 tablespoons water

Step 1: Cream together shortening and sugar. Combine flour, salt, and spices in a separate bowl. Add flour mixture and water to shortening mixture, mix until well combined and dough has formed. Cover dough and chill thoroughly, about 3 hours.
Step 2: Roll out to about 1/8″ thick and cut with mini gingerbread man cookie cutter. Transfer carefully to a baking sheet lined with parchment or a silicone baking mat and dust each shape with superfine sugar. To help cookies keep their shape, before baking place baking sheet in the freezer for 10-20 minutes, until dough is very well chilled.
Step 3: Heat oven to 375. Bake about 5-7 minutes

For mascarpone mousse:

  • 2 cups mascarpone, room temperature
  • 2 cups heavy cream
  • ¼ cup sugar
  • zest of one small lemon

Step 1: Add all ingredients to the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a whisk attachment. Beat until soft peaks form. Cover and refrigerate for at least 3 hours.
Step 2: Transfer to large piping bag fitted with a large round tip. Pipe into mini glass oval bowls.
Step 3: Drizzle pomegranate syrup around the edge of the dish, and top with pomegranate arils. Serve with mini gingerbread men.

Holiday Entertaining with Appetizers in Mini Dishes | Oh Happy Day! Mini Cheese Plates for Holiday Entertaining | Oh Happy Day!

These miniature cheese plates have sugared mini apples, three kinds of cheese and some crackers and breads.

Holiday Entertaining with Appetizers in Mini Dishes | Oh Happy Day! Asparagus Soup with Creme Fraiche Recipe | Oh Happy Day!

Asparagus Soup with Creme Fraiche

  • 6 tablespoons butter, divided
  • 1 leek, cleaned, trimmed, and coarsely chopped
  • 1 1/2 lbs asparagus, coarsely chopped
  • 3 cups chicken or vegetable broth, divided
  • 1/4 cup flour
  • 1 cup cream
  • 1 ½ teaspoons salt
  • ½ teaspoon pepper
  • creme fraiche
  • pea shoots (optional)

Step 1: Melt 2 tablespoons of the butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add leeks and cook for 2 minutes. Add asparagus and cook for 2 minutes more. Add 1 cup of broth and bring to a boil. Simmer until leeks and asparagus are tender, about 10 minutes. Allow to cool for about 10 minutes.
Step 2: Transfer to a blender and puree until smooth. Set aside.
Step 3: Return the pot to the stove and melt remaining 4 tablespoons of butter over medium heat. Add flour, salt, and pepper and cook, stirring frequently, until very thick.
Step 4: Add the pureed asparagus, cream and remaining 2 cups of broth. Stir until well combined and heated through.
Step 5: Serve in mini square ramekins. Top with a dollop of creme fraiche and pea shoots.

Holiday Entertaining with Appetizers in Mini Dishes | Oh Happy Day! Chocolate Hazelnut Wontons with Caramel Recipe | Oh Happy Day!

 

Chocolate Hazelnut Wontons with Caramel

  • wonton wrappers, about 15-30
  • chocolate hazelnut spread, about 1 cup
  • toasted hazelnuts, about 1 cup, chopped
  • oil for frying
  • caramel sauce, about 1 cup

To toast hazelnuts: Heat oven to 350°F. Spread hazelnuts on a baking sheet. Toast for about 10-15 minutes, until hazelnuts are lightly browned and skins are starting to separate. Remove from oven and allow to cool. Rub cooled hazelnuts in a towel to remove any loosened skins. Chop.

Step 1: Lay out wonton wrappers on a clean surface. In the center of each wrapper, drop a small spoonful of chocolate hazelnut spread, about 1 to 1 1/2 teaspoon, being careful to leave the edges clear. Top with a pinch or two of chopped toasted hazelnuts. With a small pastry brush or your finger, moisten the edges with a small amount of water. Fold wrapper in half diagonally, pressing firmly around the edges to seal.
Step 2: Fill a heavy medium sauce pan with about 3 inches of oil. Heat to 360°F over medium heat.
Step 3: Working with 3-4 at a time, slide wontons into the oil. Working quickly, flip wontons until each side is nicely browned and golden, about 1 minute total. Remove from oil with tongs or a slotted spoon and transfer to a baking sheet lined with paper towels to drain.
Step 4: Place each wonton in a mini glass octagon bowl. Top with warmed caramel sauce and remaining chopped hazelnuts. Serve immediately.

Holiday Entertaining with Appetizers in Mini Dishes | Oh Happy Day! Holiday Entertaining with Appetizers in Mini Dishes | Oh Happy Day!

 

This post is sponsored by Crate and Barrel all opinions are my own.

Photos by Paul Ferney for Oh Happy Day
Food by Andrea Pimental
Flowers by Natalie Bowen Designs

  1. maggie

    December 4, 2014

    This may be the cutest mini spread I have ever seen. The asparagus soup sounds AMAZING.

    maggie
    http://www.shopean.etsy.com

  2. mom in mendon

    December 4, 2014

    This is SO appealing. LOVE the small servings, the variety, and the display.

  3. Rachel

    December 4, 2014

    Wowza! This is such a beautiful spread. Well done!

  4. Jessica

    December 4, 2014

    This so so great! I love it x

    http://www.wild-cherrytree.com

  5. Justine

    December 4, 2014

    Gorgeous! And everything sounds SO delicious!

  6. Marlan Willardson | MWPR

    December 4, 2014

    Love it!!! Love the planks and bricks for height — so smart!

  7. Angie

    December 4, 2014

    so pretty and inspiring!

  8. Sabrina

    December 4, 2014

    This is too cute!

  9. 204 Park

    December 4, 2014

    Oh my gosh I ADORE this post – the photos are amazing and it’s such a fun idea! Thanks for the inspiration! XO, D

  10. jenna @ just j.faye

    December 4, 2014

    This is such an adorable idea! Everything is cuter when it’s mini.

  11. Viv

    December 4, 2014

    Jordan, this looks AMAZING! Wow.

  12. Phoebe

    December 5, 2014

    Amazing dinner!! So beautiful!

  13. Sian

    December 5, 2014

    I love this! All look divine.

  14. Eric

    December 5, 2014

    Very colorful and wonderfully styled!

  15. Cilt Bakımı

    December 5, 2014

    This is such a beautiful spread. Well done!

    http://kadinamoda.com/Kategori/cilt-bakimi

  16. Robin

    December 5, 2014

    Gorgeous and looks delicious!

  17. Laura

    December 5, 2014

    Love the idea of having mini plates! Looks great.
    Xo,
    Laura
    http://seeingthesunrise.blogspot.com

  18. Shannon

    December 5, 2014

    This post made me seriously hungry! What a brilliant idea. I love doing finger foods for parties, but this is so much more!

  19. Jen

    December 5, 2014

    Wow! This looks delicious, creative, and beautiful. Looking forward to following what else you do. Happy Holidays.

  20. nadine

    December 6, 2014

    Is there a recipe for the lamb chops? <3

  21. christy

    December 6, 2014

    is that Olive Branches in the corner vase? seriously, gorgeous. oh. and the food, too. perfect!

  22. Victoria

    December 9, 2014

    Too adorable!

  23. Rebekah @ Ritzy Reba

    December 10, 2014

    Holy cow! This is beautiful/adorable/incredibly tempting! Everything looks amazing!

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