Ask the Cook

Jorj Morgan is the Director of Lifestyle Content for BlueSuitMom.com. Her expertise in the culinary field incorporates 25 years of entertaining as well as owning a successful catering company. She is the author of 5 books including Gorgeous: The Sum of all Your Glorious Parts, Fresh Traditions and At Home in the Kitchen. Most importantly Jorj is a mom and new grand mom. Learn more on her website Jorj.com.

Vegetable Dishes

Janet writes, "I have been asked to bring a vegetable to my husband's family holiday meal. The difficult part of this is that we are traveling three hours for this dinner. Do you have any suggestions for vegetables to will last or that I can prepare quickly when I arrive?"

Answer: I suggest that you travel with a prepared dish that your hostess will not need to warm up. She may have plans for her oven! The best way to do this is to blanch the veggies and serve them room temperature with a savory sauce. You can easily keep a sauce chilled using a lunch-box size cooler and some ice so that everything will travel well.

I have a favorite recipe in my book for a Vegetable Party Platter that you can effortlessly blend into your family's holiday meal. Choose your favorite veggies like cauliflower, broccoli, asparagus and green beans. Blanch each vegetable separately in boiling water and then "shock" the vegetables by placing them in a bowl of ice water. This will stop the cooking process and provide a colorful, crisp veggie. Arrange the vegetables on a platter and add some grape tomatoes, olives and boiled and quartered new potatoes.

Make a sauce by combining canned tuna, mayonnaise, capers and fresh herbs - or take a shortcut and purchase a bottle of prepared blue cheese or ranch dressing.

When you are finished, you will have an easy, make-ahead veggie that your entire family will enjoy.

More feasting challenges:
Grilling summer vegetables
Exciting lunch boxes
Quick meals to impress the in-laws
Simple and elegant appetizers