Food Tag: Appetizers

Catering for Easy and Festive Spring Celebrations

Warmer weather brings flowers and celebrations – Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Memorial Day, graduations, wedding showers, and more. For many of us, the idea of “throwing together” a party is pretty intimidating. What will we serve? Will it be enough? How can we impress our guests without running ourselves ragged?

catering butcher boy north andover maWe’ve got the answers. At Butcher Boy, we offer an extensive selection of catering options – from mouth-watering appetizers to delicious entrees and side dishes, even luscious desserts. Whether your vibe is laid back and casual, or more upscale, we have just what you need. All you have to do is serve and hear the compliments that are sure to come your way.

Looking for a nice Mother’s Day or Father’s Day spread? Perhaps you’ll want to start with sausage rolls or phyllo puffs, or maybe the always-popular bacon-wrapped scallops. Follow with a comforting entree like Baked Stuffed Shells or elegant Mediterranean Chicken or one of our signature roasts. Accompany your meal with one of our delicious salads and selections from our wide assortment of vegetable, rice, or potato sides.

bakery custom cake butcher boy north andover maDid you know our bakery not only features cakes, breads, and pastries from popular local bakeries, but our own creations? End with a scrumptious dessert platter featuring authentic Italian cookies, brownies, fruit tarts, fresh-filled cannolis, or even New England’s iconic whoopie pies. For the ultimate dessert offering, consider a beautiful Konditor Meister cake, each a delicious work of art.

Putting on a casual party spread? Our platter assortment is extensive, including a variety of sandwiches, antipasti, as well as festive party and fruit options. Don’t forget the jumbo wings prepared with our famous marinades in Teriyaki, BBQ, or Buffalo flavors.

These are just a few of the many catering options we offer.  Let us help make your next gathering not only memorable but one both you and your guests can enjoy!

Game Day Favorites: Meaty Snacks, Main Dishes & More

game day favoritesFootball’s biggest game of the year is right around the corner. True, our home team won’t be playing, but it’s still a great excuse to gather with friends and family while you enjoy food and drinks. Have you decided what’s on the menu? Along with traditional chips and dips, your guests will devour all the more substantial game day foods. But heartier doesn’t have to mean more work. All of these ideas can be made ahead of time, and you won’t have to miss the game day fun stuck in the kitchen.

Chili is a no-brainer favorite at any watch party, but if you’re looking for something a bit different, try this meatier version using stew beef as the base. For a chili you can set and forget, check out this one for your slow cooker. If you do stick with the classic ground beef variety, put a twist on how you serve it and make it a Fritos® pie, which isn’t a pie at all, but a clever way to create individual, convenient servings.

For a beefy snack everyone will want a piece of, try meatball stuffed bread. Think meatball sub meets pizza. You can even make it football-shaped. And don’t be intimidated by the process – it’s extra simple when you use prepared dough.

Similar in concept, buffalo chicken Wellington puts a new spin on basic boneless tenders. It can be sliced and shared.

Your crowd is sure to expect wings. Use your favorite spices or rub…or try a new marinade, such as the one in this recipe for sweet and spicy drumettes or something with a Caribbean flavor. Want to skip ahead? Butcher Boy carries a wide selection of marinated chicken wings prepared in-house – simply open the bag and pop them in the oven or air fryer.

Another finger food favorite, pigs in a blanket, gets raised to a new level with kielbasa as the star ingredient.

Carnitas is a fantastic versatile dish. Slow cook a boneless pork shoulder and shred it. Then let your guests make pulled pork sandwiches or add it to nachos, or set it out with all the fixing for tacos.

Butcher Boy carries a wide selection of beverages to complete your game day feast. Choose from a variety of wine, beer, and soft drinks. You also can pick up dessert or prepared foods to make planning your party even simpler. Tell us which dishes are the big winners in your house!

Gluten-Free, Vegan, and Delicious – Onesto Foods

Onesto Foods_Gluten Free Onesto (OH-NEST-OH) means “honest” in Italian. 

After having children, Jane Ciccone and her husband, Jesse, wanted to continue the same Italian tradition they both grew up with: gathering in the kitchen as a family around 5 o’clock and sharing an antipasti platter before dinner. However, their young daughter at the time seemed allergic to gluten. Rather than give up the delicious combination of crackers, cheese, olives, and roasted veggies, Jane began searching for gluten-free crackers that her daughter could eat. Discouraged at the amount of overly-processed and preservative-filled options on most grocery store shelves, Jane began tinkering with her own recipes and promised to never use less than honest ingredients.

Because food that is made with the best possible ingredients not only tastes better, but also makes one feel better, Jane began creating her own “honest” recipes and the seeds of Onesto Foods were planted.

Onesto Foods will never sacrifice taste. Just like you, we care about what we eat. Each cookie and cracker recipe starts with simple, real ingredients. Every hand-crafted batch is baked with the promise of being gluten-free, vegan, and non-GMO. We strive to make food that we want to eat and feel good sharing with others. We think eating honest has never tasted so good.    

Onesto Foods is also passionate about doing its part to protect our environment. Did you know that…

  • our bakery is solar-powered?
  • our packaging is printed with sustainable vegetable and soy dyes”
  • 90% of the waste generated during the printing or our cookie packaging is recaptured and reused in a Waste to Energy Program?
  • our cracker packaging is printed with 100% wind energy?
  • we participate in the Forest Stewardship Council?

  “There is nothing else that can nourish your body and soul more than sharing delicious, healthy food with family and friends. It doesn’t have to be fancy or overly complicated. Slowing down and enjoying good food, a glass of wine and laughing with good people–always fills my cup!”     – Jane

—

WINNER: 2019 BEST ACCOMPANIMENT by CULTURE MAGAZINE

WE’RE ECO-MINDED!

We’re proud that our cookies and crackers are baked using solar power. And, our packaging is produced using 100% wind energy, printed with 100% vegetable dyes, printed on recycled cardboard and is 100% recyclable. 

“…make amazing food, as responsibly and mindfully as we can.”

 

Sides and Tips for Your Holiday Roast

The holidays have arrived and we’re here to help you prepare. Friends and family are what make the holidays special, the meat is what makes the meal. That’s why our Holiday Order Guide has a variety of roasts, available for order now by calling 978-688-1511.

Last year we featured the five meats of Christmas on our blog, a delicious assortment that satisfies even the pickiest of eaters. Whether you choose prime rib, tenderloin, or rump roast for your meal, our Beef Roasting Guide is the perfect resource to achieve that ideal temperature.

This year, we’ve compiled a of list delicious side recipes and resources for your meal’s centerpiece, so that you can focus your energy on enjoying the holidays instead.

Sauces and Sides

1) Red Wine and Wild Mushroom Sauce

Red Wine and Wild Mushroom Sauce
via Food Network

Our roasts pair well with Butcher Boy Au Jus and Béarnaise. If you’re looking for something a little different, this Red Wine and Wild Mushroom Sauce from Food Network will do the trick. Featuring an array of mushrooms, this creamy sauce is decadent and extremely easy to make.

2) Pan-Seared Brussels Sprouts with Cranberries and Pecans

Pan-Seared Brussels Sprouts with Cranberries and Pecans
via Rachel Schultz on Homemaking

Jazz up your required veggie side with Rachel Schultz on Homemaking‘s pan-seared brussels sprouts. Cranberries add a beautiful pop of color, while pecans add a needed crunch to this versatile dish.

3) Roasted Holiday Potatoes

Roasted Holiday Potatoes
via created by Diane

Potatoes are your meat’s favorite food companion. This side from created by Diane features both baking and sweet potatoes, making this the ultimate potato dish. Beautifully arranged, these holiday potatoes will look fantastic next to your roast.

Quick Hit Holiday Tips

  • Condense shopping trips. We’re open extra hours on Friday and Saturday, so stop in on the way home from holiday shopping.
  • Use a meat thermometer. Use these tips from Kitchn on using and maintaining your meat thermometer.
  • Plan your spirit pairings for your meat. This guide will show you how to pair wines to your favorite meal.
  • Choose appetizers to complement the meal! Consult this post for appetizer ideas, or order from our Holiday Order Guide.

Happy Holidays from Butcher Boy Market!

Want more holiday dinner ideas?

Stop by our store in North Andover. We’re always here to answer your questions.

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest to get the latest tips and know-how.

Spring Antipasto Platters and Appetizers

Spring is in full swing and it is finally warm outside. Take advantage of the pleasant weather by hosting a garden party, back yard barbecue, or a tea party in the sunroom. Food is the centerpiece of family and friend gatherings, so it’s important to have something for everyone.

Appetizers like antipasto platters and satay skewers are fantastic finger foods that invite socializing and mingling. Our catering menu offers a variety of platters, so you can order online for pick-up and join the rest of your guests without the stress of wondering when (or if) the food will arrive.

If you prefer to impress your guests with your own carefully crafted creation, we encourage trying the following delicious recipes:

1) Greek Inspired Antipasto Platter

Greek Inspired Antipasto Platter
via Half Baked Harvest

This antipasto platter from Half Baked Harvest has all the favorites of the traditional Italian version: deli meats, veggies, and mozzarella cheese, with an added Greek twist. Beautifully arranged sun-dried tomatoes, hummus, goat cheese, and pita chips fill out this cultural, culinary spread, including marinated feta and olives to enchant your guests’ palates. We’d be remiss not to mention the apricots, strawberries, fig jam, and honey that’ll appease those craving something sweeter.

2) Easy Antipasto Skewers

Antipasto Skewers
via The Mediterranean Dish

As the saying goes, “you eat with your eyes first.” Ingredients such as those in The Mediterranean Dish‘s Antipasto Skewers are selected for their color and texture, in order to set the stage for dinner. Rolled or folded proscuitto is stacked on a skewer, followed by artichoke hearts, mini mozzarella balls, cherry tomatoes, and finished off with a Kalmata olive. Parsley or basil leaves are rotated on the skewer, and dried oregano is sprinkled on top for garnish, making this appetizer true beauty on a stick.

3) Honey Balsamic Steak Bites

Honey Balsamic Steak Bites
via Tip Hero

Can an appetizer really deliver sweet, salty, and savory in one bite? Tip Hero‘s skewered steak bites have a deep infusion of flavor, thanks to the acidic nature of the balsamic vinegar in the marinade, which further tenderizes the meat. Sweetness is added through honey, saltiness with soy sauce, and finally, a savory finish with herbs and garlic. Marinade the steak for 1-4 hours, then pan cook to your liking. Use our handy Steak Guide to learn how to check the steak’s temperature without a thermometer.

4) Bacon Bourbon Meatballs

Bacon Bourbon Meatballs
via House of Yumm

There’s nothing tastier-sounding than alliteration, especially when bacon is involved. House of Yumm‘s Bacon Bourbon Meatballs are hand-formed from ground beef and bacon, then simmered in a pan filled with tangy bourbon-BBQ sauce. We love the zing of spice from chili powder. Toothpicks make these delicious bites the perfect no-mess appetizer, and the BBQ sauce works great in a tiny ramekin for your guests’ dipping pleasure.

5) Thai Chicken Satay with Peanut Sauce

Thai Chicken Satay with Peanut Sauce
via Carl’s Bad Craving

Baked or grilled, these chicken skewer appetizers from Carl’s Bad Craving are sure to be a hit opening act. Soy sauce, brown sugar, tumeric, and coriander are just some of the mouthwatering ingredients featured in the savory sauce that will function as both marinade and base of the Peanut Sauce. The chicken requires a minimum 6 hrs of refrigeration in the marinade, but we promise it is worth the wait. Next, peanut butter is added to the remaining sauce after boiling. All that’s left to do is for you to dip the chicken and enjoy.

Want more springtime appetizer ideas?

Stop by our store in North Andover. We’re always here to answer your questions.

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest to get the latest tips and know-how.

Simple and Elegant Appetizers for Your Holiday Party

Hosting a holiday party can be stressful, even if you’ve done it for years. We’re here to help. The appetizers listed below are delicious and simple, so you have one less thing to worry
about and can spend more time enjoying your family and friends.

1) Beef Tenderloin Crostini with Whipped Goat Cheese and Pesto

beeftenderloin
via Domesticate Me

There’s something indulgent and sophisticated about beef tenderloin that makes it perfect
for a holiday party. Domesticate Me has created a crostini that will wow your guests with its presentation and taste. The thinly cut beef rests upon a pillow of whipped goat cheese and topped with pesto. The end result is a bite-sized morsel that is divine. And no one will believe you when you tell them it took you less than 45 minutes to make.

2) Holiday Cocktail Meatballs

meatballs
via Food52

Cocktail meatballs are a party favorite. But too often, people resort to the frozen kind that’s anything but mouth-watering. In this recipe created by Food52, the meatballs are slathered in a homemade tangy sauce, which is offset with the addition of brown sugar. To save time, make the sauce in advance and reheat right before serving.

3) Lamb Lollipops with Rosemary and Garlic

lamblollipops
via Kitchen Swagger

Nothing says elegance like rack of lamb. The ingredients in this appetizer, which comes from Kitchen Swagger, include fragrant rosemary and pungent garlic. Searing these lollipops in a hot cast iron skillet creates a nice sear on the outside while leaving the inside moist and succulent.

4) Figs Prosciutto

figsprosciutto
via Soup Addict

Soup Addict’s Figs Prosciutto is the perfect trifecta of sweet, savory, and smoky. Did we
mention this hors d’oeuvre couldn’t be easier to prepare? In about 30 minutes, you’ll have a dish that will melt in your mouth. Trust us when we say the hardest part will be waiting for these figs to cool off after coming out of the oven.

Want more appetizer ideas?

Visit us in North Andover. We’re always here to answer your questions.

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest to get the latest tips and know-how.