What are some make-ahead recipes for an open house?

[Symara]

Ok, so I'm new and having two open houses for Feb, one durring the week and one on a weekend so everyone will have an option that works best. This is for my neighborhood. I need some make ahead recipes that I can have ready. I'm working full time in addition to this, but will probably take a half day for the weekday open house.

Does anyone have any suggestions for recipes that can be good set up samples to put next to the products they were made in? Type of product is not problem since I have a friend at work that has just about everything PC has made.

 

[AnnieBee]

Greek cheese torta, brownie truffle cups, apple berry salsa with cinnamon chips, mini quiche lorraine tartlets (make ahead and then warm in the oven).

I'll see what else I can think of!

 

[Symara]

I was thinking about those brownie truffles, and putting the ganache on them at the last moment. How long do you think the ganache will last before it melts?

 

[AnnieBee]

It will be fine at room temp, it is firm enough. You can also store it in the EAD in the fridge, and let people use it to top their own one, and add a garnish (sliced almonds, cherries, strawberry slice (if you have the egg slicer).

Oh, and something to show off the stoneware... Maybe a bar in the par pan to show how evenly it cooks?

 

[doughmama]

I love the brie w/ the apricot and pecans. I skip the hot pepper.

 

[doughmama]

The tiramisu brownie trifle always looks nice. I have made the white chicken chili only I substituted 1 can of red kidney beans because I like color (yes, so then it was not technically white but it looked a lot better). I also prepared the satay chicken pasta salad the night before and added some extra dressing just before serving. and the apple tartlets can be made the day before too - less caramel, another apple. I made these recipes for an open house - all the recipes from the new season's best. Went over well and many of my guests bought a season's best besides some other things.