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Archive for the ‘Appetizers’ Category

Pots of Gold Brie

01 Jan

Brought to us by Jessica

1 Baguette (French Bread)
2 large cloves garlic, peeled
Small Camembert or brie cheeses, at room temperature

Slice the baguette, and toast pieces over a barbecue grill rack.  As they are done rub them, one at a time, with a whole garlic clove. Season with a little sea salt, then stack them one on top of the other.

When bread is ready, cook cheeses. Place cheeses on an oiled grill rack over medium heat. Cook for about 5 minutes or until lightly colored, then turn them over carefully and cook on the other side for a few minutes until cheeses feel soft and runny when gently squeezed around the waist.  Carefully transfer cheeses to individual serving plates. To eat, make a shallow cut on top of cheese and partly peel back skin. Dunk bread in melted cheese and go for it!

 

 
 

Spicy Batwings

01 Jan

Brought to us by Jason

Recipe needed!

 

Prosciutto-Wrapped Melon Balls

01 Jan

Brought to us by Jason

Ingredients
1 large honeydew melon, halved and seeded
8 slices prosciutto, about ¼ lb
48 cocktail picks (or toothpicks)

Directions
Using the large end of a melon baler, scoop the melon into balls, forming 48 balls in all.  Cut each prosciutto slice lengthwise into thirds, and then crosswise in half to make 6 strips.  You should have 48 strips in all. Chill the melon and prosciutto.

When ready to assemble, wrap a strip of prosciutto around each melon ball.  Use picks to secure them together.  Do not refrigerate after wrapping, or the juice from the melon will discolor the prosciutto and make it soggy.

 

Smoked Flying Fish Roulades with Wasabi Caviar

01 Jan

Brought to us by Jason

Ingredients
About 14 oz. thinly sliced smoked flying fish, trimmed on waxed paper into 6 rectangles, each 6 1/2 by 3 1/2 inches, trimmings reserved
2 tsp. unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/4 cup bottled clam juice or fish broth
1 1/2 tsp. powdered gelatin
2 drops Tabasco or other hot-pepper sauce
1 drop Worcestershire sauce
1/2 cup chilled heavy cream
3 Tbs. wasabi tobiko or salmon roe

Directions
In a food processor, combine 1/4 cup of the flying fish trimmings and the butter. Process just until blended, scraping down the sides of the bowl.

In a small saucepan, combine the clam juice and gelatin. Let stand for 5 minutes. Place the pan over low heat and stir just until the gelatin dissolves. Remove from the heat and stir in the Tabasco and Worcestershire sauces. Pour into the food processor with the fish mixture and pulse 3 or 4 times, just to blend. Transfer to a large bowl.

Whip the cream until stiff peaks form. Add one-third of the whipped cream to the fish mixture and gently fold together. Gently fold in the remaining cream just until no streaks remain. Cover and refrigerate for 10 minutes to allow the gelatin to begin setting.

Place a piece of plastic wrap slightly larger than a flying fish rectangle on a work surface, and place a flying fish rectangle on top, long side facing you. If necessary, patch with trimmings to make the correct-size rectangle. (Don’t worry if there are a few gaps; these may be concealed with the caviar garnish.) Spoon about 3 Tbs. of the flying fish mousse lengthwise across the center of the salmon. Using the plastic wrap, pull the edge of the flying fish nearest you up and over the mousse and down in the back to meet the other edge. Twist the ends of the plastic to seal and pat into an even log. Repeat with the remaining ingredients to make 5 more rolls. Place all the rolls in the freezer for about 2 hours.

Remove from the freezer and let stand for 10 minutes. Remove the plastic and trim off the untidy ends. Slice the flying fish rolls into rounds 3/4 inch thick and place on a platter. Let stand for 5 to 10 minutes to finish thawing.

Place a generous 1/4 tsp. of the tobiko near the edge of each round and serve. Makes about 32 cold bites.

Source: Williams Sonoma

 

Kicked Up Deviled Eggs

01 Jan

Brought to  us by Jeanette

8 hard boiled eggs, peeled and cut in 1/2lengthwise, yolks removed and reserved separately
1/4 cup mayonnaise, preferably homemade
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons chopped black or green olives
1 tablespoon minced red onion
1 tablespoon chopped pimento, plus thin strips for garnish, if desired
2 teaspoons minced parsley
1 teaspoon nonpareil capers, drained
1/2 teaspoon white wine vinegar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon hot paprika, plus more for sprinkling on top for garnish
3 tablespoons drained and flaked light tuna packed in olive oil, preferably Italian

In a small mixing bowl mash the egg yolks with the back of a fork. Add the mayonnaise and olive oil and mix until smooth. Add the olives, onion, pimento, parsley, capers, vinegar, salt and hot paprika and mix well to combine. Add the flaked tuna and fold gently to combine, trying to keep the tuna flakes intact. Taste and adjust the seasoning if necessary. Using a small spoon, divide the filling evenly among the wells of the cooked egg whites and garnish the top of each filled egg with 1 or 2 small strips of pimento, if desired. Sprinkle lightly with paprika. Serve immediately or refrigerate, covered with plastic wrap, for up to overnight before serving.

(Note: if refrigerating overnight, sprinkle with the paprika just before serving.)

Jeanette notes:  I made 1 1/2 times this recipe, but I doubled the ingredients from the olives down on the list (as some commenters suggested).  I also used Julia Child’s method for the perfect hard boiled egg.

Source: FoodNetwork.com