Party Food Archives - Nerds with Knives

Classic Deviled Eggs

June 13, 2022June 13, 2022 by Emily

No longer just the darling of 1970s dinner parties, deviled eggs are a delightful addition to any gathering. And they’re a cinch to whip up! Our version has tender whites, and a creamy, almost whipped center bursting with flavor.

Shrimp Toast with Sweet and Spicy Dipping Sauce

March 7, 2022 by Emily

A retro snack that deserves a resurgence, pan-fried Shrimp Toast are surprisingly easy to make. They have a layer of pureed shrimp, seasoned with garlic, ginger and scallions, on top of an ultra-crispy, light layer of fried bread. Dip them into our sweet and spicy sauce.

Goat Cheese-stuffed Phyllo Triangles with Hot Honey Drizzle

August 31, 2021August 30, 2021 by Emily

These crisp and buttery phyllo triangles are stuffed with tart, creamy goat cheese, smokey mozzarella and a little bit of fresh peach. Serve them warm and drizzled with our addictive sweet and spicy honey. These are perfect for as finger food for a party or as a plated appetizer.

Dumpling-Flavored Sausage Rolls

April 25, 2021January 27, 2021 by Emily

Here’s the story behind these dumpling-flavored sausage rolls. We had friends over at Christmas, and while serving up a plate of pigs-in-a-blanket, my friend pointed to them and said “Hey, what do you British call those? Isn’t there a crazy, funny name you have for those?” I was momentarily nonplussed as, a) we usually DO have a crazy, funny name for things, but b) I had no idea what else we might call them, having been out of the country, and therefore the loop, for about twenty years. (“Her Majesty’s Tiniest Corgis”? “Cheeky Blinders”? Answers on a postcard, please.)

A brief research session reminded me that Brits traditionally reserve the term “pigs in blankets” for small, un-cased sausages (which we call chipolatas) wrapped in bacon, not puff pastry, and that they’re a Christmas staple. (I then asked both my siblings to confirm this and they went straight for the sausage-in-pastry option instead, which, honestly, helps NOBODY.)

But while this post is about sausages in puff pastry, we’re not making pigs in blankets. We’re making sausage rolls. And we’re making them dumpling-flavored – seasoned with ginger, garlic, scallions and chili. Buckle up!

Roasted Beets and Whipped Feta Tart

February 19, 2021August 1, 2019 by Emily

This simple, elegant tart has a layer of creamy whipped feta cheese topped with lightly marinated roasted beets. A puff pastry shell makes it a breeze to prepare, while a scattering of fresh mint and crunchy pistachios adds crunch and freshness.

We’ve been finishing up a few projects here at Nerds with Knives, which is why you might not have seen a new post from us for (checks watch) six to eight weeks. One of those projects is, we’re thrilled to announce, our new cookbook, Cork and Knife, which will be published in six days! You can follow the link to read all about it and pre-order. Please check it out!

In the meantime, our summer garden has been producing some delicious harvests, and this week we’d like to talk about our beets (that’s beetroots to you in the U.K.). There’s a reason why beet and goat cheese salads have been ubiquitous on menus for as long as we’ve had menus to peruse: it’s a fantastic combination. But like any classic pairing, the devil is in the details. I adore beets, but they often need a little coaxing to bring out their best flavor. They are referred to as having an “earthy” flavor by those who love them, and “like dirt” by those who don’t. That earthiness, which is found in many root vegetables like carrots and potatoes, is produced by a compound called geosmin.

(Nerd note: geosmin is also found in one of my favorite scents, and favorite words, petrichor – the smell of the earth when it just starts to rain.) Acids break down geosmin, which is why beets are often paired with a tart vinaigrette. Tart cheeses, like chèvre, feta and some blues are a tasty foil to that sweet earthiness.

Beets_Chioggia — Chioggia beets minutes after being pulled from the garden.

Ultra-Smooth Hummus with Miso and Charred Scallions

March 24, 2021March 25, 2019 by Emily

We’ve been dreaming about Michael Solomonov’s hummus recipe (from his incredible cookbook Zahav), since we first made it in 2015. You might remember hearing about it because it was one of those recipes that was everywhere, at least in the food blog world. It seemed like everyone and their cousin Sally was making it, raving about it and blogging it. Well, ever on the cutting edge, we’ve finally come up with our take on it and not a moment too soon.

We give our version a twist with the addition of white (shiro) miso, which is one of our all-time favorite ingredients and something we have permanently in stock. Miso has a deeply nutty, slightly fermented saltiness and a hint of sweetness that is just delicious, especially when paired with something tart, like lemon. Along with the (also nutty) tahini, it adds a layer of flavor that hits just the right note.