I bet you can’t eat just one! Never eat deep-fried jalapeño popper again!

Using breadcrumbs is totally optional. I’ve made them without and they were still delicious! The panko breadcrumbs just add a nice little crunch!

You’re welcome and I’m sorry all at the same time. These spicy bacon wrapped bites of perfection will put a serious wrench in your dieting plans! If you’re walking down the aisle this summer and are trying to fit into a wedding dress (like THIS girl) then close your laptop darling and read this post after the big day! I’m slightly kidding but for real, this recipe is très indulgent and a little  bit of a treat.

TIP! Buy yourself some inexpensive kitchen gloves and wear them when working with the jalapeños. After several times of learning the hard way; I always wear gloves!

Bacon Wrapped Jalapeño Poppers will be the star of your party! Don’t forget to slice the piece of bacon in half before wrapping it around the jalapeño!

These Bacon Wrapped Jalapeño Poppers are pretty much EVERYTHING you guys! I kid you not.

The individual ingredients each bring something different to the table. Jalapeño lends spice, bacon brings the savory component and both ingredients are cradled by the mellowness of cream cheese. The trifecta! It just works beautifully.

First things first, consider wearing kitchen gloves when slicing and de-seeding the jalapeños. I’ve made these a few times without gloves and every time I was cursing myself well into the night. Why did I do this to myself?! Never again! It’s worth the few dollars to purchase gloves and skip the burning hands chapter of the evening.

I like to dip these Bacon Wrapped Jalapeño Poppers in classic Ranch or sprinkle with a few dashes of Valentina’s hot sauce.

This recipe can be made the day before, packed in an airtight container and stored in the fridge. It’s great to be able to make this ahead of time and have one less one less thing you’ll be rushing to do. I’m always looking for ways to make my life easier and simplify so I’m not stressed about having people over. Count this as one for the books!

Enjoy xx

Bacon Wrapped Jalapeño Poppers

 

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Prep time

20 mins

Cook time

25 mins

Total time

45 mins

 

This spicy, savory and creamy recipe is the definition of a crowd pleaser! Bacon Wrapped Jalapeño Poppers are a great option when entertaining for a large group. Cocktail party, game day, girls night; You name it! This will be always be a hit and don't even think about leftovers!

Author: Peony

Recipe type: Appetizer

Serves: 24

Ingredients

• 12 Jalapeños, cut in half and seeded
• 12 pieces bacon, cut in half (I use applewood smoked bacon)
• 8 oz cream cheese, softened at room temperature
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• ½ tsp smoked paprika
• 2 splashes Lea & Perrins Worcestershire sauce
• ½ cup Queso de Oaxaca or Monterrey Jack cheese
• ¼ panko breadcrumbs
• 24 toothpicks to secure bacon in the oven
• ranch for dipping (optional)

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper for easy cleanup. Place a baking rack on top of the baking sheet. Set aside.
2. Slice the jalapeños in half lengthwise; remove the seeds and membrane. Keep the membrane if you want more spice. Set aside.
3. Beat the cream cheese, garlic, Worchestershire sauce, smoked paprika and Oaxaca or Monterrey Jack cheese together until smooth. I prefer to use a standing mixer or hand mixer but you can certainly do this by hand. Season to taste with a bit of salt.
4. Fill jalapeño halves equally with cream cheese mixture.
5. Cut slices of bacon in half and wrap a piece around each stuffed jalapeño. Use a toothpick to fasten the bacon around the jalapeño.
6. Transfer jalapeño poppers over to the baking rack. Sprinkle with panko breadcrumbs and bake for 25-30 minutes depending on size and oven temperature.
7. Serve immediately!

Notes

Jalapeño Poppers can be made 1 day ahead and kept in an airtight container.
You can also use mini sweet peppers if you want a less spicy option.

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This Spicy Buffalo Chicken Dip is a MUST at any Super Bowl party!

I’m obsessed with Buffalo anything at the moment! It has just enough heat to keep me coming back for more but not enough that I know when to walk away. You feel me?

I couldn’t even get a quick photo op before Rez stole a taste! Unreal!

Let me break this down for you. Three words; simple, inexpensive and delicious.

With a small list of accessible ingredients (some you likely already have) this recipe is an absolute breeze to pull together! To really make your life easy, buy a roasted chicken from Whole Foods or your local grocery store and the dip will practically make itself!

Serve with veggies for a lighter approach to this indulgent dip!

This dip is what I like to refer to as ‘what’s up’. It’s one of those dips you take a nibble of (perhaps unsure) tilt your head back, reflect and say ‘yaaaa, that’s what’s up’! I can just picture my friends laughing as they read this post while simultaneously dialing my hotline to tease me.

Double dipping while taste testing at home is fair game right? Don’t judge! I dare you to dip just once!

Feel free to add some grated jack or cheddar cheese on top if that’s your jam!  I decided the dip was indulgent enough and kiboshed the extra cheese I intended on using. I surprisingly didn’t miss it at all. HONESTLY! This dip is a little all-star without it!!

I hope you guys enjoy! xx

Spicy Buffalo Chicken Dip

 

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Prep time

5 mins

Cook time

20 mins

Total time

25 mins

 

This addicting dip will win MVP at any house party or sporting event. Bring it along with you to a Super Bowl party and I'm sure it will be well received!

Author: Peony

Recipe type: Appetizer

Serves: 12

Ingredients

• 2 cups roasted chicken, shredded
• 1 8oz package of cream cheese, softened
• ½ cup buffalo sauce (I use Valentinas Extra Spicy)
• ½ ranch dressing
• 1 small can fire roasted diced green chilies
• 1 green onion, thinly sliced (white and light green parts only)
• celery sticks and tortilla chips for serving

Instructions

1. Beat cream cheese+buffalo sauce+ranch dressing+until smooth. I prefer to use an electric mixer but you can certainly do it by hand. It's really important that the cream cheese is softened to minimize lumps.
2. Mix in the shredded chicken and diced green chilies
3. Bake at 375 for 20 minutes (check halfway through because oven temperatures vary)
4. Sprinkle with green onion
5. Serve piping hot with celery sticks and tortilla chips

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Icelandic Smoked Trout Dip with Skyr

One of my girlfriends recently returned from a holiday in Iceland and it sparked my interest. What is the food like there? When I think of Nordic food, I think of the cliché pickled herring and Rose Nylund’s cringeworthy recipes from The Golden Girls. But seriously, I had very little knowledge of their culinary scene so I did a little internet creeping to find out some popular foods in Iceland. Of course I found the expected smoked fish and pickled herring but it became abundantly clear there was one traditional favorite: Skyr. Skyr for breakfast, skyr for lunch, skyr for dinner…you get the point!

Between the smoked trout and skyr this dip is a protein powerhouse!

Skyr is Iceland’s version of Greek yogurt and it has been a staple in their cuisine for over a thousand years.  It is believed that Icelanders first started making skyr when settlers from Norway arrived in the 9th century. Yaaaa guys, THAT long! I think they’ve got this covered.

It has the consistency of a thick yogurt, with a mildly tart flavor. It’s super high in protein and has virtually zero fat or artificial sweeteners. AMEN! Because skyr contains live active cultures it must be consumed within 5 days of opening, so keep this in mind when you buy it.

Serve this healthy dip alongside crackers, endive leaves, cucumber slices or celery sticks.

I found Siggi’s Icelandic Skyr at Whole Foods and have to say, I’m really happy with it. I will definitely be adding this to my grocery list. It’s a healthy product you can feel good about eating and I can see me using this in my recipes.

This Icelandic Smoked Trout Dip with Skyr is great to make when entertaining because it’s healthy, delicious and different. Spice things up and add this new dip to your list of tricks in the kitchen!

Enjoy! xx

Icelandic Smoked Trout Dip with Skyr

 

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Prep time

10 mins

Cook time

1 hour

Total time

1 hour 10 mins

 

Author: Peony

Recipe type: Appetizer

Cuisine: Nordic

Serves: 8

Ingredients

• 8 oz skinless smoked trout filets, broken into ½ inch pieces (approximately 2 cups)
• ¾ cup Skyr (a thick Icelandic style yogurt)
• ¼ cup crème fraîche
• 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
• 2 tbsp prepared horseradish, drained
• a medium sized dill pickle, finely diced
• ¼ cup fresh dill, roughly chopped
• ¼ cup green onions, thinly sliced (white and light green parts only)
• 1 tbsp capers, strained
• freshly ground pepper
• flakey Icelandic sea salt

Instructions

1. Using an electric mixer, beat skyr, crème fraîche, horseradish and Worcestershire sauce. Transfer mixture into medium bowl. Stir in smoked trout, dill pickle, green onion, capers and fresh dill. Season with freshly ground black pepper and flakey Icelandic salt.
2. Let dip chill in the fridge for 1 hour prior to serving.
3. Serve with endive leaves, sliced cucumber, celery sticks or crackers.

Notes

You can use hot smoked salmon in this recipe if you don't have access to smoked trout.
You can find Siggis Skyr Yogurt at Whole Foods but you can sub greek yogurt in a pinch.

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Stuffed Mushrooms with Chestnuts & Boursin are a welcomed vegetarian option at any party.

I had you at Boursin didn’t I? I can’t blame you because I’m with you! This soft creamy cheese comes in a variety of flavors and I use the Garlic & Fine Herbs (my go to) in this recipe. These stuffed mushrooms will be sought after at any event and your vegetarian friends will be happy you thought of them!

TIP! Choose your crimini mushrooms in bulk for this recipe. That way you can choose mushrooms of the same size, shape and free of bruises.

This recipe brings together a lot of my favorite things: mushrooms, chestnuts, Boursin, breadcrumbs and fresh herbs. Suddenly I am wished I decided to write this blog post at midnight. I’m now hungry and want to make these right now but that just seems slightly embarrassing. Ooops, I got a tad sidetracked. Back to these little bites of Heaven!

Be careful not to rip the mushroom caps when removing the stem. Bake for 20 minutes and remove the liquid from the mushroom caps prior to adding the Boursin mixture.

I clearly inherited my love of Boursin from my mum. I have memories of her sipping a glass of vino and snacking on crackers with Boursin spread ever-so-evenly across. Fast forward twenty years and I’m pretty much doing the same thing, but somehow it feels less glamorous. Time is really a funny thing. It seems like so much has changed and yet small details like this remain the same.

Sprinkle with fresh thyme before serving. It adds a nice pop of color and great flavor.

Stuffed Mushrooms with Chestnuts & Boursin have been a recipe staple in my kitchen for years. I’ve enjoyed them over wine with girlfriends, as a substitute for meat, arranged on a platter for rooftop cocktails; you name it. I’ve made these bombs of deliciousness at ungodly hours after returning home from working a late flight. Cooking at 1am isn’t unusual for a flight attendant. As you can see, we go way back!

I like serving these on a simple white serving plate with a drizzle of olive oil and sprinkle of time. They really pop!

Over the years I’ve tweaked the recipe here and there, often switching up the herbs I use depending on what I have at home.

This simple recipe gets taken up a notch when you use fresh breadcrumbs. It takes an extra 20 minutes of your time but it’s worth it. Fresh Breadcrumbs have copious amounts more flavor than store bought brands. At least all of the kinds I’ve tried. Depending on what you like, you can use thyme, rosemary, sage, garlic, oregano, ground fennel, pepper to name a few. The options really are endless!

I hope you guys love these as much as I do! xx

Stuffed Mushrooms with Chestnuts & Boursin

 

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Prep time

10 mins

Cook time

30 mins

Total time

40 mins

 

Author: Peony

Recipe type: Appetizer

Serves: 18 mushrooms

Ingredients

• 18 large crimini mushrooms, stems removed and cleaned
• 1 package herbed boursin cheese, room temperature
• 1 small can water chestnuts, finely diced
• ¼ cup minced chives
• ½ cup breadcrumbs, preferably homemade
• ¼ cup parmigiano reggiano, finely grated
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• fresh thyme for sprinkling

Instructions

1. Pre-heat oven to 400F and line a baking sheet with tin foil.
2. Now let's clean the mushrooms. Using a damp paper towel, remove any dirt from the mushrooms. It's okay to give the mushrooms a quick shower to save time, just make sure to not let them soak. If you give the mushrooms a quick shower to clean them, make sure you dry them as best as you can.
3. Space the mushrooms out evenly on the baking sheet. Drizzle 2 tbsp of olive oil over the mushrooms and sprinkle with salt.
4. Bake mushrooms for 20 minutes.
5. In a medium sized bowl mix together boursin cheese, minced chives and finely diced water chestnuts. Set aside.
6. When you remove the mushrooms from the oven there will be a small amount of liquid in each mushroom cap. Discard this liquid by using a small spoon or with clean hands just tip the cap upside-down over a bowl.
7. Spoon a tsp of the boursin cheese mixture into each mushroom cap.
8. Top with breadcrumbs and finely grated parmigiano reggiano cheese.
9. Put back in the oven and bake for an additional 10 minutes or until tops of mushrooms are golden brown.
10. Let them cool, sprinkle with fresh thyme and serve

Notes

I always try to buy my mushrooms in bulk, especially when making this recipe. It allows me to choose mushrooms of similar size and shape. I try to get the crimini mushrooms that are perfectly round and free of any bruises or mushy spots
This recipe is significantly better with fresh bread crumbs. Store bought bread crumbs just won't have the same flavor. So if you have 15 extra minutes to spare, I strongly suggest you go all the way and make your own.

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Try using different kinds of peaches for variety. I used both a tart & sweet peaches and loved contrast in taste!

Wow your guests and skip the stress! 5 ingredients: Peaches, Prosciutto, Fresh Mozzarella, Mint and Balsamic Glaze.

This handful of accessible ingredients and simple preparation make this a great option for a thanksgiving appetizer. Did I mention these bad boys can be made ahead? Take the stress out of the holidays this year by choosing make ahead recipes.

This year I’m stepping out of my traditional realm of recipes and reinventing my holiday repertoire. Time to switch things up!  Change is good!

Local Californian peaches at San Francisco’s Ferry Building Farmers Market. They have half a dozen different varieties and you can sample before buying. YES PLEASE!

This recipe was inspired by Prosciutto Wrapped Dates With Goat Cheese, Mascarpone & Basil and my abundance of peaches from the farmers market. I opted to swap the dates for peaches, goat & mascarpone for mozzarella and basil for mint. The salty prosciutto is the only constant in this recipe and its flavor is delightful next to the other ingredients.

Before wrapping the peach don’t forget to slice your pieces of prosciutto in half. Otherwise, the prosciutto will overpower the other flavors and throw the dish off balance.

I chose to use two different kinds of peaches, one sweet and one tart. I really enjoyed the contrast in flavors but definitely had a favorite. I preferred the larger, tart peaches because they were easier to assemble then the smaller, sweeter peaches. The peaches gained sweetness as they cooked on the grill so the sweet peaches were super sweet! Taste is personal preference but the larger, brighter peaches, made for a much prettier finished product.

Drizzle it with your favorite balsamic glaze. Feel free to experiment with flavors of balsamic glaze. I use my favorite aged strawberry balsamic I picked up on a road trip in the Santa Ynez Valley.

I served these to friends who came over to play cards against humanity and ultimately be my guinea pigs! I tried out a few new recipes, two will be featured on the blog this week! This dish was especially well received by my friends. There were no Grilled Peaches with Prosciutto left by the end of the night. Always a good sign!

Grilled Peaches with Prosciutto

 

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This sweet & salty combination is sure to be a crowd pleaser at your next cocktail party or girls night. You can also enjoy this as a light weeknight dinner or afternoon snack. They're super simple to produce and have only five ingredients!

Author: Peony

Recipe type: Appetizer

Serves: 12 pieces

Ingredients

• 3 peaches, quartered. I prefer a more tart peach because they will sweeten on the grill.
• 12 large pieces of mint, washed and dried. If you only have small mint leaves, no biggy! Just double up and use 2 per peach wedge.
• 12 piece of fresh mozzarella, cut into equal sizes.
• 6 pieces of prosciutto, cut in half lengthwise.
• balsamic glaze to drizzle

Instructions

1. Turn grill on and switch to high heat. When hot, place quartered peaches on the grill. Grill for approximately 8-10 minutes turning once halfway through. Cooking time will vary depending on grill, size of peach etc. so make you to check after a few minutes. You definitely want the nice grill marks on the side so once you have those, flip to the other side.
2. Cut pieces of prosciutto in half lengthwise. Six pieces, halved lengthwise, will give you twelve pieces needed for this recipe.
3. Take one grilled peach and place a piece of mozzarella and mint leaf on top. Slowly start wrapping the piece of prosciutto around the 3 ingredients, making sure it's not loose. Fasten in place with a toothpick.
4. Arrange on a plate or serving tray and drizzle with balsamic glaze.

Notes

This recipe yields 1 dozen so keep that in mind if you're cooking for a larger group.
This recipe can be made the day before and placed in a airtight container until you're ready to serve.

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1 in every 10 Shishito Peppers carry some heat. Play this mild game of Russian Roulette over a few cocktails!

Sautéed Shishito Peppers are the easiest snack you will ever make! I started cooking with them recently and we’ve become fast friends, especially when paired with cocktails. Sautéed shishito peppers are so simple to prepare you’ll be questioning if you missed something.

4 ingredients : Shishito Peppers, Oil, Flaky salt and Lime. How simple is that?

4 ingredient wonder! Shishito Peppers+Oil+Flakey Salt+Lime

These mild, bite-sized peppers are to be eaten in their entirety, seeds and all. No need for utensils, just grab the stem and take a bite of this smoky, sweet & salty pepper. Drop the stem in a separate bowl as you would edamame shells.

Apparently 1 in 10 peppers are supposed to carry heat but it’s not enough heat that should scare you off; it’s just a little kick. This is a very tame version of Russian roulette but one I will gladly sign up for.

Sautéed Shishito Peppers are the new edamame! At least in my house they are!

Make sure you eat these bad boys immediately while hot, because they will go limp as they cool. Don’t fret if you have leftovers. Sautéed Shishito Peppers are equally delicious when added to an omelette. I made one for brunch today and the Shishito Peppers added such a sweet & smokey flavor. I’m in love.

If chips are your arch nemesis like me, try these addicting peppers instead!

It’s almost wrong not to enjoy these with a cold beer or cocktail. Just saying!

Shokuyoku Japanese 

Sautéed Shishito Peppers

 

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Cook time

10 mins

Total time

10 mins

 

The easiest snack you will ever make! This addicting snack pairs really nicely with a cocktail!

Author: Peony

Recipe type: Appetizer

Ingredients

• 1 lb shishito peppers
• 2 tbsp grape seed oil
• flakey sea salt
• 1 lime, cut into wedges

Instructions

1. Heat oil in a large frying pan over medium heat, until oil is hot but not smoking
2. Add shishito peppers and sauté, rotating them like ears of corn
3. Continue sautéing until they start to blister and then remove from heat
4. Pat peppers dry with clean kitchen towel then move into a large bowl
5. Toss with flakey salt and squeeze lime juice over peppers
6. Serve immediately while hot!

Notes

Serve immediately while hot. When Shishito Peppers cool, they will go limp and lose their shape.

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Edamame & Arugula Spread is a great alternative to the popular Bruschetta

Crostini has always been one of my favorite go to appetizers. They’re easy & quick to make and are a heartier cocktail hour food. If you’re coming over to my house odds are there will be some cocktails or wine involved. I always want to have some appetizers on hand to soak up the alcohol. Don’t judge! I confess that normally I make my heirloom tomato bruschetta but I felt like switching things up. This Edamame & Arugula Spread was the perfect option!

Your edamame should look like this before adding to the food processor. Remember to remove the beans from the shells!

The mint really add the perfect finish to Edamame & Arugula Spread.

Arugula is in season right now and I love it’s peppery, bold taste. It’s part of the cabbage family and contains a HUGE amount of lutein, an antioxidant that helps maintain healthy eyes, skin and heart. Arugula doesn’t keep very well so try to buy it and use it up within 2 days, 3 max

I use arugula on its own in salads or in addition to another greens. I love it in soups, on homemade pizza or in my pasta. My absolute favorite is subbing it for basil to make a spicier pesto! When cooked, arugula wilts like spinach so keep that mind when experimenting in your kitchen.

Try this spread over baked parmesan crisps instead of  baguette for a different approach.

Enjoy this for breakfast and switch up your routine!

Edamame & Arugula Spread

 

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Prep time

20 mins

Total time

20 mins

 

Author: Peony

Recipe type: Appetizer

Serves: 8

Ingredients

• 1 cup shelled fresh or frozen edamame
• ¼ cup plus 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, divided, plus additional for drizzling
• 1 cup packed baby arugula, divided in 2 piles
• ¼ cup Parmigiano-Reggiano
• 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
• ½ teaspoon fresh lemon juice
• ½ tsp kosher salt
• ⅛ tsp pepper
• ¼ cup mint to garnish
• olive oil for drizzling
• sliced baguette

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375°F with rack in middle.
2. If edamame is still in the pod make sure you take the beans out of the pods before using. Very important!!
3. Cook edamame beans in salted boiling water, uncovered, until tender, 3 to 4 minutes, then drain and transfer to an ice bath to stop cooking.
4. Pulse edamame beans in a food processor until very coarsely chopped, then transfer half of mixture to a large bowl.
5. Add ¼ cup olive oil, ½ cup arugula, parmigiano reggiano, lemon zest & juice, ⅛ teaspoon salt, and ½ teaspoon pepper to edamame in processor and purée until smooth.
6. Add smooth mixture into the bowl with chunky edamame..
7. Coarsely chop remaining ½ cup arugula and gently fold into edamame mixture.
8. Cut bread 16 diagonal slices (1/3 inch thick) from baguette and put in a 4-sided sheet pan. Drizzle with remaining tablespoon oil. Bake until pale golden and crisp, 8 to 10 minutes.
9. Spoon edamame mixture onto baguette toasts, then drizzle with oil and top with mint.

Notes

It's VERY important that you remember to remove edamame beans from pods. The outer shell is super coarse & stringy and not something you want to eat.
I buy the pre-shelled edamame from Trader Joes. You can find both fresh or frozen edamame beans and they are inexpensive.
Don't skip out on the mint as garnish!! This is not a garnish you want to miss out on. It really brings the recipe all together for me.

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Olive Tapenade with Rosemary & Basil. A simply addicting appetizer!

YUM! This olive tapenade makes me want to dance. It’s so freaking good! I just can’t deal. This is DELISH served on Baked Parmesan Crisps, alongside a cheese platter, slathered on crusty bread or on slices of cucumber for a healthier approach. I made this the other night to have with a cheese platter and it was just as good as I remembered.

It’s important to use mostly black pitted olives and only a small amount of kalamatas, because kalamata olives are high in sodium. Also, the regular black olives tend to be less expensive, so thats always a bonus!

The hot mustard and garlic give this tapenade a nice little kick, but the anchovy paste is truly my secret weapon. When used properly, anchovy paste really adds something extra special to a dish. It’s often that one ingredient you just can’t put your finger on. The biggest mistake people make, is of course using too much of it. This stuff is POTENT, so use a little bit at a time when cooking. It’s possible to cook with anchovy paste and not have fishy tasting food; just chill on the tube dude.

THIS SAVORY TAPENADE WILL BE A FAVORITE AT YOUR NEXT GIRLS NIGHT!

This is a great make ahead option for a party or appetizer and it is super easy to make. There is actually no real cooking involved in making this tapenade. All you have to do is add the ingredients together in a food processor and voila!

Hope you like it! xx

Olive Tapenade with Rosemary & Basil

 

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Prep time

10 mins

Total time

10 mins

 

Author: Peony

Recipe type: Appetizer

Cuisine: Mediterranean

Serves: 1 cup

Ingredients

• 1 small can black olives, drained
• ½ cup kalamata olives
• ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
• 2 cloves garlic
• 2 tbsp dry roasted pine nuts
• 2 tsp hot mustard, such as dijon
• ½ tsp anchovy paste
• 1 tsp rosemary, minced
• 2 tbsp basil, loosely chopped

Instructions

1. Pulse garlic, pine nuts and 1 tbsp olive oil for 30 seconds
2. Add black olives, ½ of the kalamatas, hot mustard, anchovy paste, rosemary & basil and pulse until smooth, adding EVOO slowly.
3. Add remaining half of kalamatas and quickly pulse
4. Serve with crackers or bread

Notes

Make sure you mince the rosemary before adding it to the food processor

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A SIMPLE DRIZZLE OF BALSAMIC GLAZE AND A FEW BASIL LEAVES HAVE A BIG IMPACT ON THE FINAL PRESENTATION

Bur-ra-ta translated from Italian literally means ‘buttered’. It is a a typical product of Puglia, a region in the south of Italy and it is absolutely one of my favorite cheeses. Burrata is a fresh Italian cheese made from a combination of mozzarella and cream.  The outer shell is solid mozzarella, while the inside is a combination of both mozzarella and cream, producing a unique, soft texture. It’s so delicate and just plain decadent! Even

though I’ve been cooking with and enjoying Burrata for years, there was a time when I not only had no idea what it was, but also didn’t see what all of the fuss was about. Alas, I’m reminiscing about my younger years, when I was just beginning to tap into my love for cooking.  I’ll share with you my highly embarrassing first experience with one of my favorite indulgences.

BEAUTIFUL HEIRLOOM TOMATOES DIRECTLY FROM THE FARMERS HANDS

I had just returned from a 3 day work trip which included lounging on the beach in Hawaii, swimming with sea turtles, a shopping spree for my new bachelorette pad and epic local food. Oh, and I can’t forget that I was able to bring my best friend along with me for my layover. She came over to my apartment for a salad and we ended up in Hawaii 10 hours later. True story. How cool is that?

Life was fantastic to say the least. I was for the first time ever living by myself (sans room mates), making enough money to travel every other month and had a career & lifestyle I felt very lucky to have. Ultimately, I felt like everything was coming up Sacha and  that I was exactly on the path I was supposed to be on. Sorry! I’m just trying to set the scene and help you understand where I was in my life but I’ll get to the point.

FARMERS MARKET MECCA OF FRESH TOMATOES AND BASIL

I returned from the grocery store with burrata in hand(fancy), poured myself a glass of vino and felt like a freaking grown up.  My bubble burst when I attempted to slice the cheese and was horrified to see all of the creamy liquid ooze out of the burrata. I had never seen this happen before. This isn’t normal right? What the H#%L! The cheese had gone bad! The grocery store had sold me rotten cheese. RUDE!

HEIRLOOM TOMATOES ARE MY FAVORITE KIND. I LOVE HOW THEY’RE ALWAYS DIFFERENT!

After feeling sorry for myself for a minute I took a serious page out of my mothers book and marched back over to the grocery store with my receipt and evidence of said rotten cheese. The kind gentleman in the deli gave me a look of pity and was thinking what I can only imagine was  ‘Awwww look at this poor clueless, naive girl.’ He continued to tell me that yes, Burrata was in fact supposed to be soft and creamy on the inside. That is whyyyy people actually buy it. I’m fairly certain my face turned as red as the purse I was carrying. If I had a tail it would of been creeping so far between my legs it would disappear. Ohhh my, how the self proclaimed ‘grown up’ just got taken down a few notches. I was so grateful to the kind gentleman for being discreet and not schooling me in front of the entire deli.

HEIRLOOM TOMATOES & BASIL MAKE A SIMPLE & COLORFUL BASE FOR THIS SALAD

Now I look back on that day fondly and it always makes me smile. I’ve come a long way in the kitchen from that day but I will forever be learning. It wasn’t my first humbling experience and I’m sure it won’t be my last. Until then I’m going to keep eating this salad all year round.

Enjoy this Heirloom Tomato Salad with Burrata & Balsamic Glaze as an appetizer or main dish. Just eat it. It’s so damn good!

Heirloom Tomato Salad with Burrata & Balsamic Glaze

Heirloom Tomato Salad with Burrata

 

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Prep time

10 mins

Cook time

1 hour

Total time

1 hour 10 mins

 

Author: Peony

Recipe type: Salad or Main

Cuisine: Italian

Serves: 2-4

Ingredients

• 1 pound heirloom tomatoes, cut into bite sized pieces
• 1 package burrata with 2 balls
• ½ cup basil, sliced into little matchsticks
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tbsp good quality olive oil
• sea salt & freshly ground pepper
• balsamic glaze to drizzle

Instructions

1. Cut the clean heirloom tomatoes in bites sized pieces.
2. Add garlic, basil, olive oil and S&P.
3. Mix Ingredients
4. Cover & place in the fridge to allow the flavors to mix, preferably for an hour at least.
5. Remove from fridge and using a slotted spoon arrange on serving platter or individual small plates.
6. Add pieces of burrata to the top of the tomato salad and garnish with basil.
7. Drizzle with balsamic glaze

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Family Favorite!

These sweet bombs of deliciousness aren’t just jam packed with potassium & fiber, they’re an excellent source of antioxidants and vitamin A. Dates are mainly produced in the Middle East and Northern Africa and are a staple in both cuisines. They can be used as a accompanying ingredient or as the main event.

I first made these as an appetizer for Canadian Thanksgiving. I had family visiting from Canada and it was my first year hosting. My family appreciates great food, so I felt a bit of pressure to deliver a deliciously different meal, and not screw it up!

These were pretty simple to produce and the results spoke for themselves. I walked into the living room to see my fiancé and uncle with an empty tray in front of them, looking guilty, heads hung in their glasses of pinot noir. I call that a huge success! I was lucky to taste one before they were all gobbled up! As my Nanny T would say, “They went like hot cakes”.

The p-e-r-f-e-c-t make ahead appetizer

Lets be honest here; dates can be a little intimidating. It’s always a bit of battle to try and keep the shape of the date intact and not rip or tear them. I decided to buy a pair of kitchen tweezers to help simplify the task and I’m so glad I did. They’re inexpensive to buy and are quite useful if you like to experiment in the kitchen.

To remove the pit, simply cut across the top until you can see the very top of the pit, then remove the pit using the tweezers; leaving the date intact. It’s that simple!

Make sure you sneak one before serving. These will go like hot cakes! Trust me!

xx

Close Up Glamour Shot

Prosciutto Wrapped Dates With Goat Cheese, Mascarpone & Basil

 

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Prep time

10 mins

Cook time

15 mins

Total time

25 mins

 

Author: Giada De Laurentiis

Recipe type: Appetizer

Serves: 4-6

Ingredients

• ¼ (2oz) cup goat cheese, room temperature
• ¼ cup (2 oz) mascarpone cheese, room temperature
• ¼ cup basil, finely chopped
• 16 (12 oz) medjool dates, pitted
• 8 thin slices prosciutto, halved lengthwise
• kosher salt & fresh ground black pepper to taste

Instructions

1. In small bowl mix goat cheese, mascarpone & basil.
2. Season with salt & pepper, to taste
3. Gently pull the dates apart and stuff with ½ tsp of cheese & basil mixture.
4. Close dates around the filling.
5. Wrap a piece of prosciutto around the date and secure with a toothpick.
6. Arrange in the upright position and keep cool in the fridge until serving!

Notes

I use an herbed goat cheese and a tad more goat cheese than mascarpone. Enjoy!

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