Kristen's Recipes

 

1 pint cherry tomatoes

1 pkg. crumbled feta cheese

1/2 C. chopped red onion

1/2 C. olive oil

1/4 C. cider vinegar

1 T. dried oregano

salt & pepper to taste

Procedure

 

Cut a thin slice off the top of each tomato. Scoop out & discard pulp. Invert tomatoes onto paper towels to drain. Combine cheese & onion; spoon into tomatoes. In a jar with a tight fitting lid, combine vinegar, oil, oregano, salt & pepper; shake well. Spoon over tomatoes. Cover & refridgerate for 30 minutes or till ready to serve.

1 dozen eggs

2/3 C. silken tofu, drained

1 T. mayonnaise

1 T. Dijon mustard

1/2 tsp. hot sauce, plus more to taste

2 tsp. prepared horseradish

2 T. chopped chives

Salt

Freshly ground black pepper

1/4 tsp. paprika

 

Place the eggs in a large saucepan and cover with water. Place over high heat and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 9 minutes. Remove the eggs from water and run under cold water for about 1 minute or until cool enough to touch. Peel eggs under cold running water.  lice the eggs in half lengthwise. Scoop out the yolks and discard 6 of them or save for another use. Set aside the whites.  Place the remaining yolks in a medium bowl and mash with the tofu, mayonnaise, mustard, hot sauce, horseradish and chives. Season with salt and pepper.  Spoon the mixture into the corner of a plastic bag and snip off the end. Pipe the yolk mixture into the egg whites. Arrange on a platter and sprinkle with paprika.

 

 

12 oz. smoked trout or other smoked fish, skin and bone removed

3 T. mayonnaise

3 to 4 tsp. lemon juice

3 T. chopped dill

2 T. capers, chopped

2 green onions, thinly sliced

Salt and freshly ground pepper

1/2 baguette, cut diagonally into 3/8″ slices

2 T. chopped chives

 

In a large bowl, flake trout coarsely. Fold in mayonnaise, lemon juice, dill, capers, and green onions. Season with salt and pepper. Toast bread until golden on each side. To serve, spread the trout on toast. Garnish with chopped chives or parsley leaf.

 

¾ C. stemmed and chopped dried figs (slightly heaping)

¾ C. Mirassou California Pinot Noir

1 ½ tbsp. honey

2 lemon slices, seeds removed

24 (¼-inch thick) baguette slices, cut on the diagonal

2 tbsp. walnut or extra virgin olive oil

½ lb. cold Brie, thinly sliced

1 ½ tbsp. chopped fresh thyme

 

Combine figs, wine, honey and lemon slices in medium saucepan. Bring to boil, then reduce heat and cook, covered, over low heat 30 minutes. Let cool slightly, then puree in food processor or blender.  Brush bread slices with oil and place oil-side down on large baking sheet. Spread about ½ T. fig spread on each baguette slice and top with equal amounts of Brie, then top with thyme. Bake at 450°F 8 to 10 minutes or until cheese is melted and bubbly.

 

1 C. water

1/2 C. dry white wine

2 T. reduced-sodium soy sauce

1/2 tsp. Szechuan or black peppercorns

1 lb. raw large shrimp, peeled and deveined

1/4 C. prepared sweet and sour sauce

2 tsp. hot Chinese mustard

 

Combine water, wine, soy sauce and peppercorns in medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat. Add shrimp; reduce heat to medium. Cover and simmer 2 to 3 minutes or until shrimp are opaque. Drain well. Cover and refrigerate until chilled.  Combine sweet and sour sauce and mustard in small bowl; mix well. Serve as a dipping sauce for shrimp.

 

32 Wanton Wrappers

1 tsp. Olive Oil

1/4 tsp. Garlic Salt

2 oz. Cheddar Cheese

1 tsp. Dijon Mustard

32 Cooked Salad Shrimp

2 Green Onions, thinly sliced

 

Heat oven to 375.  Spray cookie sheet with non-stick cooking spray. Arrange 16 wanton squares on cookie sheet.  Using fingers, place a drop of water in center of each square.  Top with another square, placing at an angle to form a star pattern.  In small bowl, combine oil and garlic salt; mix well.  Brush over wanton squares.  Bake for 6-8 minutes or until lightly browned.  Meanwhile, cut cheese into 1” squares that are about 1/8” thick.  Remove wanton squares from oven.  Place small amount of mustard on each cheese square.  Set cheese, mustard side down, on the hot wanton wrappers.  Top with a piece of shrimp and some green onion slices.  Return to oven for 3-5 minutes or until cheese is softened.  Cool slightly before serving.

14 oz. large stuffing mushrooms (approximately 16)

3/4 C. packed basil leaves

1-1/2 T. olive oil

1-1/2 T. toasted pine nuts

1 T. grated Parmesan cheese

1/2 tsp. minced garlic

2 T. chicken stock or water

1/4 C. 5% ricotta cheese

 

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Spray a baking sheet with vegetable pan spray. Wipe mushrooms clean and gently remove stems; reserve for another purpose. Put caps on baking sheet. Put basil, olive oil, pine nuts, Parmesan and garlic in food processor; process until finely chopped, scraping down sides of bowl once. Add stock through the feed tube and process until smooth. Add ricotta and process until mixed. Divide mixture evenly among mushroom caps. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes or until hot.

8oz. Cream Cheese

4 1/2oz. Brie Cheese

1 C. Firmly Packard Basil Leaves

1/2 C. Firmly Packed Parsley Springs

1/2 C. Grated Parmesan Cheese

1/4 C. Pine Nuts (or Walnuts or Almonds)

2 Cloves Garlic, quartered

1/4 C. Olive Oil

1/2 C. Whipping Cream

Crackers or Slices of French Bread

 

Soften Cream and Brie Cheese.  For pesto combine basil and parsley, Parmesan cheese, nuts, garlic and 2 tsp. Oil oil in blender.  Blend with on and off turns until paste forms.  Gradually add remaining oil, blending on low speed until smooth.  Beat cream cheese and Brie together till nearly smooth.  Beat whipping cream until soft peaks form.  Fold whipped cream into cheese mixture.  Line a 4 C. Mold with plastic wrap.  Spread 1/4 of cheese mixture into mold.  Top with 1/3 Pesto mix. Repeat layers.  Top with Cheese mixture.  Chill 6-24 hours.  To serve, unmold on plate.  Remove plastic wrap.  Garnish with fresh basil if desired.

Gorgonzola Spread
1/2 C. Gorgonzola
1/4 C. cream cheese
1/4 C. half-and-half

 

Black Olive Tapenade
1/2 C. pitted cured black olives
2 cloves garlic
1/2 tsp. capers
1 oil- or salt-packed anchovy fillet
1 tsp. freshly squeezed lemon juice
2 tsp. olive oil

 

Green Olive Tapenade
1/2 C. pitted cured green olives
2 cloves garlic
1/2 tsp. capers
1 oil- or salt-packed anchovy fillet
1 tsp. freshly squeezed lemon juice
2 tsp. olive oil

 

Sun-Dried Tomato Tapenade
2/3 C. chopped dry-packed sundried tomatoes
2 cloves garlic
2 tsp. tomato purée
1 tsp. Capers
2 tsp. chopped fresh Basil
1/4 C. olive oil

Salt
Freshly ground black pepper

12 large slices good-quality French bread
1 tsp. olive oil
3 cloves garlic, minced

 

To prepare the Gorgonzola spread, place the Gorgonzola and cream cheese in the bowl of a food processor fitted with the metal blade and blend until creamy. Add the half-and-half and blend just until smooth. Set aside. To prepare the black olive tapenade, put the olives, garlic, capers, anchovy, and lemon juice in the bowl of the food processor and process until smooth. With the machine running, slowly add the olive oil through the feeder tube and process until smooth. Scrape down the sides of the bowl, place the mixture in a separate bowl, and set aside.  To prepare the green olive tapenade, follow the instructions for the Black Olive Tapenade.  To prepare the sundried tomato tapenade, place the tomatoes, garlic, tomato purée, capers, and basil in the bowl of the food processor and process until smooth. With the machine running, slowly add the olive oil through the feeder tube and process until smooth. Scrape down the sides of the bowl, season to taste with salt and black pepper, and set aside.  To prepare the bruschetta, drizzle the bread slices with the olive oil and spread with a thin layer of the minced garlic. On a hot, well-oiled grill or under a broiler, grill the bread until crispy and brown. Remove the bread from the grill or broiler. Spread some of the Gorgonzola Spread on each slice. Spread the black olive tapenade on 4 slices. On another 4 slices, spread the green olive tapenade. Spread the remaining slices with the sundried tomato tapenade. Cut each slice into 3 triangles, place on a platter, and serve immediately.

 

2 Garlic bulbs; whole
12 oz Brie cheese; room temperature
Cocktail bread, crisp bread, or French bread; sliced 1/2″ thick

6 oz Jar roasted red peppers well drained; cut into small; narrow strips

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Remove some of the outer layers from garlic, but leave bulbs intact.  Place on a baking sheet and bake for about 40-50 minutes or until cloves are soft. Test with a toothpick or skewer. To serve, gently separate the cloves and arrange on a serving plate. Place the Brie on a larger plate, surrounded by the bread of your choice. Place red pepper strips in a small bowl and provide a small fork. Each guest should spread Brie on a piece of bread with a spreading knife, squeeze a garlic clove directly on to it, then top it with a strip or two of red pepper. You might prepare a few at first as examples.

1 C. fresh or dried cranberries

2/3 C. sugar

1/3 C. cider vinegar

2 T. water

2 tsp. finely chopped gingerroot

1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon

1/8 tsp. ground cloves

 Vegetable oil

1 round Brie cheese (8 oz.)

 Slivered almonds, toasted, if desired

 Crackers, if desired

 

Mix cranberries, sugar, vinegar, water, gingerroot, cinnamon and cloves in 1-quart saucepan. Heat to boiling; reduce heat to low. Cook uncovered about 20 minutes, stirring frequently, until thickened. Cool slightly. (Chutney will thicken as it stands.)   Heat oven to 350ºF. Lightly brush ovenproof plate with vegetable oil. Place unpeeled cheese on center of plate. Bake uncovered 8 to 10 minutes or until cheese is soft and partially melted.    Spoon half of the chutney over cheese. Sprinkle with almonds. Serve with crackers. Spoon remaining chutney onto cheese as needed, or save for future use.