Mary Ann's Blog
There’s A Holiday App For That!
December 13, 2019
We all have a gazillion apps to choose from on our phones but have you thought about choosing the apps for your holiday get-together? From now until we ring in 2020, most people will be in holiday party mode
Money spent on holiday food and drink will no doubt tempt the party planner to splurge a little too but if you can’t or just won’t but still want to throw a holiday get together, here are appetizers that are easy to make and won’t break the bank too much. The thing to remember about an apps party is to offer enough variety to appeal to a wide range of tastes from the carnivore to the flexitarian. Many of these can be made ahead of time leaving you with little stress and a chance to enjoy the party too.
- Chickpea Meatballs
- Dried Stuffed Figs
- Puff pastry spinach bites
- Spicy Antipasto Wrap
- Stuffed Celery with Hazelnuts and Cheese
- Artichoke and Cheese Crostini
Stuffed Dates with Chips of Parmesan Cheese and Walnuts
Makes 24
24 whole pitted dates
24 small chips of Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese at room temperature
24 shelled and toasted walnut halves or whole peacans
With a small knife make a slit down the center of each date. Stuff the cavity with a small piece of cheese and one walnut half.
Arrange the dates on a tray and serve. (These are good enough to serve for dessert as well)
Holiday Puff Pastry Pinwheels
Makes abut 4 dozen
Two 1-pound packages frozen puff pastry (2 sheets each), thawed
Dijon mustard
¾-pound thinly sliced Italian cured meats
½-pound (about 2 cups) shredded sharp Provolone cheese
Preheat the oven to 425°F.
Work with one sheet of puff pastry at a time, keeping the rest wrapped so that the pastry does not dry out.
Roll out each sheet on a lightly floured surface into a 14-inch square. Brush each sheet with a thin layer of mustard. Layer the assorted cured meats on the pastry, slightly overlapping them but leave a ½-inch border all around. Divide and sprinkle the cheese over the top.
Tightly roll up each sheet like a jellyroll. Pinch the seam closed and tuck and seal the ends of the roll.
Cut each roll into 1-inch thick rounds and lay them about 1-inch apart on parchment lined baking sheets.
Bake the pinwheels until golden brown, about 12 minutes.
Transfer them to a cooling rack. Serve warm.
Recipe from Ciao Italia: My Lifelong Food Adventures in Italy
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