Both of these recipes for deviled eggs and shrimp cocktail are classic favorites for entertaining at parties, and are perfect for those on a budget. Mixing up new ingredients with old recipes will impress your guests and have them asking you for the recipes. Add new twists to your cocktails or drinks as well, with martinis containing pomegranate or blood orange spritzers.
Deviled Eggs Six Ways
Deviled eggs are a favorite of most people, whether they are young or old. For elegant entertaining on a budget, mix up the usual deviled eggs with other ingredients and toppings, creating Deviled Eggs Six Ways.
This recipe takes about 25 minutes to finish the eggs, with additional time for garnishing the eggs with toppings. This recipe is for around eight people, so increase the amounts of the food as necessary for your party.
Ingredients:
- 12 large eggs (preferably free range for better flavor)
- 1 tablespoon spicy Dijon mustard
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- Pepper and salt to taste
Toppings:
- Crumbled cooked bacon
- 1 1/2 tablespoons of Paprika
- Chopped chives, basil, thyme, oregano, rosemary, etc.
- Chopped cooked asparagus
- Chopped chile peppers
- Crumbled dark chocolate
Making the Deviled Eggs
- Place the eggs in a saucepan on your stove top and fill the pan with cool water until it is about a half inch over the eggs. Bring the water to a boil and let it cook for thirty seconds. Immediately remove from the heat and cover the pan.
- After ten minutes drain the eggs and fill the pan again with cold water. Let them sit for a minute. One by one, peel the eggs carefully so you do not pick off any of the egg white. Set the peeled eggs aside on a plate. Once you are done, use a sharp skinny knife to cut the eggs lengthwise in half. Scoop out the yolks with a small spoon and put in a mixing bowl. Set the whites aside on a plate.
- Mix the yolk with the mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, salt and pepper and paprika.
- Use the same spoon to place dollops of the mixture back into the egg whites, filling them a little above the top. Bring your toppings over to the eggs, and have fun sprinkling them with different ingredients. Top some of the eggs with a combination of chopped herbs, and others with organized slices of the chilies or asparagus. Top with a generous amount of the crumbled bacon, and top others with the crumbled dark chocolate. Chocolate may seem a weird topping for deviled eggs, but you may be pleasantly surprised at how versatile deviled eggs can become.
- Place the eggs in the refrigerator for at least two hours until serving.
Saucy Shrimps
Add some interesting flavors to the normal shrimp cocktail by using not only regular cocktail sauce, but other bowls containing dipping sauces. These sauces take a minimal amount of time to prepare and serve five guests each who are snacking consistently, so increase the ingredient amount accordingly.
Creamy Shallot Salsa
- 3 shallots, finely diced
- 3 beefsteak tomatoes
- 2 medium sized jalepenos
- 1/2 cup cilantro
- 1 medium sized avocado
- Salt and pepper to taste
Making the Salsa
Combine all the ingredients in a bowl and use an electric mixer to blend until creamy.
Tangy Guacamole
- 2 large avocadoes
- Salt and pepper
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
- 1/2 onion chopped
- 1.5 chopped jalepeno
Making the Guacamole
- Combine all the ingredients except for the avocado, lime and lemon juice in a bowl and mash with a fork until everything is mixed together. Next, add the rest of the ingredients and stir up to combine. If you want creamier guacamole, use the fork to mash up the avocado instead of just stirring it in.
- Have guests spoon a portion of each sauce onto their plates with the shrimp for dipping. Now all you have to decide is if you are going to give out the recipes to all the guests that ask!
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