Showing posts with label Appetizers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Appetizers. Show all posts

Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Steak Pinwheels


Have you heard there is a football game right around the corner?  I hear it's kind of a big deal to football fans.  Okay, it's the game of all games if you are a football fan, especially if your team is on the game roster to play.

Our team is not this year.  The Ravens surprised us though by making it to the playoffs and then they really surprised us when they won the first game over the Wild Card weekend.

Win or lose we are still fans.  We knew that they would need a few years to rebuild after losing so many key players after winning the Super Bowl.  Our family channels all of our team spirit into the teams that are left.

Hey, we are Raven fans but at the end of the day we are football fans too.  We just love a good game.  We love cheering for a team.  Our hopes were dashed when Denver was chased out of town a few weekends ago but now we have moved onto Seattle.

We lived in Seattle for a few years and our families are deeply rooted in the Northwest area.  If it didn't rain so much we might still live there.

Here is a simple appetizer that can be made the day before any event.  It doesn't have to be a football game.  I recommend they sit in the fridge for at least 4-6 hours before being served.  They hold together much better this way.  The pinwheels can be filled with any type of meat, any type of cheese, and you can use any type of wrapper.  These are flour. Honestly they wrap the easiest with flour tortilla but if you have food restrictions then use what falls into your dietary needs.

Horseradish Cream is easy to make too.  I love this cream served on these pinwheels but I also like it on red meat, baked potatoes and sweet potato fries. Horseradish is one of my all time favorite condiments.

Steak Pinwheels

4 large tortilla wraps (flour, rice flour, Paleo, etc...will work)
8 slices of roast beef or turkey
8 slices of thin swiss cheese
4-6 spears of asparagus, steamed until tender
1 bunch of chives, cut into inch pieces (garnish)
horseradish cream
mayonnaise

1.  The night before, lay out tortillas and layer the cheese and meat.  Place an asparagus spear on one end and start to roll the tortilla until a tube is formed. Wrap the tortilla tube in plastic wrap and let sit for 4-6 hours. Overnight is best.

2.  When ready to serve, remove from fridge and cut into 1 inch thick slices. Spread out on a plate.

3.  In a small bowl combine the horseradish cream and mayonnaise.  This is a taste as you go condiment.  Add more or less of what you want.  In a plastic baggie or piping bag add the sauce.  Snip the corner of the baggie and zigzag the cream across the tops of the pinwheels.  Lay a chive piece across the top. See picture above.

NOTE:  If you wish to add the cream sauce to the inside of the tortilla wrapper you may but the cream sauce will need to be made before the pinwheels.

Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Baked Tomatoes with Gruyere, Garlic and Onion

 

I just got back from a wonderful vacation spent with friends.  We ate our hearts out and chatted up a storm.  I feel amazing.  My time in New York City refuels my inner fountain.  Each time I go visit I leave a small part of my soul.  The draw to move there grows stronger and stronger with every visit.   Our time in Maryland is numbered.  I know this.  We have set a timeline of two years to make it possible for us to experience life living in a large city.


As our plans become more solid and time grows closer, I will share our journey here on the blog.  In the meantime I will continue to explore as much of the DelMarVa area as possible.  I have learned that when the call to move sets into our bones our time here becomes precious.  

I found this recipe in a cookbook by Elizabeth David.  I knew that my family would fall in love with these little morsels of cheesy goodness.  Elizabeth's recipe is simple.  I decided to add a few more ingredients to enhance the flavor profile to that of my families preferences.  The addition of garlic and onion was just the right touch.

Next time I will make a double batch.  I roasted some tiny potatoes and steamed carrots to make a beautiful platter of easy to eat foods.  

Enjoy!

Baked Tomatoes with Gruyere, Garlic and Onion 
Makes 6 small tomatoes

6 Campari Tomatoes
1 teaspoon melted butter
2 large garlic cloves, minced
2 teaspoons red onion, diced very small
1/4 teaspoon dried parsley
1 cup of Gruyere Cheese (I have used a combination of Jack and Gruyere with great success)
1-2 teaspoons of Dijon Mustard
a splash of White Wine, optional

1.  Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

2.  Core tomatoes and arrange in a small baking dish.

3.  In a small sauce pan add butter and heat on medium.  Add red onion and garlic.  Saute for a few minutes.  Add remaining ingredients and stir until cheese is melted and well combined.

4.  Spoon the cheese mixture into the hollow tomatoes.  I filled my cheese to the top.

5.  Bake for 15 or until cheese starts to turn golden brown (see photo).  Remove from oven and serve immediately.  If you have problems with the tomatoes tipping over in the baking dish, slice some carrots and use them to hold up the tomatoes while baking.

Written by Sherron Watson


Sunday, August 31, 2014

Antipasto Skewers #SundaySupper




Our Sunday Supper team has you covered when it comes to Platter Food.  When I think of platter food I think party, food, family and friends.

A celebration.

A gathering.

Time together.

Whether your next gathering is small or large, in home or away, fancy or casual; our list of platter food dishes will give you a ton of great ideas, suggestions and mouth watering recipes to make it easy for finding the perfect platter and party food.

A few weeks ago we were invited to a birthday party for our neighbor's little girl.  She had a swimming party at her grandparent's home and wanted CRABS.  Not just any crabs but Maryland Blue Crabs.  We were treated with a bushel of fresh steamed crabs.  In Maryland, this is the PERFECT platter food.   



Along with the crabs we were served an assortment of finger foods and beautiful platter dishes.  I didn't want to come empty handed and brought these Antipasto Skewers.   Antipasto means "before the meal", an appetizer.  We were treated to deviled eggs and a 7 layer Mexican Dip.

For my skewers I chose to include some of our favorite antipasto items.  I love the cipollini onions that are marinated in a sweet and tangy marinade, the mushrooms that are tart and spicy with italian dressing and my all time favorite, artichoke hearts. I planned on 20 skewers so I bought enough of each of these three items to add 6 or 7 to one-third of the skewers.  This gave some variety to the skewers so they were not all the same.  (see top picture)  To this I added some salami, mozzarella balls, tomatoes, olives and italian chicken sausage.

I served the dish with my favorite pesto sauce.

We all had a great time, our bellies were filled and wonderful memories were made.


Antipasto Skewers
Makes about 20 skewers

3 large Italian chicken Sausages, cooked and sliced into 1/4 thick pieces
1 container of small round mozzarella balls (they had about 23 in one container)
20 slices of your favorite salami
20 small cherry tomatoes
20 green olives
20 black olives
6-7 Cipollini onions (Olive Bar at Whole Foods)
6-7 marinated mushrooms  (Olive Bar at Whole Foods)
6-7 marinated artichoke hearts  (Olive Bar at Whole Foods)
Dressing or dipping sauce is optional

20 skewers--Mine were 10 inch wooded skewers, if you go larger, then you will need more ingredients

1.  Gather ingredients and skewers.  Find a large platter to add skewers to.

2.  Add ingredients to skewers in any order. Stack skewers on platter.  I alternated the rows so that they would stack evenly otherwise your tower of skewers will lean to one side.

3.  When done, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to serve.




It’s time for party food! Check out all these recipes for tantalizing trays you can make for your next celebration:

Savory Bites:
Antipasto Skewers by Simply Gourmet
Bite-Sized Meatballs by MealDiva
BLT Bites by The Life and Loves of Grumpy’s Honeybunch
BLT Canapes by Peaceful Cooking
BLT Crostini with Basil Mayonnaise by Bobbi’s Kozy Kitchen
Blueberry Jam and Goat Cheese Crostini by Casa de Crews
Cajun Style Deviled Eggs by Peanut Better and Peppers
Charcuterie Board by Family Foodie
Cheese-Filled Apple Rounds by eating in instead
Coquilles St. Jacques by Nosh My Way
Crudites Tray with Copycat Hidden Valley Ranch Dip by Hot Momma’s Kitchen Chaos
Crunchy Tuna Salad Boats by A Mama, Baby & Shar-pei in the Kitchen
Cucumber Sandwiches by Momma’s Meals
Feta Zucchini Bites by Curious Cuisiniere
Gluten Free Thai Soup Shooters by Gluten Free Crumbley
Goat Cheese Stuffed Figs by Eat, Drink and be Tracy
Heirloom Caprese Salad by Shockingly Delicious
JalapeƱo Mac ‘n Cheese Bites by The Wimpy Vegetarian
Mostarda di Frutta by Rhubarb and Honey
Pimento Cheese Stuffed Peppers by Magnolia Days
Ploughman’s Platter for a Party by The Girl In The Little Red Kitchen
Puff Pastry Cheese Sticks by Basic N Delicious
Rye Party Puffs by Kudos Kitchen by Renee
Southwestern Turkey Sliders by The Texan New Yorker
Spinach and Mushroom Pizza Bites by The Dinner-Mom
The Modern Relish Tray by An Appealing Plan
Tomato and Brie Bruschetta by Jane’s Adventures in Dinner
Tomato Basil Soup Shooters by Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
Zucchini and Summer Squash Crostini by Hip Foodie Mom

Sweet Treats:
Alice in Wonderland Sugar Cookies by Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
Baked Lemon Glazed Mini Donuts by Killer Bunnies
Chocolate Oreo Pocky Cupcakes, Cake, and Morello Cherry Buttercream by NinjaBaking
French Silk Shooters by That Skinny Chick Can Bake
German Chocolate Brownies by Wallflour Girl
Mini Banana Nutella Cheesecake Parfaits (#glutenfree option) by Cupcakes & Kale Chips
Raspberry Fools by The Foodie Army Wife
Strawberry Shortcake Dessert Shooters by The Redhead Baker
Vegan Caramel Truffles by What Smells So Good?
White Chocolate PB & Banana Bites by Take A Bite Out of Boca
Witchy Chocolate Mousse with Culinary Fairy Dust by Culinary Adventures with Camilla
Sunday Supper Movement

Join the #SundaySupper conversation on twitter on Sunday! We tweet throughout the day and share recipes from all over the world. Our weekly chat starts at 7:00 pm ET. Follow the #SundaySupper hashtag and remember to include it in your tweets to join in the chat. To get more great Sunday Supper Recipes, visit our website or check out our Pinterest board.

Would you like to join the Sunday Supper Movement? It’s easy. You can sign up by clicking here: Sunday Supper Movement.

Written by Sherron Watson


Thursday, May 1, 2014

Gluten Free Cheddar and Green Olive Bites



I first posted this recipe three years ago when I started my blog.  The idea was to share with my family and friends recipes that I grew up eating and enjoying.  These little bites of deliciousness were considered comfort food in my family and of course I wanted this recipe written down for my posterity.

To this day when we all get together, the three sisters, we have to make a batch...and sometimes two batches. They just remind us of home. They bring about memories that join our hearts together in a virtual wave of laughter, tears and endurance as we sit around the table and chat about our younger selves.


I have tried to share my love of green olives with my kids and they have decided that this is one part of me they don't want anything to do with. I am slightly heart broken that my kids don't like olives. I love olives. I have yet to taste or try an olive that I don't love.

I eat olives in my sandwiches, on my taco's, in my lasagna, as a snack, with salads, diced up by the spoonful (I mostly do this with black olives). I am an olive addict.

Each and every time I go to Whole Foods I am tempted by the olive bar. Did you know they have a huge variety of olives: black, red, green, stuffed, marinated, pitted, unpitted?

My daughter knows the look I get as I enter the area. My eyes are bouncing between the different rows, slightly narrowing as I attempt to read each label for the name and variety. My hand slowly reaches for the large plastic container and then it twitches back to the small. Large or small--I cant' decide. What will it be this week? I hesitate between the two and finally settle on the small container which leaves me with a limited amount of real-estate to stack my olives.  I hand select a few of the bright green olives and then go towards the feta cheese mix and then to the super duper large pitted marinated black olives.

AND. AND. AND....I want them all.

I have learned that my eyes are much larger than my stomach and I need to stick with just a few to get me through the week.

Heaven!  That is what the olive bar is for me.  A mixture of sweet and tangy flavors.  Olive flesh that is firm and soft in my mouth and to the touch.  The variety of saltiness that each type is brined with makes pairing the olives with cheese, fruit, salami and crackers, a wonderful way to experiment with different flavor profiles.  



Have I bored you yet with olive love?  I hope not.  The Cheddar and Green Olive bites are a great appetizer, a quick snack during the day or just a meal.  Yep, I have eaten a whole tray as my dinner on more than one occasion.  

I make these bites two different ways.  You can see from the pictures that I have made them using a mini size muffin pan or by hand rolling them into small balls.  Either method works well. 

The reason I use the mini muffin pan is because the dough holds up well and pushing the olive down into the dough is a bit quicker when I am in a hurry. I also like the shape it produces when I am serving these to our guest.

The hand rolling method does take a bit more time and they are not all uniform in shape and size. The dough tends to spread out a bit more and you are left with a blob bite.   Ha, that is a funny description.  Blob bite!!

If you love the flavor of sharp cheddar cheese and green olives I am encouraging you to give these a try.  They can be made with regular all purpose flour too.  Substitute one cup of all purpose flour for the rice flour, tapioca starch and xanthan gum.   The measurements for the Old English jar cheese, butter and baking powder are the same.

I am going to make a suggestion and this will produce a better cheddar bite.  You should use a high quality butter.  I know it is tempting to substitute something else, but for me, they don't always turn out perfect when I use a butter that has a lower fat content.  European-Style butter tends to offer more flavor, better texture and the fat content is higher.  I used Kerrygold Irish Butter in this recipe.  This is not a paid post.  I really do use this butter for special dishes and this is a special dish in my family.  

ENJOY!

Gluten Free Cheddar and Green Olive Bites
Makes 20-25, depending on method and size of each bite

1 small jar of green olives with pimentos, drained
6 tablespoons of cold butter, grated
1-5oz jar of Old English cheese, cold
1/2 cup fine white rice flour
1/2 cup tapioca starch
1/4 teaspoon xanthan gum
1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1.  Preheat oven to 425 degrees.  Prepare pans.  If using a mini muffin pan, spray with non stick spray.  If using a cookie sheet I usually lay a piece of parchment down.

2.   Spread olives on paper towels to dry.
3.  In a medium bowl combine all of the dry ingredients.  Blend well.

4.  Add the jar of Old English cheese and grated butter.  I used a pastry blender to cut the butter and cheese into the dry ingredients.  They will start to combine to form a thick dough.  Try not to over blend.

5.  Take a small amount of dough and form a flat disc in your palm.  Add the olive and wrap the dough around the olive to form a ball.  Place on cookie sheet every 2 inches.  If using the mini muffin pan, use a cookie scoop and add the dough to each mini muffin spot and push a green olive into the middle.

6.  Bake the bites for 10-12 minutes.  Try not to over bake.  Remove bites to a cooling rack.

7.  Serve immediately or microwave for a few seconds before serving them at a later time.



Written by Sherron Watson



Thursday, April 24, 2014

Coconut, Cilantro and Shrimp Cakes


I love coconut.

I believe my first taste of a fresh coconut was in the Philippines.   We lived on the Navy base.  We  had a young woman who helped my Mom each day with jobs around the house.  We would leave the base to visit her family.  They lived in a small village with coconut and mango trees in their back yards.

She would bring us coconuts all the time.   To this day I think of her.  I don't remember her name because I was only 5 at the time and that was a very long time ago.

I recently bought a fresh coconut for my family to try.  Isabella enjoyed watching me try to open the coconut.  I should have done it outside because my floor soon became wet with the milk from inside.  I was able to salvage a cup of coconut milk.

I tried to get my kids to "try it".

UM-- NO!

They looked at me like I was handing them a cup of poison.  So naturally I took the first sip to prove to them that it was safe to try.  I still had no takers.  I enjoyed the drink and ate the fresh pulp.  It brought back so many memories of playing in the warm rain, visiting my friends puppies and learning to ride my first bike.

I buy organic, unsweetened coconut pieces from Whole Foods to use in my granola, cookies and for these shrimp cakes.  I never buy sweetened coconut.  There really isn't a reason why I don't, other than, it seems too sweet for me.

These shrimp cakes are filled with fresh ingredients, they are simple to make and look pretty on a plate.
Yep--I like pretty food and this is one of them.

ENJOY!


Coconut & Shrimp Cakes

Makes 6-8 cakes
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes

Cakes:

3 cups of precooked shrimp, diced 
1/2 cup unsweetened coconut flakes
2 tablespoons coconut flour
1/4 cup almond meal
1/2 cup chopped cilantro
2 tablespoons chopped green onion
2 garlic cloves, minced
Zest and juice from 1/2 a lemon
Zest and juice from 1/2 an orange
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
2 eggs
1/2 teaspoon Old Bay Seasoning
Coconut oil for frying

Wicked Awesome Sauce:

1/2 teaspoon hot sauce
1 tablespoon mayonnaise

1.  Combine all of the cake ingredients in a medium bowl. Combine sauce ingredients in a small bowl and set aside.

2.  Use a large skillet, heat set to medium, melt 1 tablespoon of coconut oil.  Use more oil as needed.

3.  Form cakes/patties, with hands, into tight flattened disk. Fry on both sides until golden brown.  I recommend making your cakes no larger than 2inches wide.  They may fall apart if you try to make them too big.



4.  Serve immediately with sauce.  To swirl the sauce, I placed the sauce in a small sandwich baggie and cut a tiny corner off.  Gently squeeze and swirl.





Written by Sherron Watson

Monday, March 24, 2014

Enchilada Dip



My kids ask for enchiladas about once a week.  They love the combination of corn tortillas and cheese layered with lots of red sauce.

I have seen versions of this dip around and decided that it may be a bit easier than making a couple of trays of enchiladas--especially on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  On those two days I am usually running kids from 4:30 until 8:00.  I try to make meals in the morning so that those that are home can reheat and eat at their convenience.  I miss eating together but busy families do what we have to do to get everyone fed and out the door.

I was correct.  It was much faster to whip this up.  I served the dip with corn tortilla chips.

I found that I could portion up the leftovers in small containers. This made for a great snack after school.



Beef Enchilada Dip with Green Chilies and Black Beans

1 pound of ground beef
1/2 medium onion, diced small
2 gloves of garlic, minced
2 cups of enchilada sauce (I make my own sauce--follow link)
2 cups of cheese, grated  (I used jack and mozzarella--but you can use any cheese you love)
1 small can (4.5 oz) diced green chilies
1 (14.5 oz) can black beans, rinsed and drained

1 bag of tortilla chips

toppings:

diced tomatoes (optional)
avocado chunks (optional)
green onion (optional)
black olives (optional)
sour cream (optional)

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2.  In a large frying pan, cook meat and onions together until the meat is no longer pink.  Add garlic, cook another 3-5 minutes and remove from heat.  Drain any fat from the meat.

3.  Add black beans, chilies and 1 cup of cheese to meat mixture.  Combine well.  Transfer mixture to a baking dish.  I am using a round stone dish that makes the dip about 1 inch thick.

4.  Pour the enchilada sauce over the meat/cheese mixture.  The recipe says 2 cups but you can always use less if you prefer your dip not so runny.

5.  Top with remaining one cup of cheese  (add more if you want more)  I like lots of cheese so we usually add a bit more.  I also use what I have in the fridge.  This is a great way to use up small pieces of cheese.

6.  Heat in oven until cheese is melted.  In my oven this takes about 7 minutes.  Remove from oven and serve.

7.  While the cheese is melting, prepare your toppings.

Written by Sherron Watson











Thursday, January 30, 2014

Cowboy Caviar


I love this side dish, relish, snack, appetizer or salad topping.  It has many uses. 

The obvious way to enjoy the Cowboy Caviar is with tortilla chips but I also like to use the left overs for salads and sandwiches.

Honestly, you can add anything to this wonderful array of color served in a bowl or take out what you don't like.  

I think these are some of the best recipes because they are so easily adaptable to your own families likes and dislikes.   I know that when I make it when my Mom is in town to leave out the black-eyed peas--she hates them.  I know that if I am going to be eating it I have to make a small batch for myself without the peppers.  I just learned that I am very allergic to bell peppers (and here I thought it was the eggs--LOL)

Do you see how this can be altered and recreated a ton of different ways.  I think adding jicama to this would also be really good.  I just thought of that so next time I will change it up a bit.

I like to serve this dish warm instead of cold.  My teeth are really sensitive to cold things. I just pop it in the microwave for a few seconds, enough to take the cold edge off.

I think we will be making this soon, I smell a good football game right around the corner.

ENJOY!





Cowboy Caviar

Prep Time:  15 minutes
Serves: 6-8

1 15 oz can of black beans, drained and rinsed
1 15.5 oz can of black-eyed peas, drained and rinsed
1 cup of orange bell pepper, chopped small
2/3 cup red onion, chopped small
1 15 oz. can white or yellow corn, drained
2 medium tomatoes, chopped small
1/2-1 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
1.5 cups of your favorite Italian salad dressing
Salt to taste
Jalapenos (optional--not pictured)

Combine all ingredients into a medium bowl. Stir well

Serve with chips, as a salad topping, over fish or by itself.

Store in refrigerator for up to 5 days.




Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Cantaloupe and Prosciutto Crustini



Easy is what I am looking for in my meals recently.  I also need something that I can make fast.

Holding a baby in one hand has allowed me to get really good at doing things with my left hand and using only one hand.  Not to mention my right arm is getting pretty buff.  Now I need to find the time to work on my left arm or I may look like Popeye pretty soon, or half of Popeye.

The one hand "everything" also applies to eating.  I really can't hold a sandwich very well. The insides seem to be falling out constantly or I spill mayonnaise onto Finnleys outfit or forehead.  She does not like that much.  Speaking of Finnley, here she is at 3 months old.   Her hands are keeping her very busy these days.

So I find that these small crustini appetizers work well for me.  I can buy the baguettes or make my own bread, cut them into small rounds and load them up with what I like.  On this day I chose to mix the sweet flavor of cantaloupe with a bit of mozzarella cheese and Prosciutto.   The melted mozzarella was a nice touch.

MMMMMM, my taste buds were thanking me on this day.  I love pairing sweet with salty ingredients. I also love to add a bit of tartness so I drizzled a few drops of my favorite balsamic vinegar, this month I chose the bordeaux cherry flavor.

Other combinations that I like to use are: cream cheese, ham, chicken salad, fresh herbs, olive oil, sharp cheddar cheese--really, the options are endless.

If you have time, share with me your favorite combination of flavors and textures when you prepare a platter of crustini for your family or friends.


Cantaloupe and Prosciutto Crustini

Prep. Time:  15 minutes
Bake Time:  15 minutes

16 slices of baguette style bread
2 T. olive oil
8 slices of mozzarella cheese, cut in half
1/2 cantaloupe
8 slices of Prosciutto
Flavored vinaigrette, optional
Mint leaves, optional 


1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2.  Cut bread into 1/4 inch thick slices.  Brush each side with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper.

3.  Bake bread for 10 minutes.  Remove, add 1/2 slice of mozzarella cheese and return to oven for 5 more minutes.  

4.  While the cheese is melting.  Use a potato peeler to make thin slices of cantaloupe.  Cut Prosciutto in half. 



5.  Remove crustini from oven and lay a folded piece of Prosciutto on top of cheese, add folded cantaloupe, top with a small leaf of mint.


Optional:  add a drop or two of your favorite balsamic vinegar. I used Cherry (see picture).

Written by Sherron Watson

Tuesday, January 7, 2014

Merlot Meatballs


Back in October I was sent a gift basket that included a bottle of Merlot, along with cheese, crackers and an apple slicer.  At the time I was tending to Finnley and put the bottle under the cupboard for a later date.  To be honest, I forgot about it until I ventured into the kitchen to make these wonderful creamed mushrooms.

I guess I was in the mood for something creamy and warm.  I ended up on Pinterest scrolling though some easy recipes because I was out of some of the ingredients to make the Creamed Mushrooms.

Bummer.

It was a bummer until I found this recipe for Merlot Meatballs by The Midnight Baker.  They sounded easy enough; plus,  I had the Merlot.

The recipe below has been adapted from the original.  I modified it to fit our families taste buds and to use what I had on hand.

Delicious sums up the end result of this dish.   Pre-made meatballs are easy but I think homemade meatballs taste better.  Here is an easy recipe for Homemade Meatballs that I use quite often with a variety of meatball dishes or this recipe for Turkey Meatballs would work well too.

As with some recipes, they tend to taste a little bit better the next day.  The sauce on the meatballs got a bit thicker and the flavors really shined through.  I enjoyed the meatballs but the sauce was the star of this dish.  I highly recommend that you have some fresh bread  (gluten free bread found here) on hand.


Recipe:  Merlot Meatballs
Adapted from The Midnight Baker

Makes 16/18 meatballs
Prep. Time:  30 minutes

1 bag of pre-made meatballs (16-18 count)
1/2 cup diced mushrooms, small
1/2 cup diced onions, small
2 T. butter
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/2 cup Merlot wine
1 1/4 cup of heavy cream
1 T. chopped fresh parsley
1 teaspoon honey

Loaf of Italian Bread, optional

1.  Bake meatballs according to package directions.

2.  In a large saute pan on medium high heat, melt butter; add garlic, mushrooms, salt/pepper and onion.  Cook until onion is clear. 

3.  Turn heat down to medium, add wine, cream, honey and parsley.  

4.  Add Meatballs and simmer, stirring occasionally, until reduced and thickened.  Sauce should simmer for at least 15 minutes. The longer it reduces the thicker and creamier the sauce will be.

5.  Serve in a large bowl, over noodles, or in individual serving dishes as an appetizer. 

The sauce is too good to waste, use the bread to sop up every last drop.

Written by Sherron Watson

Sunday, February 3, 2013

Oriental Chicken Salad in Wonton Cones #SundaySupper



Are you ready for some football?  I am!

I live in Maryland and so we are, of course, rooting for the Ravens to win.  Although, I will be happy with either team winning--after all, it is still in the family, right?  Wether Jim or John wins they still have an amazing story to pass on and talk about down the road.

Our culture loves football and food...dips, pizza, nacho's, sliders, chips, etc.... We love a reason to get together and to celebrate with friends and family, especially if it envolves a flat screen TV.    

My neighbor told me yesterday that he and his wife just purchased their first large flat screen TV.  His eyes lit up with pride as he talked about watching the game in his living room.  I was so happy for them.

We will also be gathered upstairs around our TV as a family enjoying the big game.  This appetizer will be served.  I enjoy Oriental Chicken Salad.  This salad is a great way to use our teams color--purple.  I used purple onion and purple cabbage.  You can use green cabbage, but for this day, we will use purple.

This is just one of many recipes being shared with Sunday Supper, please take a few minutes and browse through the recipes that are at the end of this post.  I know that their are some winners and favorites being shared today. 

If you are not a football fan, that is okay too.  This appetizer works well for baby showers, bridal parties and birthday events.  The cones can be made up in advance and assembled right before they are served.  Get creative with your filling for the cones if the Oriental Salad is not your choice--you can use cheese, a different salad, mousse or tuna tartar.  

Best of luck to the Ravens and 49er's, regardless of who wins, I just hope it is a good game to watch and I know that spending time with my family will be the highlight and instant replay that I will look forward to with each passing year.

Recipe:  Oriental Chicken Salad in Wonton Cones

Makes 3-4 cups of filling

The step by step instructions for the Wonton Cones can be found HERE.

2 large chicken breast, cooked and diced
1/2 cup pineapple, diced small
1/2 cup mandarin oranges, diced small
1/2 cup of toasted almond slivers
1 tablespoon of diced chives or red onion
1 cup of shredded red cabbage

Dressing:
2 tablespoons of oil
1/2 teaspoon of sesame oil
1 teaspoon of rice vinegar
1 teaspoon of sugar
1/4-1/2 teaspoon of fresh grated ginger
Pinch of salt

Serving suggestions: tiny cups with miniature forks, wonton cones or pre-made puff shells

Combine dressing ingredients and shake well. This is a basic recipe and can be adjusted to your sense of taste by adjusting the sweet/tart levels with more or less sugar or vinegar.

Combine chicken, cabbage, chives, oranges,pineapple and almonds.

Add dressing and combine.  The dressing should be tasted and enhanced to your liking. We like ours a bit tart so I tend to add a bit more vinegar than what is listed.

This can be made up to 2 days in advance.  If served in cups they can be prepared the night before.  If serving them in a wonton cone or pastry shell, prepare the day of the event.

Filling can be served cold or warm.





#SundaySupper Super Bowl Appetizers & Snacks:
#SundaySupper Super Bowl Main Dishes:
#SundaySupper Super Bowl Desserts:
#SundaySupper Super Bowl Tablescape:  10 Tips For A Winning Superbowl Buffet Table from An Appealing Plan
Now that is one feast for sure! I’m sure you found a whole bunch of recipes to make for your next party. Be sure to bookmark this post so you can reference it easily. It is a keeper list for sure.
What is your favorite party food? Is there one you always make when entertaining or to take to a party? I have several and these muffuletta skewers are in my make often list along with pimento cheese balls and stuffed mushrooms. I’m so ready for a party, how about you?
Join the #SundaySupper conversation on twitter each Sunday. We tweet throughout the day and share recipes from all over the world. Our weekly chat starts at 7:00 pm ET and you do not want to miss out on the fun. Follow the #SundaySupper hashtag and remember to include it in your tweets to join in the chat. Check out our #SundaySupper Pinterest board for more fabulous recipes and food photos.

Thursday, January 31, 2013

How to Make Wonton Cones


Wonton Cones are just a cute party addition to any table.  They look fun, they are easy to use and they can be made up in advance.  I like that.  I made these three days before I used them and stored them in an air tight bag.  They were still fresh and crispy as the day I made them.

The cones can be filled with any type of filling:  mousse, salads, cheese, etc....

I have filled mine with an Oriental Salad Mixture (recipe will be shared on Sunday for Sunday Supper and Super Bowl Sunday).

These Wonton Cones are easy to make.  The tricky part is making sure the oil is not too hot and that you have the right tool to work with.

What is the right tool?  Well, I have seen a carrot used, a medal cylinder and a piping nozzle used for decorating cakes.  Hmmmmm.  Well, I decided to use the end of my wooden spoon.  It was an easy decision--I already had tons of wooden spoons, they would not get too hot in th oil and burn me and it made the cones exactly the same each time.  Perfect!

I have put together a step-by-step pictorial so that you can see how they are made.  The list of ingredients needed to make these cones is easy: oil, small amount of water and wonton wrappers.

Make sure the oil is 3 inches deep and the temperature is around 350 degrees (use a thermometer to insure the temperature is correct). If the oil gets too hot, the cones will get very dark.

Please be very careful.  You will be working with hot, hot oil.  The spoon is used as a tool to help you mold and retrieve the cones from the oil, you may be tempted to use your fingers here and there--use caution. 

The cooking time for each wonton is quick.  Maybe 30-45 seconds depending on how hot your oil is and how dark you want them to be.  Once you make a few of them, you will find the timing and rythmn of making the cones and it will move along quickly.  If you have a helper, some one who can make them while you cook them, that would be even better.  I did not have that option.

Place napkins near by so that you can let them cool before transfering them to an airtight container or bag.

The pictures below all contain wrappers that are not gluten free.  I have not made the cones using a gluten free recipe.  If you would like to try a gluten free version, this seems to be the best recipe out there from, Gluten Free on a Shoestring.  You will find the recipe here.


Place each wonton wrapper on your work surface.  The wonton's are more pliable if they are at room temperature.  Let them set out on the counter an hour before you make the cones.

Dip your finger in the water and start in the left corner.
While your finger is wet with water, drag it up one side and return to the corner.
Drag your wet finger down the other side.  Two sides are now wet with water.



Fold the corner so that the tip makes a trianle ontop of the wonton wrapper.

Take the one side of the wonton wrapper and fold it over the meet the other side (you want the two wet sides to overlap and seal the cone).
This is what you should have when the steps above have been followed.

Using the end of a wooden spoon, place it inside the wonton wrapper.  Make sure your oil is hot.  

Add the wonton to the oil, pushing it under the oil and rotating the spoon in a circle in your hand.  You are twirling the handle so that the oil is able to get to all of the sides of the cone.

The cone will start to bubble and you can see that it is turning a light brown.

At some point the cone may fall off of the spoon.  This is okay.  Push it under the oil to cook the inside.  Take the spoon handle and slip it inside the cone shape and pull it out of the hot oil.  You can also use a wire mesh frying spatula to retrieve the cone.

Tip the cone slightly so that the excess oil can drain out.

Let the cone cool for a few minutes and then you can handle them.  They can be filled right away or saved for a later date.

You can see some of the cones are darker than the others.  As long as they don't taste burnt, they are still good.  I found that the cones will continue to darken and cook once they are removed from the hot oil so keep this in mind.


Donut Breakfast Casserole

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