Today Dishing: More Appetizers, Roquefort Grapes, Chicken Tartlets

 We are officially into Christmas party season. If you find yourself at a loss for a delicious but quick and easy appetizer to bring to the work party, neighborhood party or your own party , here are two winners.

The first is a roquefort grape appetizer. Don’t let the name scare you. Even if you are not a big fan of roquefort cheese, I believe you will like this.  I have served these many times and received rave reviews. They are like eating potato chips....”you can’t stop eating them." I have found variations of this recipe in several cookbooks. The ingredients are the same as are the results.


ROQUEFORT GRAPES

Ingredients:

10 oz. almonds, pecans or walnuts
8 oz. cream cheese, at room temperature
4 oz. Roquefort cheese, at room temperatures
2 tablespoons heavy cream
1 lb. (about 48) seedless grapes, red or green (or both!)

Instructions:

TOAST nuts for 8 minutes in 300 degree oven.
CHOP nuts to a medium  chop.  Use a coffee grinder or nut chopper. Place chopped nuts in small bowl.
CREAM together the cream cheese, roquefort and heavy cream. Using a hand mixer blends the cheeses together nicely but hand mixing is okay too.
DROP four or five grapes into the cheese mixture and coat with cheese. Then drop grapes into chopped nuts and coat grapes with the nuts.
CONTINUE the process until the cheese mixture is used.
REFRIGERATE for at least an hour.

Picture courtesy of Google

                                  
This next recipe is from Martha Stewart’s Hors d’Oeuvres Cookbook. Over the years this has become one of my go-to appetizers. They make a lovely presentation and they are scrumptious.

Oriental Chicken Salad Tartlet Filling

Ingredients & Directions

1 1/2 lb Boneless, skinless chicken breasts

1 to 2 tablespoons  soy sauce, to taste

1 1/2 tablespoon sweet rice wine vinegar

1/4 cup peanut oil

1/4 cup vegetable oil

16 parsley sprigs, chopped

 2 scallions (green and white part) minced

 Tartlet shells:  Martha provides a recipe for the tartlets but I use  frozen Athens mini fillo shells.This recipe makes approximately 2 to 3 packages of the shells.

Cook the chicken breasts in a 350 degree oven for 20 to 30 minutes. Do not overcook. Let cool. OR buy frozen chopped chicken. Tyson makes a good one.

Cut chicken into 1/4-inch cubes. Put chopped meat in a mixing bowl.

Combine the soy sauce, vinegar, oils, parsley and scallions. Pour over the chicken and stir well. Again here I deviate from the original by letting the mixture sit in refrigerate until ready to serve. Spoon into shells.(no more than an hour before to prevent sogginess).

Photo courtesy of Google

                                                                     ENJOY!

           

Today Dishing: Holiday Gift Guide for the Foodie

With Christmas getting too close for comfort, over the next couple weeks I will offer gift lists for specific demographics. Todays gift ideas are for the “the Foodie” in your life.

In that most “Foodies” enjoy a good wine or craft beer, membership to a wine or beer club makes an excellent gift. Memberships tend to be pricey therefore a special bottle of wine might be a better choice and is a treat.

A myriad of special wines exist but these are among  my favorite special wines.

Cabernets: JORDAN, FAUST, GROTH, STAGS LEAP
                                   

Sparkling or Champagnes: MOET & CHANDON, VEUVE CLICQUOT YELLOW LABEL



Pinot Noir: BELLE GLOS
                                            

Sauvignon Blanc: KIM CRAWFORD
                                                                  
I would enjoy any one of these lovelies. These are in “the special” category but with a doable price point. There are certainly other great wines over this price point.  Trust yourself and what you know about the person you are buying for.

Buying Tip: Many liquor stores as well as Jewel and Dominick’s  give discounts on multiple bottle purchases. When I am buying the $60 bottle I include it in a “mix-and match” dozen bottles which gets me 15% off at Kenwood Liquors.  Binny’s discounts 5% on a dozen bottles. Jewel and Dominick’s discounts on purchases of 6 or more bottles.

Because Foodies love to eat out, gift cards to restaurants are not impersonal and are appreciated gifts. Either select  a gift card to a restaurant the person frequents or pick a special  occasion place. This time of year many restaurants offer incentives for gift card purchases.  Check out  the restaurant online to  discover what incentives are offer.

The Foodie might enjoy a selection of cheeses. These stores carry a vast selection of cheese: Standard Market; Mariano’s; Whole Foods. Also check out Harry and David online. They offer lots of gift boxes at a wide range of prices.

Please don’t forget about chocolate. These days all good chocolate is an indulgence. Personally, I choose Fannie May over Godiva everyday. I am secure enough as a chocoholic to say that. So don’t shy away from Fannie May. For me, the darker the chocolate, the better but that doesn’t apply to everyone. Never feel a box of chocolates is a cop out.

The best advice  I can give about buying a gift for a Foodie is know your Foodie. Most of us would  love a really good bottle of olive oil or balsamic vinegar. William Sonoma and The Olive Tap are both good sources for these.

If your Foodie is also a cook, a good pair of kitchen shears makes a fabulous gift. Mine are Cutco and I know I couldn’t function long without them.

These are a few ideas I hope help you select a gift you will be proud giving to the Foodie in your life.

Today Dishing: Appetizers, Tortellini Skewers, Smoked Salmon Bagel Bites

 The holiday season is upon us with 2 1/2 weeks until Thanksgiving and, believe it or not, only 6  weekends until Christmas.

An abundant amount of shopping, decorating, baking and cooking  needs to be done before you ring in the new year January 1.   For the next several weeks I will showcase gift ideas, decor hints and recipes to assist you through this fun but exhausting season.

You may be asked to provide an appetizer for a holiday gathering. Do we ever have enough good appetizer recipes? Here are two that receive rave reviews.

TORTELLINI SKEWERS

Ingredients

1 package cheese tortellini
1/2 lb. thinly sliced genoa salami
1 large bottle large stuffed green olives
1 bottle Italian salad dressing
1 package 6 inch wooden skewers

Directions

Cook tortellini as directed on package. Cool slightly.
Cut salami slices in half.
Combine tortellini, salami and  drained olives in a large bowl.
Cover all with  salad dressing.
Cover bowl and refrigerate at least 4 hours or overnight.

Assembly

Fold the salami in half to slide onto skewer so that the salami goes through the skewer twice.
Add the olive and finish the skewer with the tortellini.
                                                        
Presentation

Let you imagination guide you. You’ll want to keep the handle of the skewers dry and clean for easy handling so stacking them is not a good idea.

                                                         

These skewers are ‘STUCK’  into a head of lettuce cut in half. It makes for an attractive presentation and the skewers are easily removed.



SMOKED SALMON BAGEL BITES

Ingredients

Bagels- You get 8 bites from each bagel. The number of bagels is dictated by how many bites you want
Cream Cheese- 1 8oz pkg. produces about 32 bites
Smoked Salmon-2 (4oz) pkg. will be enough for 45 bites
1 med. red onion, sliced very thin
1 small jar capers
Juice of one lemon

Directions

Slice bagels in half and toast lightly.
Cut each bagel half into quarters.
Spread cream cheese onto each bagel piece.
Top cream cheese with a small slice of salmon.
Top salmon with small piece of sliced red onion and capers.
Drizzle lemon juice over each bite to taste.
                                    
                                        
These are cute and delicious. Enjoy!.

Today Dishing: Today is Giving Thanks Day

Seems we are all partial to certain holidays. My favorites are Halloween, Christmas and St. Patrick’s Day. The 4th of July was big for me at one time but not so much anymore.  Valentine’s Day, Easter, Memorial Day and Labor Day are fun but offer little  to excite me. But for some unknown reason the holiday I really can’t get into is Thanksgiving.

I know. What’s my problem? It makes me sound ungrateful, even un-American in that Thanksgiving is such a uniquely American holiday. For me it’s right up there with Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Sweetest Day and even Veteran’s Day. Aren’t we suppose to show our mother’s, father’s sweeties and Veterans appreciation everyday? Am I to give thanks only on Thanksgiving? I am confused.

I believe I am a thankful person. Years ago I received a piece of advice that stuck with me and now reveals my view on thankfulness. A gal I know told me that when she prays she doesn’t ask God for things, instead she thanks Him for things. She gives her thanks as they apply to her life in the present. Asking for things means we are looking for more instead of reminding ourselves of what we already possess. This advice changed my life.

For example, as I write this I am sitting next to a swimming pool on a sunny 80 degree day in Florida. For sure it is easy to be thankful for this especially when it’s 35 degrees at home. Believe me I have given thanks. I am grateful for this because it is beautiful and warm but more importantly because my son lives here and I get to visit him.

The routine of our everyday lives sometimes makes it difficult for us to see the elements  that make our lives extraordinary. There is nothing wrong with designating a day for the sole purpose of reminding us to inventory our lives and give thanks for all the blessings, but I can’t help thinking our lives and perhaps the world would be better served if gratitude and thanksgiving guided us each day. Maybe don’t wait until Thanksgiving to inventory the blessings. If you are like me,  the list of blessings will humble you and make you reluctant to feel worthy of asking for more.

Photo courtesy of google.

                        
So go ahead, eat that turkey and be grateful for it and all who gather with you to share it.

Today Dishing: New York City Blueprint Continued

Day 3

1. Stroll 5th Avenue
Check out the Tiffany Diamond at Tiffany’s. Amble through Bergdorf- Goodman. Light a candle at St. Patrick’s Cathedral.

2. Go to the Whitney
Hopper exhibit on display. We weren’t crazy about the Whitney or the exhibit. Would not recommend this stop.

3.Drink at the Carlyle.
We had intended to lunch here but because we were dressed for walking, sitting in the dining room was not appropriate. Instead we noshed and had wine at Bemelmans Bar. The bar named for Ludwig Bemelmans, the creator of the Madeline children’s books, displays  the art of Bemelmans on the walls throughout the bar. In exchange for his artistry The Carlyle provided Bemelmans a year and a half of accommodations for him and his family. Most definitely worth the stop.

                                    

                                                  Photo courtesy of google.

The mural depicts Central Park scenes.

                                                                            
4. Dinner at the Bryant Park Grill
Review to follow.

5. See Kinky Boots.
This Tony Award winner is a must see. Perhaps the best musical I’ve ever seen. A trip to NYC would be worth it just to see this alone.

Photo courtesy of google.

These suggested activities are only a few of the many the city offers. But planning ahead allows for accomplishing all this in three days.
                                

Today Dishing: New York City Trip Blueprint

NYC evokes a myriad of reactions from people. Some people hate it feeling it’s dirty and the people rude. Others love it, street garbage and all.

Before visiting New York, or anywhere for that matter, making a list of things you want to see and accomplish is a good idea. Over plan. If you don’t get to all of it at least you won’t waste time by not having enough on your list. Also making restaurant reservations and securing theatre tickets well in advance allows you to make the most of your time.

The list you make depends on how many visits you’ve made. This was my fifth trip to NYC therefore this list differs from the list I made on my first trip. This trip was theatre and food oriented, although several items include neither. This is our agenda including reactions to several of them.

DAY 1

1. Walk the Brooklyn Bridge. The site of many TV and movie scenes, this iconic walk provided dazzling views of the harbor and the city. The bridge was under construction which impaired views to the west but most of what you want to see like The Statue of Liberty and the harbor were easily visible.
Overall the experience did not disappoint. Definitely worth it.

On a clear day the view from the bridge is quite something.

The iconic walk.

                                                                
2. Investigate DUMBO (Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass) I desperately wanted to lunch at The River Cafe. Repairs are still being made from the devastation it incurred from Hurricane Sandy. My visit there was not to happen. Instead we lunched at 7 Old Fulton which provided just the right amount of local color.

3. Ride a water taxi from Brooklyn to 34th street via the East River.  For only $4 you can take the scenic route back to Manhattan avoiding the $20 cab ride.

The pier in DUMBO where the water taxi originates. The view here is not shabby either.

                                
4.Visit Madison Square Park. This park in the Flatiron District features art installations and abnormally friendly squirrels.

5. Stop by The Little Church Around the Corner. This  little church at 48East 24th Street is steeped in  history and is still operational today.

6. Dine at The NoMad. My thoughts on this are contained in my previous blog.

7. Night Cap at the Library Hotel Bar.

DAY 2

1. Breakfast at the Brooklyn Diner. When visiting NYC it is almost mandatory to experience a New York deli or diner. This diner did not disappoint.

2. Take a walking tour  of  Central Park. Having had a pedi-cab Tour of the southern section of the park two years ago, I wanted to explore the northern section. Blessed with a beautiful day, the two hour walking tour allowed us to see even more than we anticipated. We saw The Reservoir, climbed the narrow stairs of Belvedere Castle, rambled through The Ramble, whispered at the Whispering Bench, strolled along Shakespeare’s Garden, saw the Alice in Wonderland sculpture, awed at Cleopatra’s Needle Obelisk, took pictures at Bethesda Terrace and learned much about the historical, political and social make up of the park from our well-informed Tour Guide, Jayda. Our tour ended at the Loeb Boathouse where we lunched on beet salad and salmon while watching the canoes on the lake. I enthusiastically endorse taking a tour of the park and eating at the Boathouse.

The Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir, Central Park

Belvedere Castle. Photo courtesy google images.

Alice in Wonderland Sculpture. Photo courtesy google images.

View of the Lake from our table in The Loeb Boathouse.

Beet salad at The Boathouse.

3.Buy  chocolates at Payard’s. Payard’s now located in the lower level of The Plaza Hotel in the Todd English food court, offers fabulous French chocolates. The food court,  new since my last trip, features all sorts of food areas. An oyster bar caught my eye and provided a delicious snack and a half dozen oysters "on the house”. Free food in NYC. Go figure.

4.See Matilda The Musical. The musical is the song and dance version of Roald Dahl’s book. It is difficult to imagine this much talent in people so young. The singing, dancing and acting chops of this cast blew me away. Do these kids start taking singing lessons when they are three? There is something for everyone in this production. I give it a big thumbs up.

Matilda the Musical. Photo courtesy of google.

5. Eat. A light post-theatre snack at the Bryant Park Grill. Because of the truly stellar experience here a separate blog about the Bryant Park Grill is coming.

End Day Two

New York Trip Blueprint.....to be continued

Today Dishing: Audra McDonald Concert

Photo courtesy of Google and Getty Images.

Saturday evening  the five time Tony Award winner, Audra McDonald graced the stage of Orchestra Hall at Symphony Center delivering what was, for me, the most moving concert of my life.
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Expecting her to sing songs from Ragtime or Porgy and Bess she surprised by singing no songs from either. Instead she sang some familiar songs as well as several I’ve never heard. One such song “I’ll Be There” is a song telling the story of a loss from Sept. 11. A moving song and a heartfelt performance left few dry eyes in the audience.

When she sang songs I knew it was as though I was hearing them for the first time. She delves into the words of the songs and shines new light on them. Both “Make Someone Happy” and “Over the Rainbow” will never be the same for me. Her performance transcends mere music or maybe that is how music is meant to be delivered and I am just now getting the memo.

I pass this on only to say that if the opportunity to hear her live ever presents itself, run, sprint, race for tickets. I believe you may find Audra McDonald’s performance not only life affirming but perhaps life changing.

Thanks to Marianne for a birthday experience I will long remember.