Fabulously Festive Party Trays

November 18, 2010
Credit: Jennifer Davick
A few well-chosen offerings keep these party trays simple—an elegant presentation makes them special.
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Dixie Party Tray

Credit: Jennifer Davick

The Perfect Party Tray Cheese:

Thomasville Tomme Cheese from Sweet Grass Dairy ( sweetgrassdairy.com) in Georgia. Guests will find it mellow, buttery, and easy to love. (You may substitute Manchego.) Buy 2 to 3 oz. per person.

Homemade Bites: Brined Pecans, Toast Points

Grocery Pickups: Country ham and peach preserves

Wine Pairing: Beachaven Brut, Tennessee (beachavenwinery.com) or Domaine Chandon Brut Classic, California

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Brined Pecans

Credit: Photo: Jennifer Davick

Add flair to pecan halves with this fragrant sugary, salty coating.

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Toast Points

Credit: Photo: Jennifer Davick

In 15 minutes, you can turn basic white bread into crisp, flavorful triangles. They pair perfectly with cheese, ham, and fruit preserves.

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Creole Party Tray

Credit: Photo: Jennifer Davick

The Perfect Cheese: Louisiana’s Bittersweet Plantation Dairy Kashkaval Bulgarian-style Yellow Cheese (jfolse.com/bittersweet_dairy/). (You may substitute Gouda.)

Homemade Bites: Smoked Paprika-Glazed Andouille, Frenchie Flats

Grocery Pickups: Sweet Cajun trail mix and pickled okra. (We tested with Archer Farms trail mix from Target.)

Wine Pairing: Pontchartrain Vineyards Louis D’Or, Louisiana (pontchartrainvineyards.com) or Foxglove Zinfandel, California

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Smoked Paprika-Glazed Andouille

Credit: Photo: Jennifer Davick

Garlic, paprika, and thyme add a zesty coating to this flavroful sausage. Serve with toothpicks.

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Frenchie Flats

Credit: Photo: Jennifer Davick

Sprinkled with Creole seasoning, these crispy bread strips taste great with cheese, with wine, or by themselves.

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Blue Ridge Party Tray

Credit: Photo: Jennifer Davick

The Perfect Cheese:

Barren Co. Bleu Cheese ( kennysfarmhousecheese.com) from Kentucky. It’s a tart yet subtle blue cheese that’s delicious with fruit and nuts. (You may substitute Stilton or Gorgonzola.)

Homemade Bites: Sweet Potato Chips, a nod to North Carolina’s cash crop

Grocery Pickups: Golden Delicious apples (the state fruit of West Virginia) and glazed walnuts. (We tested with Emerald Original Glazed Walnuts.)

Wine Pairing: RayLen Vineyards Cabernet Franc, North Carolina (raylenvineyards.com) or Eberle Estate Muscat Canelli, California

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Sweet Potato Chips

Credit: Photo: Jennifer Davick

The secret to crisp sweet potato chips is to fry them in small batches, in peanut oil, at a low temperature. This makes 6 servings when served as a side but will be plenty for 10 with the other foods on the tray.

Recipe: Sweet Potato Chips

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