Quick and Easy Appetizers

Bacon Wrapped Dates

We usually have a container of fresh dates in the house because the girls love them.  Remove the pit from each date, stick it back together, wrap a half a piece of bacon around it and pierce thru with a toothpick to hold it all together.  Bake at 350 for 30 to 40 minutes until the bacon is done.  This is basically bacon candy.

Cheese, Nuts and Honey with Fruit

Create a delightful platter with 2 or more kinds of each of the above and maybe a few crackers or fresh bread.  In my opinion, this is also a perfect breakfast.

Cream Cheese and Red Pepper Jelly

I usually use about 4 oz. or half a package of cream cheese and place it on a bread board covered in red pepper jelly with some crackers.  Very tasty and I always have these ingredients around.

Cream Cheese and Salsa Bake

Again, since I usually have cream cheese, I place a layer (a package or 2) on the bottom of a small, shallow casserole, and cover it with salsa.  Throw on chopped green onion and a bit of grated cheddar or mozzarella if you have it and bake until heated thru.  Serve with nacho chips.

Puffed Pastry Bites

Cut thawed puff pastry into squares, and fill with a bit of boccocini and a half teaspoon of red pepper jelly.  Pinch up all 4 corners, using a bit of water to make them stick and then bake at 400 for about 15 minutes.  They end up making rather large ‘bites’, but they’re very good.

Puffed Pastry Brie

Use a small round or chunk of brie and make sure that the puff pastry sheet you have will totally surround and cover it.  Lay down the sheet (probably on a lightly floured surface – I do mine directly on the parchment of the baking sheet that I’m going to use), spread some cranberry sauce, jam or marmalade in the middle, lay the brie on top of the spread and then gently fold the puff pastry over all to make a neat package.  Turn the whole thing over so that the seams are down and then decorate the top with some leftover puff pastry shapes.  Lightly coat with a bit of oil or butter and bake at 400 for a good 20 minutes until all is nicely browned.

Marnie’s Baked Brie

Choose a wheel of brie with a baking dish size in mind!  Aim to have the brie at room temperature for easier/faster baking/melting but trim it when it’s cold…so much easier.  Aim for most of the tougher outside/liner to be thinly cut off so that it melts evenly.  Lightly grease a baking dish and bake the trimmed wheel (mine was 500 g), covered with foil for 10 minutes at 350.  Slather on half a cup of good raspberry jam (Marnie used Bonne Maman, so I did too), then cover with the foil and bake again for another 10 minutes.  Remove the foil, scatter on about 1 cup of chopped pecans, leave the dish uncovered and bake for another 10 minutes – the brie should be perfectly gooey and melty.  Serve with baguette slices and make sure brie/jam/pecan makes it on every slice!