Gift Wrapped Shrimp Bites – Your New Favorite Easy Appetizer

December 5, 2011 in Appetizers

The Perfect Festive Holiday Appetizers - Gift Wrapped Shrimp Bites

So, let’s say you’re invited to a holiday get together at the very last minute, and your hostess, who is one of those really maddeningly Martha-Stewart kind of people, says – casual as can be – “Oh, just bring some finger foods.”

So, you need some appetizers that are not just delicious but pretty on a platter, and you need them STAT.

Never fear, foodie fans.

This idea was inspired by Martha herself in her latest issue of Martha Stewart Living. She made Shrimp Mango Bites by wrapping a thin piece of mango around a grilled shrimp and tied it up with a softened green onion. Really,   green onions are just perfect for bow-making, aren’t they? And, since I love making green and red food this time of year, I switched up the mango and used  roasted red bell strips with the green onion bow.

You could make these even easier by just making the spicy shrimp and then tying it with a softened green onion (skipping the bell pepper strip).

These are seriously the cutest little holiday bites I have seen -  they just scream out “Happy Holidays!” They look adorable on a party platter, and the flavors are perfect together – spicy shrimp, sweet bell pepper and the green onion tang.

A perfect holiday bite!

Holiday Shrimp Bites Appetizers

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Invite Julia Child to Your Holiday Celebration – Easy Elegant Cheese Tartlets with only Five Ingredients

December 24, 2010 in Appetizers

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Julia Child's Easy and Elegant Cheese Tartlets

Easy and Elegant is always a winning combination. That’s what I love about Julia Child’s recipes – they are unquestionably elegant, but Julia makes them easy enough for an average home cook like me to master.

I love Julia Child. I often pause in my kitchen and repeat the phrase that Christians often use: WWJD? – but when I’m  in my kitchen WWJD means “What Would Julia Do?” Whenever I feel discouraged about my cooking prowess, I snuggle on my couch late at night and watch an episode of The French Chef. I laugh out loud every single time, and am strengthened and renewed. When truly serious discouragement hits me, I bring out the big guns: Saturday Night Live’s French Chef Skit: “You’ll need a knife . . . a very, very, very sharp knife. . .” I dare any cook to watch this and not laugh out loud!  It was during one of those late-night couch sessions that I saw her make cheese tartlets. I took copious notes, and I’m glad I did, because I have not been able to find this recipe written down anywhere. You’ll just have to trust my note taking on this one.

I don’t know about all of you, but I’m inviting Julia to my New Year’s Eve celebration this year by making her cheese tartlets. Yes, I know. They are neither low-fat nor low-calorie. But. It’s the Holidays! Let’s Celebrate! I am certain that Julia would agree.

These are a masterpiece. Truly. I dare you to make appetizers that are as simple and yet sophisticated as these. It is impossible. They are the perfect blend of rich, satisfying flavors and melt-in-your-mouth comfort. If you have a favorite pie crust recipe, use that, or check out my miracle Never-Fail Pat-in-the-Pan Pie Crust. The best pie crust I’ve ever eaten!

Bonus: they take only minutes to throw together. Another bonus: they are very forgiving, and can be served warm or at room temperature. Make yourself a resolution right now to add these mini-tarts to your Hostess Bag of Tricks. I promise you won’t be sorry.

Happy Holidays to All Our Fab Frugal Friends!

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Festive Christmas Treats: Christmouse Cookies “Not a Creature was Stirring, Not Even a Mouse. . .” for Fab Frugal Friday

December 17, 2010 in Desserts, Frugal Tips

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Christmas cookie exchanges are something I look forward to each year. I love to see everyone’s creations. This year, I thought about making those reindeer cookies — you know, the kind where you use broken pretzels for the antlers. But, I wanted something different, something no one had seen before. Something fabulous and frugal AND unique. So, I thought – what about a mouse instead of a reindeer — you know, a la “Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse . . .”

You can use any cookie recipe that will hold its shape well while cooking, or use my recipe below. A sugar cookie dough that won’t spread flat. You roll the dough into egg shapes and then roll them in cinnamon sugar and bake. Then, take them out of the oven and, while still hot, insert the almond slices for ears, the mini-chocolate chips for eyes, the small red candy for a nose and a thin licorice rope for a tail.

These were a HUGE hit at the party I went to, and some people even laughed out loud. They look so cute on a platter of assorted cookies!

Happy Hollydays to All!

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Sesame Street Shindig

April 19, 2010 in Appetizers, Desserts, Gluten Free, Healthy Fare, Side Dishes, Vegan Recipes

We must interrupt our regularly scheduled Meatless Monday offering to share with you our weekend collaboration: The second birthday of Lily! Lily (Anne’s daughter and Donna’s granddaughter) has become an ardent fan of Elmo, also known in this household as The Red Menace, and we decided to thrill her with a Sesame-themed party – our favorite part being, of course, the food! We worked with quite a few food blog recipes to make the theme food, and have to share the love here.  Read the rest of this entry →

Superbowl Specials Series: Cajun Chili Cups

January 28, 2010 in Appetizers, Entrees, Healthy Fare

I should state straightaway that I am NOT ordinarily a football fan at all – most years I don’t even know who’s in the Superbowl until after it happens, if ever. But this year, a friend of mine is absolutely ecstatic about the fact that the New Orleans Saints are playing, as he’s been a loyal fan his whole life (a Louisiana native) and this is apparently their first time making it all the way! I also happen to adore New Orleans and hope to go back there many more times in my life, for so many reasons, not the least of which is the cuisine.

So this is my tribute to Chuck and his beloved Saints. It’s somewhere between a chili and a gumbo, and I hope Cajun purists don’t balk at my machinations. Read the rest of this entry →