Appetizers – Rogers Family

Bruschetta

Perfect for using up all those tomatoes in your garden!

6 Roma tomatoes coarsely chopped
1/2 sweet onion chopped
2 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
2 tbsp fresh basil chopped
2 tbsp fresh oregano chopped
2 tbsp parsley chopped
3/4 c feta crumbled
1/4 c Parmesan
1 baguette sliced

Preheat oven to 400F

Combine all ingredients except parmesan and baguette. Place baguette slices on baking sheet and top with tomato mixture; sprinkle with Parmesan. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until bottom of bread is browned.

Allow to cool 5 minutes before serving.

Caprese Skewers

Simple, pretty and delicious.

24 cherry tomatoes
12 mozzarella balls (bocconcini)
24 basil leaves (small)
balsamic reduction drizzle
Toothpicks

Thread tomato-basil-bocconcini-basil-tomato then just before serving drizzle with balsamic reduction.

Cheese Ball

Try forming into individual servings stabbed with a pretzel stick to grab.

2 250 cream cheese room temperature
2 c grated old cheddar
1 tbsp pimento finely chopped
1 tbsp green pepper finely chopped
1 tbsp onion finely chopped
2 tsp Worcestershire
1 tsp lemon juice
pecans finely chopped

Combine cheese until well blended.

Add remaining ingredients, except nuts, and mix well. Chill.

Shape into 1 large ball or 3 small balls, or try individual balls with pretzel sticks.

Cucumber Bites

Easiest appie around and a healthy change from crackers.

cucumber slices
Boursin cheese
candied salmon
dill

Top cucumber slices with Boursin cheese and candied salmon; sprinkle with dill.

Easy Guacamole

Easy and tasty!

1 avocado mashed
1/4 c onion, minced
1/4 c tomato, chopped
fresh lime juice to taste
1-2 cloves garlic, minced
Salt & Petter to taste

Mix all ingredients; scoop onto multi-grain chips and cucumber slices.

Hummus

Perfect amount of garlic-y goodness!

2 c chic peas, drained (reserve liquid) and rinsed
1/2 c tahini
1/4 c lemon juice
8-10 cloves garlic minced
1/4 tsp pepper
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp paprika
1/8 tsp cayenne
1 tbsp olive oil
1/2 tsp paprika
minced parsley to garnish

Put ingredients except olive oil and parsley into food processor. Add enough of the reserved chic pea liquid to make a smooth puree, spreadable not runny.
Spoon into serving bowl; drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with remaining paprika and parsley.
Can be made ahead. Serve with pita wedges or sliced veggies.

Lox & Cream Cheese Bites

A quick go to appie

cocktail bread (or cucumber rounds)
cream cheese
lox
purple onion slices
capers

Prosciutto and Gruyère Pastry Pinwheels

Quick and tasty!

¾ c finely grated Gruyère (about 3 ounces)
4 tsp chopped fresh sage leaves
1 puff pastry sheet (from one 17 1/4-ounce package frozen puff pastry sheets), thawed
1 egg, beaten lightly
2 oz thinly sliced prosciutto

In a bowl combine Gruyère and sage.
On a lightly floured surface arrange pastry sheet with a short side facing you and cut in half crosswise.
Arrange one half of sheet with a long side facing you and brush edge of far side with some egg.
Arrange half of prosciutto evenly on top of pastry, avoiding egg-brushed edge, and top with half of Gruyère mixture.
Starting with side nearest you, roll pastry jelly-roll fashion into a log and wrap in wax paper. Make 2nd log in same manner.
Chill pastry logs, seam sides down, until firm, at least 3 hours, and up to 3 days.
Preheat oven to 400F and grease 2 baking sheets.
Cut logs crosswise into 1/2-inch-thick pinwheels and arrange, cut sides down, 1 inch apart on baking sheets.
Bake pinwheels in batches in middle of oven until golden, 14 to 16 minutes. Transfer pinwheels to a rack and cool slightly. Serve pinwheels warm.

Servings: 40 pinwheels

Prawn Satay with Peanut Dipping Sauce

Quick and delicious

Marinade

1 lb prawns (about 20 large) peeled and deveined
1 tbsp vegetable oil
1/2 tsp chilli powder
1/2 tsp curry powder
1/2 tsp salt and pepper to taste

Combine marinade ingredients and allow prawns to marinate until ready to cook.

Either pan sauté the prawns or thread on skewers (previously soaked in water) and grill.

Serve with Peanut Dipping Sauce.

Peanut Dipping Sauce

1 tbsp vegetable oil
1 tbsp garlic minced
1 tbsp ginger minced
1/4 c smooth peanut butter
1 tbsp soy sauce (reduced sodium)
1/4 tsp pepper
1/4 tsp Tabasco sauce
1 tbsp lime juice
1/2 c water

Combine peanut sauce ingredients and whisk over med-high heat; set aside.

Sun Dried Tomatoes

250g cream cheese room temperature
2 tbsp mayo
1 tsp lemon juice
2 cloves garlic minced
1/4 c sun dried tomatoes (in oil) chopped
1/4 c fresh basil chopped

Purée all ingredients in food processor. Let sit for an hour before serving.

Serve with crackers, bagel chips, sliced baguettes or veggie sticks.