| WINTER 2014 RECIPE SUPPLEMENT A p p e ti ze rs 15 Party Appetizer Recipes to Try By Tracey Moro / Photography by Maria Lisa Marino With Christmas, New Year’s and even Super Bowl Sunday around the corner we figure now is the time to gather some of the best appetizers so you will have plenty of choices to bring to that next home party. A ll of our “chefs” at our home party brought their favorite appetizer they like to make. Before we began tasting we photographed each appetizer and the “chef ” who brought it. We socialized, had some wine of course, and then we began tasting. Each recipe had a number and after we each had tasted enough, we wrote down our favorites. Those four favorites are included in the Winter 2014 edition of Macomb Now Magazine. A ll the recipes are in this Recipe Supplement. We hope you tr y these in your kitchen and let us know which ones were your favorites. Enjoy! Food | APPETIZERS 1 Cream Cheese and Feta Dip By Cathy Lentine Local Celebrity Chef Cathy Lentine, Cooking with Cathy, Celebrity Chef Cathy gives us recipes in each issue of the Macomb Now Magazine and the response has been so wonderful it inspired us to do this special supplement. Cathy has two recipes here and we knew at least one would end up a favorite and this Cream Cheese and Feta Dip was outstanding. Cathy makes it look so easy and so delicious. Ingredients Preparation 2 boxes cream cheese (softened) 1 cup of chopped Feta cheese 3/4 cup of chopped red onion 1package of store bought Hummus 1package of grape tomatoes — chopped 2 garlic cloves-chopped 1/2 cup lemon juice 1 Tbsp. oregano Salt and pepper 3/4 cup chopped black pitted olives Mix together cream cheese, Feta cheese and red onion. Spread onto a flat dish. Spread Hummus on top of cream cheese. Mix together the tomatoes, garlic, lemon juice, oregano and salt and pepper. Place on top of Hummus mixture — put the olives around the whole plate. Serve with toasted bread or pita chips. Food | APPETIZERS APPETIZERS | Food Colossal Shrimp Stuffed with Lump Crab By Chef Justin, Vince & Joe’s Gourmet Market Ingredients 16 oz. lump crabmeat 7 Tbsp. ground saltine crackers 1.5 Tbsp. minced Spanish onion 1/4 tsp. minced garlic 1 tsp. Old Bay Seasoning 1 tsp. yellow mustard 1/2 tsp. dry mustard 1-1/4 Tbsp. worcestershire sauce 1 large egg Kosher salt to taste White pepper to taste 1 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice 1 Tbsp. mayonnaise Colossal shrimp, butterflied 10 each Panko bread crumbs as needed Preparation Mix together Spanish onions, Old Bay Seasoning, yellow and dry mustard, worcestershire sauce, egg, salt, pepper, mayonnaise, and lemon juice. Fold in crabmeat trying to keep the crab whole. Gently add the ground crackers. Place a generous amount of crab mixture (about 2 oz.) onto the top of the shrimp. Top with panko bread crumbs. Brush with melted butter and place into a preheated 350º oven for 10 to 15 minutes. Product should be golden brown. 2 Chef Justin, Vince & Joe’s Gourmet Market This spectacular appetizer looks divine and yet is so easy to make. Just follow the steps Chef Justin gives and enjoy. Food | APPETIZERS 3 Bacon Wrapped Aspargus By Suzanne Musante, Macomb Township Ingredients 1 bundle asparagus 1 12-16 oz. package of bacon Preparation Pre cook bacon for 10 minutes (do not over cook bacon - it should still roll around asparagus spears). Let bacon cool and drain. Roll one slice of bacon around each spear of asparagus. Place on baking sheet and put in oven at 350º until bacon is cooked completely. Suzanne Musante, Macomb Township. Suzanne is an Account Executive with Macomb Now Magazine. She loves to entertain and says everyone loves bacon and it’s so easy to make - so you can’t go wrong with this appetizer. APPETIZERS APPETIZERS || Food Food 4 White Bean Spread with Garlic and Rosemary By Stephen Bitsoli, St. Clair Shores Ingredients Preparation 2 Tbsp. olive oil Put olive oil, garlic and rosemary in a skillet over medium heat until it begins to sizzle. Add beans and liquid. While it cooks, mash with wooden spoon or potato masher until the mixture thickens slightly. Remove from heat and transfer to bowl or container. 3 cloves (medium) minced garlic 3 tsp. rosemary 1 can (14 oz.) white beans (undrained). Fresh rosemary for garnish Stephen is a writer for Macomb Now Magazine and spends a good portion of his free time in the kitchen. He recalls finding this recipe in 2005 in a book Perfect Recipes for Having People Over, by Pam Anderson. His version has a bit more garlic and was a huge hit. Food | APPETIZERS 5 Grape Balls of Flavor By Clarice Krolicki, Warren Ingredients 8 oz. cream cheese 8 oz. goat cheese Salt - to taste 1 pound red and green grapes 8 oz. walnuts (finely chopped) Preparation Combine cream cheese and goat cheese, mix well until blended (add optional salt to taste). Wash grapes and let dry thoroughly. Coat each grape with the cheese mixture and roll in chopped nuts to cover. Makes about 50 grapes depending on grape size. Clarice is no stranger to cooking and spends her days working in a restaurant so she has first hand experience. She made these Grape balls the day before the party and says although they take a bit of prep time they are worth it. APPETIZERS APPETIZERS | Food 6 Appetizer Wreath By Sheila Priemer, Harrison Township Ingredients 2 tubes (8 oz. each) refrigerated crescent rolls 1 package (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened 1/2 cup sour cream 1 tsp. garlic powder 1 1/2 cups chopped fresh broccoli florets 1 cup finely chopped celery 1/2 cup finely chopped sweet red pepper Celery leaves Sheila is the mother of four and prides herself on her cooking. She and her friends have a gourmet cooking group, which meets once a month, cooking a variety of dishes throughout the year. Preparation Remove crescent dough from packaging (do not unroll). Cut each tube in to eight slices. Arrange in an 11 inch circle on a non-greased 14 inch pizza pan. Bake at 375º for 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown. Cool for 5 minutes before carefully removing to a serving platter. Cool completely. In a small bowl, beat the cream cheese, sour cream, dill and garlic powder until smooth. Spread over wreath, top with broccoli, celery and red pepper. Form a bow garnish with celery leaves. Serves 16. Food | APPETIZERS 7 Asian “Turkey” Lettuce Wraps By Chef Educator Scott O’Farrell C.E.C., C.E.P.C., C.C.A., Macomb Culinary Institute Ingredients 1 Lb turkey breast, fully cooked, dice small (chilled) 1 tsp. garlic paste 1 Tbsp. chive, cut fine 1 tsp. ginger, grate and mince fine 1/2 cup water chestnuts, fine chop 1/4 cup bamboo shoots, fine chop 2 Tbsp. red pepper, fine dice 1 Tbsp. yellow pepper, fine dice 2 Tbsp. honey 2 Tbsp. soy 2 Tbsp. hoisin sauce 2 each limes, juice of 1 Tbsp. curry powder 1 pinch black pepper, fresh ground 2 head lettuce of choice – wash well in cold water, drain and dry thoroughly. Preparation Place the fully cooked chilled and diced turkey in a bowl. Combine the remainder of ingredients and mix well. Let rest while under refrigeration for a couple of hours. Adjust seasonings to one’s personal taste. Place Asian Turkey salad on lettuce leaf, add vegetable garnish of choice. Wrap and use choice of sauce or condiments. Depending on size serves 4 to 6. Chef Scott teaches at one of the world’s best culinary schools here in our own backyard at the Macomb Culinary Institute at Macomb Community College. He has won numerous awards and has participated in several world renowned IKA Culinary Olympics. APPETIZERS | Food 8 Sausage Bread By Jeanette Izzi, Washington Township Ingredients 1 loaf of Rhodes frozen bread dough 3 links Rinaldi’s plain Italian sausage 1 cup of Feta cheese McCormick’s Salad Supreme seasoning 2 Tbsp. melted butter Jeanette is the Aunt to Macomb Now’s photographer Maria Lisa Marino. In their family Jeanette gets requests for this favorite appetizer at all the family gatherings. Preparation Remove Italian sausage from the casing and brown in a frying pan. Let cool. Mix up the cup of Feta cheese with the sausage. Once the frozen bread dough is thawed out, flatten and roll it until it is a half inch thick (into a long rectangle shape) Add the sausage and cheese filling to the center of the dough. Gather the dough on all ends to create a seam; pinch the dough all together to make a torpedo shape loaf. Turn the seams side down on an nongreased cookie sheet. Brush loaf with a tablespoon of melted butter and sprinkle loaf with McCormick’s Salad Supreme seasoning. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes or until loaf is golden brown. Let it cool, slice and enjoy. Food | APPETIZERS 9 Sweet Chicken Bacon Wraps By Carol Terrell, Clinton Township Ingredients 1 1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breast 1 (1 pound) package sliced bacon (thin) 2/3 cup firmly packed brown sugar 2 tablespoons chili powder Preparation Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cut chicken breast into one inch cubes. Cut each piece of bacon into thirds. Wrap each chicken cube with bacon and secure with a wooden toothpick inserted on the diagonal starting where bacon seam overlaps. Stir together brown sugar and chili powder. Dredge wrapped chicken in mixture. Coat a rack and broiler pan with nonstick cooking spray. Place chicken on rack in broiler pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 35 minutes or until bacon is crisp. Carol is the mother of Macomb Now’s Editor Tracey Moro and her two sisters. She has six grandchildren and is well known for her baking expertise. Carol’s Chicken Bacon Wraps can be done ahead and warmed in the microwave. APPETIZERS | Food 10 Hummus with Lemon and Garlic By Jerry Drenzek, Macomb Township Ingredients 1 (15 Oz.) can chick peas (Garbanzo beans) drained and rinsed 1 tsp. minced California garlic 2 tsp. ground cumin seed 1/3 cup organic lemon juice 1 Tbsp. toasted sesame oil 1 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil 1/2 tsp. sea salt 1/3 cup water 1/4 cup Tahini sesame seed paste Since retiring Jerry has spent more time mastering the art of cooking. After sharing his favorite recipe on Facebook he was invited to join our party so we could share it with you. Preparation Combine all ingredients in food processor and mix until the dip reaches the consistency of sour cream. Refrigerate for one hour before serving. Serve with oven baked pita wedges. Food | APPETIZERS 11 Pepperoni Puffs By Susan Durlock, Clinton Township Ingredients Preparation 1 cup all purpose flour Combine flour, baking powder, milk, egg and cheese; mix well. Stir in pepperoni; let stand for 15 minutes. Spoon mixture into greased mini muffin cups. Filling each cup 3/4 full. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes or until golden. Serve them with a side of Marinara sauce for dipping. Makes two dozen. 1 tsp. baking powder 1 cup milk 1 egg, beaten 1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese 1 1/2 cup pepperoni, diced Sue is the mother of college age twins. She loves to cook and was eager to share several of her appetizer recipes. This recipe was just one of her favorites. APPETIZERS 12 Baked Brie with Raspberry Sauce By Deb DeCook, Clinton Township Ingredients Preparation 1 (6 to 8 ounce) round of brie Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place brie in small ovenproof serving dish. Mound the brown sugar on top, dot with butter. Bake until the cheese is very soft, but not runny, about 15 minutes. (You can also heat brie in microwave for a minute or so). Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, mix together raspberries. You may find it necessary to add 1 or 2 teaspoon water to cook the raspberry. Stir in raspberry sauce over medium heat until boiling and slightly thickened, about 5 minutes. 1/4 c brown sugar 1 Tbsp. butter 3/4 c fresh or frozen raspberries 2 tsp. sugar 1 tsp. lemon juice 1 tsp. corn starch 1 Tbsp. sliced toasted almonds A few fresh raspberries for garnish Deb is a member of the same gourmet cooking group as Sheila and continually surprises her friends with her spectacular new recipes. This warm brie was not only a favorite because it tasted great but because it looked so pretty on the table. | Food Food | APPETIZERS 13 Melon Crostini By Cathy Lentine, Shelby Township Ingredients Preparation 3/4 cup sliced cantaloupe Toss cantaloupe with vinegar, sugar and chives - set aside. Fry prosciutto until crisp. Mix together ricotta, cheese, lemon zest, salt and pepper. Spread mixture onto toasted bread slices, top with melon, prosciutto and arugula. 1 tsp. flavored vinegar 1/4 tsp. sugar 2 tsp. of minced chives 3 slices of prosciutto sliced into thin strips 1/4 cup fresh ricotta 1 Tbsp. grated Parmesan 1/4 tsp. minced lemon zest Salt and black pepper to taste 8 pieces of toasted bread 1 cup arugula (3 Tbsp. of olive oil, salt and pepper) APPETIZERS | Food 14 Spinach Artichoke Dip By Tracey Moro, Clinton Township Ingredients Preparation 1 package (8 or 12 oz.) shredded Mozzarella cheese Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Completely thaw and drain spinach until there is no moisture. Combine mayo, cheeses and drained artichokes in a bowl until mixed together. Fold in garlic and spinach. Spread out in a shallow dish that you can serve in (nongreased). Bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until the edges begin to brown. Serve warm with crackers or pita bread. 1 box frozen spinach, thawed and drained 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese 1 cup real mayonnaise 1-2 pressed garlic cloves 1 can artichoke hearts, drained Tracey, our Executive Editor, has been known for bringing her popular Spinach Artichoke Dip to home parties for years now. It’s an easy recipe that is always a hit during the colder months. Food | APPETIZERS 15 Healthy Bender Cucumber Boats By William Bender DC, Harrison Township Ingredients Preparation Bamboo skewers Cut cucumbers lengthwise and scoop out seeds making a “boat.” Using a vegetable peeler, make one pass down the middle of the bottom to turn the cucumber into a “flat-bottom-boat.” Set the cucumbers next to each other in a decorative dish. On a skewer alternate the veggies, herbs, and meat, and place one skewer in each cucumber boat. Combine olive oil and balsamic vinegar (one to one ratio for tartness and digestive aid). Add sea salt and pepper and the juice of a fresh 1/4 lemon. Mix all ingredients and drizzle over the skewers. The drippings will be held in the bottom of the boat. Cucumbers, one medium per two guests Green olives, pitted Black olives, pitted Yellow bell peppers Fresh parsley Smoked Provolone cheese Grape tomatoes Hard salami Sandwich style pepperoni Artichoke hearts Dressing Ingredients Extra-virgin olive oil Balsamic vinegar Himalayan sea salt ( to taste) Fresh ground pepper Fresh lemon Dr. Bender recommends this healthy recipe at his clinic. It is very low in carbohydrates, has zero trans fats, is gluten free, and loaded with Omega-3s and protein. As an added bonus this delicious appetizer contains natural gastric acidifiers to aid indigestion for the rest of the meal. This dish is also versatile, as you can add and subtract elements to your taste or theme.
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