Recipes

Essential Party-Planning Tips

Posted: 8/18/2012

Chef Stephen Kalil

(NAPSI)—Whether you’re planning a backyard get-together or celebrating a special summer occasion, a few easy-to-follow tips can help make your party simply spectacular.

1. Make a list: Create a party prep list the week before your event. Pick up all ingredients, food, beverages, tableware, decorations and so on one to two days prior, so you can avoid last-minute trips to the store.

2. Showcase your own go-to recipes: Rely on simple yet tried-and-true crowd-pleasers. Everyone has a signature dish-it’s time to show off yours!

3. Take shortcuts: You can cut down prep time and still offer guests unique dishes by adding your own twist on ready-made salsas and dips.

4. Match the foods you serve with your guests’ tastes:

• If you are expecting a chatty group, stock up on Tostitos Scoops! tortilla chips so guests can dip and socialize all party long.

• Thrill the guys by serving snacks that taste like foods they already love, like the new Smokehouse Style BBQ flavored Ruffles potato chips.

5. Consider this great-tasting dip by Chef Stephen Kalil, Frito-Lay executive chef and a seasoned professional who’s accustomed to prepping for parties:

Tostitos Salsa Five Finger Shrimp Ceviche

1 (15.5-oz.) jar of Tostitos All-Natural Chunky Salsa

1/2 cup cucumber (peeled, seeded and diced)

1 Tbsp. chopped cilantro

1/2 lime, juiced

1 cup shrimp (cooked, peeled, diced into bite-size pieces)

Pour Tostitos All-Natural Chunky Salsa into a large bowl. Add in 1 cup of cooked, peeled and diced shrimp. Add in ½ cup cucumber. Squeeze in the juice of half a lime. Fold in 1 Tbsp. chopped cilantro.

Mix contents and transfer to serving bowl(s). (Prep time: 15 minutes. Cook time: 5 minutes. Servings: 20.)

Learn More

For more information, recipes and cooking tips, you can go to www.fritolay.com/recipes.