Appetizers made from items in your pantry and fridge – along with a couple of splurge ideas!

This week we are featuring recipes and menu ideas for dinner parties and special meals. Next time you invite people over for a glass of wine or an iced tea al fresco consider serving a delicious and quick appetizer. Here are three appetizer ideas to help you make the most of your summer time – with easy entertaining ideas that allow you to spend more with your guests….

View at Picasa 23-May-2010 17:28, Apple iPhone, 2.8

Poolside Entertaining Made Easy

1. WOW your guests with an artisan cheese. Either select a local variety or try Cypress Grove Chevre.  At Fresh Market we found this creamy and luscious Humbolt Fog ripen goat’s milk cheese. Handcrafted in California, our guests raved about this cheese – it’s splurge worthy!

Serving suggestions: spread on crackers, apple or pear slices, or crusty whole-grain bread slices

2. Radishes with Butter and Salt. Sounds so simple – and it is. But this fresh, little combo is a real treat. Last spring the Mama’s ventured out for dinner at Floataway Cafe in Atlanta. One of the appetizers was farm fresh radishes, local butter and sea salt. The trio was artfully arranged on the plate. Our server suggested we dip a radish, into the room temprature butter then sprinkle lightly with sea salt. What a delightful nibble – perfect for outdoor entertaining.

We splurged on the butter (we made shortbread cookies and held a little aside for this appetizer) and purchased Vermont Cultured Butter from the Vermont Butter And Cheese Company while at Fresh Market. As you may have guessed, this European-style butter is made in Vermont. The butter rich and creamy was perfect with the radishes we found at the market. To add a twist to the dish we had both sea salt and Casina & Rossa Truffle & Salt options on the table. The butter in your fridge and the salt in your pantry will also be divine!

3.  Greek Salad Skewers - a modern twist on the classic Greek Salad. Simple, healthy, quick and delicious. And fun!

Enjoy!

Enjoyed this post? See these:

1. Quick and Delicious Guacamole
2. French Onion Soup – Quick, Delicious & Low(er)-fat
3. Quick and Easy in the microwave – Curried Cauliflower Apple Soup

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Tags: casina rossa truffle & salt, cypress grove chevre, fresh market, greek salad on a skewer, nibbles, radishes and butter, summertime appetizers, vermont cultured butter, wine and cheese

This entry was posted on Monday, May 31st, 2010 at 6:00 am and is filed under Our Favorite Things, Recipes. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.