Apricots w/ Basil Goat Cheese & Almonds
A long time ago I told my mom that I'd like to be a caterer and she immediately talked me out of it. I thought that my love for making food in assembly lines, piping things with pastry bags and my passion for all things filo dough & puff pastry would be enough. Then she reminded me of how I'd have to stand on my feet for 8+hours and then someone else told me how much packing up and moving was involved in the life of a caterer. Dang. Maybe I just want to be a catering company's quality assurance tester? Yeah! I'd be really good at it.
This recipe has been on my radar forever. I had a Christmas party to attend and whipped up these beauties in absolutely NO time. They're fun, colorful, bite sized and uber fancy. Don't you just love the sight of little appetizers lined up on a tray? I sure do...
Butternut Squash Ricotta & Sage Crostini
I went to Michael's yesterday to get a few things for my Halloween decorating project and almost EVERYTHING Halloween related was reduced in price. The aisles were quickly being cleared of Halloween decor to make room for the bright colored greens and reds of Christmas. I wanted to scream WAAAAAAIT. Wait just a minute! Am I seriously behind on this Halloween decoration thing??! (don't answer that). I just don't think I'm ready to get in the head space of Christmas yet. I haven't even thought about what I am going to make for Thanksgiving this year!
When you wake up to a cold crisp morning don't you just want to put on a scarf and roast something? Here's your chance! Butternut squash gets roasted with a bit of brown sugar in this recipe. Your house will smell terrific & autumn like. Garlic rubbed toasted bread gets accessorized with a nice dab of lemon scented ricotta. Cubes of roasted butternut squash are topped on the ricotta and finished off with fresh lemon juice & fried sage leaves. I think I just figured out what we're making as a Thanksgiving appetizer. It's definitely fall, not winter. Someone tell Michael's.
Three Cheese & Herb Tomato Tart
Let's pretend we are neighbors for a second. Wouldn't that be awesome? We'd have coffee together in the mornings with an occasional cinnamon roll or maybe a slice of coffee cake. I'd call you up last minute to see if you wanna hop in the car for a late night Target run and you'd totally be down. In fact, you suggest we hit up IKEA on the way there. Good call! Sometimes I'd borrow a few eggs or a cup of sugar and I'd always repay you with delicious treats.
One day you'd drop off a box of tomatoes from your garden and within hours I'd show up at your door with this Three Cheese & Herb Tomato Tart. You'd invite me in, offer me a slice (even though I already ate two before I arrived at your door) and we'd sit on your back porch eating together. We'd talk about what was going on in the neighborhood (why does that dog ALWAYS bark?!). I'd pull up some hilarious videos on You Tube from my phone and then you'd show me a sewing project you're working on. Eventually we'd have some fancy boozy beverage and no doubt we'd drink too much. I love how we never have to worry about driving home!
When I ask you what you liked about this tart, you'd say "Duh! There's puff pastry involved!" Then you'd marvel at how perfect your homegrown tomatoes taste paired with a blend of three different cheeses, garlic and herbs. I'm so glad we're neighbors, aren't you? Now can I please borrow your hedge trimmers? My front yard is getting unruly.
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Guacamole Hummus
If guacamole and hummus had a baby, they would name it Guacamole Hummus. It would be thick, rich and creamy. It would taste and look just like guacamole but have the density of hummus. Guacamole hummus would eventually settle down with a bowl of chips and make a nice home in your stomach. Don't you just love a happy ending? I do. Especially when there's an avocado involved.
Make this. Inhale it. Smother it all over your body. It's seriously good. Guacamole hummus is my new best friend.
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Herbed Ricotta Bruschetta
You made your own homemade ricotta! Now what?? You should make this simple/scrumptious herbed ricotta bruschetta because it's absolutely out of this world! I brought this appetizer to my neighbor's house last week and it was gone in NO TIME. Within minutes, I had to go back to my house to grab the rest of the ricotta. Just when I thought I was in the clear, I had to go back AGAIN for crackers! People were SCRAPING the sides to get every single last bit of herbed ricotta that was clinging to the serving bowl. If no one was looking I'm pretty sure they'd use their fingers. It's that good.
"This tastes like it came from a restaurant," my neighbor remarked. She's right; it totally does. It's thick, creamy, sophisticated and totally decadent. If I was having a fancy brunch at my house, I'd add a little smoked salmon on top and serve it with a green salad. Put this in your bag of tricks because it's sure to impress the heck out of people.
Strawberry Goat Cheese Bruschetta
Do NOT adjust your computer screen. That really IS strawberry & basil you see on a crostini. This bruschetta is a riff on the oh-so-fab Caprese salad, except we substitute fresh mozzarella with GOAT CHEESE and tomatoes with STRAWBERRIES! And what do we get?? Crazy deliciousness! The strawberries are mixed with a little bit of balsamic vinegar, which brings out their underlying tang & sweetness. Shreds of basil provide some greenery and a hint of sophistication! And the goat cheese...it's just pure decadence.
If you bring these bruschette to a party this will happen:
1. people will scratch their heads.
2. they'll eat a few.
3. guests will fight over the last one!
I like to call them The Unusual Suspects. No one suspects how good they are, and then they're all gone.
Artichoke & Basil Bruschetta
Friends! I'm teaching a cooking class with Digital Media Playground at Macy's (in Union Square) this Saturday. You should totally come! I'll be doing a little demo on one of my favorite summer foods, bruschetta! My friend Denise will also be teaching a lesson on food photography & how to take awesome shots indoors with tricky lighting. It's gonna be fun!
I've been testing bruschetta recipes this week and yesterday I came up with this scrumptious Artichoke & Basil Bruschetta for the class. On top of a grilled/garlic rubbed crostini you'll find creamy ricotta, basil, marinated artichoke hearts, a slice of Parmesan cheese with a squeeze of lemon. It's so good I made it for both lunch AND dinner yesterday. You are going to LOVE it! One bruschetta down, three more to go!
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Herbed Cheese Straws
Want to give people the impression that you're super awesome in the kitchen? Make a batch of these and bring them to a party! I guarantee the lucky recipients of these Herbed Cheese Straws will assume you've spent hours making them. You might be the talk of the party, watch out!
Want the truth? It's pretty shameful how easy these straws are to whip up. Don't feel bad about the praise.
You totally deserve it!
Afraid of puff pastry & dough? Don't be a wuss! This is recipe is totally attainable. You can do this. I have faith in you. The power of puff pastry is ridiculous, and once you've conquered your timid frozen puff pastry dough ways, you are gonna find any excuse to make something ANYTHING with a box of puff pastry. I'm thinking these would be equally enjoyable if I substituted all the savory bits with cinnamon, sugar and a smear of yummy pumpkin butter!
But that's an entirely different post..... Stay tuned.
