Greek Salad Skewers

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1. I also adore this recipe, which is not only simple, but healthy and ultra fresh too. Just wish figs were available in New England for longer! :)

   Recipe for Fresh Figs with Honey, Balsamic, Goat Cheese and Pistachios

   Fresh figs, halved
   Goat cheese (I like Trader Joe’s honeyed goat cheese)
   Finely chopped pistachios
   Cracked black pepper
   Drizzle of honey
   Drizzle of balsamic vinegar

   Arrange the fig halves on a platter. Press a little nub of goat cheese in the center, sprinkle with pistachios and pepper, drizzle with honey and vinegar, and serve.

2. Firecracker Mushrooms

   8 oz mushrooms chopped, finely
   1 T olive oil
   12 phyllo cups
   pinch of salt, pepper, cayenne
   1/2 clove garlic minced
   1 cup shredded gouda cheese

   Place oil in pan and heat on medium. Add mushrooms and saute. Drain juices return to low heat add in spices. Heat oven to 400. Fill phyllo cups with mushroom mixture and top with some cheese. Bake 8 minutes till bubbly.
   http://cleverlyinspired.blogspot.com/2011/03/firecracker-mushrooms.html

3. My “sprout salsa” is always a hit. I like to sprout the mung beans myself, but you can buy any type of sprouts from the grocery store.

   Sprout Salsa

   2 cups mung bean sprouts
   2 roma tomatoes, finely chopped
   2 ears of corn, husked, kernels removed, and boiled
   1 mango, finely chopped
   1/4 cup cilantro, finely chopped
   Salt and pepper to taste

   Combine all ingredients in a bowl and serve alongside crackers, pita, lettuce leaves, or even on top of rice.

4. Cant wait to have my next get together there are some great ideas!!

   Baked Brie with apples & cranberries

   1/2 cup apple, chopped
   1/4 cup natural almonds, sliced
   1/4 cup dried cranberries
   1 Tablespoon brown sugar, packed
   1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
   1 Tablespoon butter or margarine, melted
   1 round (8 ounces) Brie cheese

   Preheat oven to 350F.

   Coarsely chop apple with food processor. Combine apple, almonds, cranberries, brown sugar and cinnamon in small bowl and mix gently. Stir in butter just until ingredients are moistened.

   Cut Brie in half horizontally. Place one half of Brie, rind side down, on pan. Spoon half of the apple mixture onto bottom half of Brie, spreading evenly. Top with remaining half of Brie, rind side up. Spoon remaining apple mixture over top. Bake 12-15 minutes, or until cheese is soft and just begins to melt.

   Serve with toasted French bread, apple wedges or assorted crackerers

5. Fruit Salsa
   Serve this with the cinnamon sugar pita chips or you can make your own out of tortillas

   2 kiwis, peeled and diced
   2 apples – peeled, cored and diced I prefer Fuji
   1 pound strawberries
   1 tablespoons white sugar
   1 tablespoon brown sugar
   3 tablespoons fruit preserves, any flavor

   In a large bowl, thoroughly mix kiwis, apples, strawberries, white sugar, brown sugar and fruit preserves. Cover and chill in the refrigerator at least 15 minutes.

   *fruit can be changed to what you have on hand

6. Fruit Dip

   1 Pkg Cream Cheese
   Marshmallow Fluff
   Assorted fruit
   Bamboo skewers or toothpicks

   Mix cream cheese with marshmallow fluff
   have fruit on bamboo skewers or toothpicks for easy dipping

   yummy

7. 1# frozen bread dough, thawed
   1/2 cup Kalamata olives, pitted and coarsely chopped
   1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
   1/2-1 tsp coarselyground black pepper
   White from 1 large egg, beaten with 1 Tbsp cold water
   2 Tbsp flour

   Preheat oven to 375F. Dust a baking sheet with flour. On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to a 10 inch circle. Sprinkle with olives, cheese, and pepper. Fold dough over and knead until well incorporated. Form into a 6 inch oval. Place on prepared baking sheet, cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place for 45-60 minutes or until doubled. Brush with egg white mixture. Bake 25-30 minutes or until golden brown and loaf sounds hollow when tapped on bottom. Cool completely on a wire rack.

8. Here’s my favorite app recipe…

   Bacon wrapped stuffed jalapenos

   4 fresh jalapenos
   8 oz. cream cheese
   salt
   pepper
   1 tsp. paprika
   8 slices of turkey bacon

   Preheat oven to 350 degrees;
   Cut peppers in half, length-wise so they make little boats and scrape out seeds;
   Beat paprika into cream cheese;
   Add salt and pepper to taste;
   Scoop a spoonful of cheese mixture into each pepper half;
   Wrap in a bacon strip;
   Bake on greased cookie sheet for 20-25 minutes or until bacon is crispy.

   SO YUMMY!

9. Here’s an old family favorite:

   Beefy Mexi Dip

   1lb Ground Beef
   1 Package Taco Seasoning
   1 Can Refried Beans
   2 Cups Shredded Monterey Jack Cheese
   1/2 Cup Sour Cream
   1/2 Cup Diced Green Chiles or Sweet Onion (optional)

   Brown and drain Ground Beef, add Taco Seasoning and prepare per package directions. Next stir in Refried Beans. Once heated through and just prior to serving, stir in Monterey Jack and Sour Cream. Continue to stir and heat until the cheese is melted.

   Transfer to a small crockpot or other warming dish to keep hot. Top with Chiles or Onion, if using. Serve with chips, cut up flour tortillas or Fritos!

   Enjoy!

10. Recipe: Caprese Salad

    Ingredients
    2 cups Balsamic Vinegar
    3 whole Ripe Tomatoes, Sliced Thick
    12 ounces, weight Mozzarella Cheese, Sliced Thick
    Fresh Basil Leaves
    Olive Oil, For Drizzling
    Kosher Salt And Freshly Ground Black Pepper

    Preparation Instructions
    In a small saucepan, bring balsamic vinegar to a boil over medium-low heat. Cook for 10 to 20 minutes, or until balsamic has reduced to a thicker glaze. Remove from heat and transfer to a bowl or cruet. Allow to cool.

    When you’re ready to serve, arrange tomato and mozzarella slices on a platter. Arrange basil leaves between the slices. Drizzle olive oil over the top of the salad, getting a little bit on each slice. Do the same with the balsamic reduction, making designs if you want. Store extra balsamic reduction in fridge for a later use.

    End with a sprinkling of kosher salt and black pepper.