By Karin Calloway

Karin Calloway is a working mom living in Augusta, Ga., with multiple freelance jobs and a ton of dirty dishes.

Italian Inspired Cocktail Party

If you've grown tired of serving the same old hors d'oeuvres at your cocktail parties, this Italian Inspired Cocktail Party can be a nice change of pace. The common thread in the menu is the use of your Viking outdoor grill.

All of the recipes can be prepared up to the point of grilling, and the recipes also make a wonderful Italian tailgate menu during football season.

The recipes include a wonderful Grilled Caesar Salad, saucy Chicken Wings Marinara, Prosciutto-wrapped Eggplant Roulades, and garlicky Grilled Jumbo Shrimp with Scampi Butter. A "Jam Pizza," a combination of buttery cookie dough and spread with berry jam, is a delicious, not-too-sweet dessert.

Recipes:

Mascarpone Polenta with Grape Tomato Sauce
When you call it cornmeal mush or Italian grits there’s not much allure. But when you call it polenta, cook it in chicken broth and stir in some creamy mascarpone cheese, well, I call it heaven.
Saucy Chicken Wings Marinara
Chicken wings are popular party fare, and this version has Italian flare. A combination of prepared marinara, garlic and red wine coats the wings before they’re baked. Fresh garlic, crushed red pepper flakes and Italian seasonings enhance the flavor of the sauce.
Jam Pizza
One of the students at my cooking classes, Lou Cameron, brought in a delicious Italian dessert for me to taste. A buttery sweet crust lined a pizza pan and was spread with preserves before being baked.
Eggplant Roulades
Variations on Eggplant Roulades abound. Here, Slices of eggplant are broiled and then stuffed with a combination of three cheeses and wrapped up in a piece of smoky prosciutto.
Grilled Caesar Salad
If you own a Viking outdoor grill you’ve probably grilled your share of steaks, chicken, burgers and baby back ribs. But did you know you could grill your salad, too?

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