Choose tasteful dishes such as roasted quail or herb salmon for guests to enjoy at your five-year anniversary party. Simple side dishes such as roasted vegetables, potato wedges or rice go well with these types of foods. Select two or more desserts such as chocolate mousse or old-fashioned cheesecake as the finishing touch to your meal. Desserts should complement a meal, and you can also choose to feature more than one dinner dish at your party.
Roasted Herb Salmon
"Shape", magazine recommends trying roasted herb salmon. This dish is sure to satisfy the taste buds of just about everyone who attends your anniversary party. This recipe feeds four people, but you can adjust the recipe to feed more guests if you are having a large party.
Buy 4 5-ounce salmon fillets that are about 1-2 inches thick. Other needed ingredients are Dijon mustard, minced thyme, rosemary and dried oregano in addition to salt, black pepper, cooking spray, onions and tomatoes. Preheat your oven to 450 degrees and spray a baking pan with cooking spray. Use a knife to make five tiny slits in the top of the salmon.
Combine lemon, 2 tbsp. of Dijon mustard, 2 tbsp. lemon juice and 1 tbsp. of thyme, rosemary and oregano in a bowl. Mix these ingredients together and then add 1/2 tsp of salt and black pepper.Coat your salmon with this mixture and place plastic wrap over the salmon. Leave the fish in the fridge for 15 minutes. The mixture slowly drips into the slits and melt on top.
Cut up two tomatoes and one onion and place these in the bottom of your baking pan. Place the salmon directly on top of the tomatoes and onion. If you have extra marinate left, pour it on top of the salmon. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes or until the fish is tender. Serve this meal with a spinach salad, rice or other roasted vegetables. For desert choose cheesecake and lemon pie for your guests to choose from.
Spicy Ginger Chicken Served in Lettuce Cups
If you want a spicy option, then choose spicy ginger chicken served in crisp lettuce cups. "Good Housekeeping", magazine recommends this savory dish. This recipe serves four people, but you can modify the recipe to serve more guests if you like.
Buy 10 large Boston lettuce leaves, soy sauce, ginger, garlic, sugar, red pepper, celery, one pound of ground chicken, sliced water chestnuts and chopped roasted peanuts.
Find a small bowl and mix 2 tbsp. soy sauce, 1 tbsp. grated ginger, 1/8 tsp. crushed red pepper and 1 clove of crushed garlic. Set this mixture aside for now. Place a skillet on the stove and set at medium-high heat. Add one pound of ground chicken and allow the meat to cook for five minutes. Continually stir the meat and allow it to cook on all sides. Separate the meat with a spoon as you cook it on the stove. Add two stalks of chopped celery to the skillet and continue to cook for two more minutes as you stir the ingredients.Then add 1/2 cup of sliced water chestnut to the pan along with your soy sauce mixture that you made earlier. Allow these ingredients to cook for one minute and then add 1/4 cup of dry roasted chopped peanuts. Cook for a few more seconds. The peanuts are only cooked for a very short time so that they remain crunchy.
Wash your lettuce cups and place these on plates. You can also have this ready before hand. Use a large spoon to place a fist-sized amount of your chicken mixture in each cup. Guests can fold the leaves over and use their hands to pick up and eat this dish or simply eat it with a fort. Serve this meal with potato wedges, steamed vegetables or a salad. Choose apple pie or cherry pie for dessert.
Source: Good Housekeeping Magazine
Roasted Quail
Roasted quail is an elegant dish that guests are sure to enjoy at your anniversary party. This recipe feeds eight people, but you can also change the recipe and add more ingredients so that you can feed more people.
Buy 8 thawed quail, tarragon, softened butter and salt and pepper. Mix 8 tbsp. of softened butter in a bowl and then wash your quail breasts. Wash your hands and use your fingers to spread the softened butter all over each quail breast. Pour 1/4 tsp of tarragon and butter inside the cavity of each bird as well. Preheat your oven to 450 degrees and place the birds on a greased baking dish. Roast the quails for 25 minutes and continually use a baster to add more butter on top as the birds cook. After the bird is cooked, allow the quail to sit for five minutes to cool off before serving.
Serve salad, sweet bread, baked potatoes or roasted vegetables with this dish. You can also serve more than one side dish. Choose chocolate cake or strawberry cheesecake for dessert.
