HORS D’OEUVRES – “Opening Bets”
- Jackpot Shrimp Shooters
Presentation: Tall shot glasses with a dollop of cocktail sauce, a large shrimp hanging on the rim, and a mini celery stick “stirrer.” Serve on mirrored trays with red and black napkins.
Ingredients:
- 1 lb large cooked shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 1 cup cocktail sauce
- Celery sticks, cut into 3-inch thin pieces
- Lemon wedges
Steps:
- Fill each shot glass with 2 tablespoons of cocktail sauce.
- Drape one shrimp over the edge of each glass.
- Insert a celery stick for garnish and a touch of crunch.
- Serve chilled with lemon wedges on the side.
- High Stakes Stuffed Mushrooms
Presentation: Arrange mushrooms on a dark tray lined with green felt or turf for a “poker table” look. Add mini card suit flags for garnish.
Ingredients:
- 20 large white mushrooms, stems removed
- 1/2 cup cream cheese
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan
- 2 tablespoons chopped chives
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- Salt and pepper to taste
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 375°F.
- Mix cream cheese, Parmesan, garlic, chives, salt, and pepper.
- Spoon mixture into each mushroom cap.
- Place on a baking sheet and bake for 18–20 minutes.
- Let cool slightly before serving.
MAIN BITES – “House Specials”
- Lucky 7 Mini Sliders
Presentation: Serve 7 sliders per tray with a “Lucky 7” skewer pick. Arrange in a horseshoe shape around a small pile of kettle chips or pickle spears.
Ingredients:
- 2 lbs ground beef (makes about 14 mini patties)
- Slider buns
- Cheddar cheese slices, cut into quarters
- Pickles, ketchup, mustard
- Salt and pepper
Steps:
- Season beef and form into small patties.
- Grill or pan-fry for 3 minutes per side.
- Toast slider buns lightly.
- Assemble with cheese, pickle, ketchup, and mustard.
- Skewer with decorative picks and serve hot.
- Royal Flush Flatbreads
Presentation: Flatbreads cut into playing card shapes (hearts, diamonds, etc.) with a small cookie cutter. Serve stacked on slate boards or wooden trays labeled with playing card values.
Ingredients:
- Store-bought naan or flatbread
- 1/2 cup pesto
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- Fresh basil
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 400°F.
- Spread pesto over flatbreads.
- Add cheese and cherry tomatoes.
- Bake for 8–10 minutes until cheese melts.
- Let cool, then cut into shapes with a cookie cutter or slice into small squares.
- Garnish with fresh basil.
DESSERTS – “Sweet Winnings”
- Chocolate Poker Chips
Presentation: Serve on a green felt tray with card suit confetti or stacked in chip piles.
Ingredients:
- White, milk, and dark chocolate melts
- Silicone poker chip molds (or use coin molds)
Steps:
- Melt chocolate in a double boiler.
- Pour into molds and tap to remove air bubbles.
- Refrigerate until set, about 1 hour.
- Pop out and arrange in chip stacks.
- Ace of Cakes Mini Cupcakes
Presentation: Decorate with red or black frosting and a playing card topper (edible or paper). Display in rows of 4 like a hand of cards.
Ingredients:
- 1 box vanilla cake mix (or homemade batter)
- Red and black gel food coloring
- Buttercream frosting
- Mini cupcake liners
- Playing card toppers
Steps:
- Prepare cake batter and divide into mini liners.
- Bake per directions (usually 12-14 minutes for mini size).
- Let cool completely.
- Color buttercream red and black.
- Pipe onto cupcakes and top with card suit symbols or toppers.
- Dice Sugar Cookies
Presentation: Display cookies in stacks of two, like dice. Use black royal icing dots to mimic pips. Serve on tiered trays.
Ingredients:
- Sugar cookie dough
- Royal icing (white and black)
- Square cookie cutter
Steps:
- Roll out dough and cut into 2-inch squares.
- Bake at 350°F for 8–10 minutes. Cool completely.
- Ice with white royal icing and let dry.
- Use black icing to pipe pips (dots) like on dice (1–6).
- Dry overnight before stacking or packaging.