No Cook Entertaining According to the Experts, You Can Put Together Fabulous Food and Wine with Less Effort Than You Think

Ready made ingredients can make a company-worthy dinner--just add some wine and a smashing presentation.

(PRWEB) November 17, 2004 -- You don't have time to cook, but you can't stand the idea of another night of drive through and deliveries. What do you do?

Open a nice bottle of Riesling, invite the neighbors over and enjoy a fine meal. No cook entertaining is easier than you might imagine, experts say, if you just think creatively.

Most people think that a fast meal means going through the drive through and eating out of a Styrofoam container. The fact is, you can put together ready made ingredients, pour a glass of wine and eat like you're living the high life--without heating up a single pan," said Christopher Klau, President of Schmitt Sohne Wines USA, the largest importer of Rieslings in the US. The trick is in the presentation. If you can make the food look beautiful, and pair it with a beautiful wine, you can elevate ordinary ingredients into something really special," he added.

Out of all the varieties of wine, Rieslings pair with the most types of food, so it is a smart item to stock in your home bar. Have it on hand, and you'll be ready in an instant to have guests over, or just have a quiet, special meal at home," Klau said.

Klau recommended the following quick assembly recipes and wine pairings:

Appetizers:
--Foccacia Dippers- Buy a loaf of Tomato Focaccia Bread, available in most upscale bread stores and in many supermarkets. Slice into squares. Serve with a dish of 3/4 cup olive oil mixed with three tablespoons dried herb mix such as herbs de provence or Italian seasoning. Use oil for dipping and serve with a crisp, clean Schmitt Sohne Blue Bottle Kabinett Riesling.

--Ready-Made Sushi/California Rolls-Available at most delis, California Rolls are a healthy and flavorful beginning to a meal. Cut the rolls halfway at an angle and fan them out with the sushi on a pretty plate. Serve with Schmitt Sohne Blue Bottle QbA Riesling.

Salads:
--Fruity Mixed Salad-Buy a bag of prewashed salad greens. Add one small package of sliced mushrooms, a 12 oz. can of mandarin oranges (drained), blue cheese crumbles and a cup of almond slices. Garnish with red onion slices, or chopped onion from your grocery store's salad bar. Serve with ready-made raspberry vinaigrette dressing, crusty French bread or croissant, and Schmitt Sohne Blue Bottle Kabinett.

--Strawberry Salad-Buy a bag of prewashed field greens ready to eat, toss on fresh strawberries, candied pecans, raisins, crumbled goat cheese and poppy seed dressing. Serve with strawberry or poppy seed muffins from the deli and Schmitt Sohne Auslese.

Main Dishes:
--Chicken salad-Buy chicken salad from the deli. Cut two oranges in half, hollow out, and fill with the chicken salad. Serve with deli potato salad, wedges of foccacia bread, marinated corn salad from the deli or grocery salad bar, and Schmitt Sohne's Relax Riesling.

--Roasted Chicken-Rotisserie Chicken from the deli makes a beautiful presentation when you pair it with ready made mashed potatoes, corn & black bean salad, fresh fruit and a bottle of Relax Riesling.

--Fish to go-Many grocery stores will actually cook your fish for you before you leave the store, if you ask. Have them steam some fresh Sea Bass or Halibut, top with butter and a seasoning salt or herb mix of your choosing. Serve with deli rice pilaf or ready-made rice mix now available in pouches, French bread, a side salad and pre-peeled fresh sliced pineapple spears from the produce section. Serve with a crisp Schmitt Sohne Blue Bottle Kabinett.

--Barbecue Ribs-A break from regular fast food fare, barbecue ribs make a great plate presentation, and are available to go from barbecue restaurants or butcher shops. The secret is to heat them and arrange them nicely. Arrange the ribs on a platter, and garnish with corn cobbettes (from a restaurant, or frozen from the store.), and garnish with tomato slices. Serve slaw in a side bowl sprinkled with herbs. Serve with a Schmitt Sohne Blue Bottle Spatlese.

Desserts:
--Pound cake & pudding-The frozen or ready-made pound cake has been the standby of many an impromptu entertainer. Simply slice the cake, and top it with a ready-made pudding cup full of vanilla pudding. Top with fresh or frozen raspberries, and a sprinkle of confectioner's sugar or whipped cream.

--Dressed up Lemon Roll-Available in most grocery stores, pre-made lemon or raspberry rolls taste as good as they look. Simply top with a strong shake of powdered sugar, and garnish with a lemon twist or fresh raspberries.

Nothing goes with dessert like an Auslese Riesling, as it pairs so well with desserts.

Schmitt Sohne USA sells more than 50 percent of all Rieslings in the U.S. The company markets German Wines under the well-recognized blue bottle Schmitt Sohne label as well as Relax Riesling, estate wines from Peter Nicolay and Schloss Vollrads. In addition, Schmitt Sohne USA provides American wine lovers with a wide variety of well known, traditional village vineyard German wines from the Rhine and Mosel valleys.

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