Saturday, November 25, 2017

THE ART OF APPETIZERS



The Art of Appetizers

          Thanksgiving being the official kick-off start of the Holiday season brings many of us to the perennial dilemma of interesting appetizers for all those holiday gatherings. No matter whether the gathering is a family dinner, a casual gathering of friends or an elegant cocktail party, the expectations of those gathering lean toward some sort of nibbles with their beverage of choice.
          Crackers, cheese, a vegetable tray and some nuts have become almost ‘de rigeur’ for most gatherings. However, any host or hostess will welcome with open arms anyone offering to bring a different and interesting appetizer. And sometimes, in the role of hosting a gathering it is worth the extra effort to come up with something different. The visual or artistic appeal of the appetizers tray can even set the tone of the gathering.
          And yet, it is our busy season. Unfortunately my favorite French cheese puffs,  Gougères are quite time consuming requiring gently cooked dough whipped with eggs and Gruyère and subsequent 30 minute baking. Fortunately, frozen puff pastry is generally available and can be a real time saver for elegant appetizers.
                   Prosciutto and Assiago rolls
          Thaw 1 sheet ( ½ package) of frozen puff pastry, lay flat on a board and cut in half forming two 9.5 x 4.75 inch rectangles.  Lay 2oz. prosciutto on each half or the pastry leaving ½ inch border free on the long side. Sprinkle with ¼ cup freshly grated aged Assiago cheese. Brush  the free edge with  egg and starting at the opposite side roll each pastry lengthwise in a tight roll gently sealing the edges. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate for several hours or overnight. To bake, slice each log in ½ inch rounds and place on parchment lined pans an inch apart. Bake in a 400 degree oven 15-17 minutes until lightly browned. Serve warm.
                             Parmesan and oregano cheese straws
          The other half package of the thawed puff pastry can be used immediately to prepare cheese straws. Again, cut pastry in half, brush one half with beaten egg, spread ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, sprinkle with some oregano and finely chopped parsley. Lay the other half of the pastry sheet on top and seal the two together with a rolling pin. Cut the pastry with a sharp knife in ½ inch strips crosswise. Twist each strip several times and lay on a parchment lined pan, pushing down the ends to keep the strips from untwisting. Bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes. When cool, remove gently from pan and keep airtight until serving. Good as appetizers, but also great as an aside with soups.


 
          Warm appetizers are always elegant, but inconvenient if need to be baked the last minute or taken as a contribution to a festive gathering. The local deli, supermarket or specialty shop provide ready made ingredients for a visually pleasing and tasty appetizer tray with help of toothpicks, 3 inch wooden skewers and imagination. Recently I assembled one such tray with: 1 inch cubes of melon wrapped with prosciutto; thin slices of salami wrapped around a pickled string bean; skewers with small fresh mozzarella balls and cherry tomatoes; pickled mushrooms paired with cheese or tiny tomatoes; all with decorative application of black and green olives as well as extra pickled green beans. The variety was colorful and visually pleasing as well as delicious.
          Amazingly, last minute ‘bruschetta’ can be achieved from any variety of items in a well stocked refrigerator. Sliced bread squares , brushed with oil and lightly toasted, need only a bit of chopped tomato mixed with a dash or oregano and a minced clove of garlic and crumbled feta or other cheese to become bruschetta when heated briefly under a broiler.  
          Imagination is a wonderful and colorful inspiration for many visually and delicious appetizers.
(I. Winicov Harrington lives in coastal Maine and is the author of “How to Eat Healthy and Well for Less than $5.00 a Day: the Smart-Frugal Food Plan”; website: www.winicov-harrington.com)