Salivation Sunday

Hello!

Welcome to Salivation Sunday!
Until Thanksgiving I will be sharing recipes that I love to serve my guests!

Buon Appetito!

Today: Appetizers





Roasted Red Pepper Pesto Crostini

Serving Size: 1 crostini
Number of Servings: 24

Ingredients:

* 1 baguette, cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices
* 1/4 cup plus 2 tsp. extra-virgin olive oil
* 2 garlic cloves, peeled
* 1 cup roasted red peppers, coarsely chopped
* 2 Tbs. slivered almonds, toasted
* 3 Tbs. grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
* 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh parsley
* 1 tsp. lemon juice
* Pinch of cayenne pepper
* Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
* 4 oz. goat cheese


Directions:

1.) Preheat an electric panini press.
2.) Place baguette on a baking sheet & brush lightly (both sides) w/ 1/4 C. olive oil.
3.) Working in batches, place bread slices on panini press & cook until light brown.
4.) Transfer crostini to a baking sheet.
5.) While the crostini are still warm, rub the top of each w/ 1 of the garlic cloves.
6.) Set aside.
7.) In a food processor, combine red peppers, 1 garlic clove, almonds, parmigiano-reggiano, 3 Tbs. parsley, lemon juice, 2 tsp. olive oil & cayenne pepper.
8.) Pulse until a coarse puree forms.
9.) Season with salt and black pepper.
10.) Preheat an oven to 350°F.
11.) Place the crostini in a single layer on a baking sheet.
12.) Spread about 2 tsp. of the goat cheese on each crostini.
13.) Bake until the cheese is slightly soft & the crostini are warm, about 5 min.
14.) Transfer to a platter & top each crostini with 1 Tbs. of red pepper pesto.
15.) Sprinkle with the remaining 1 Tbs. parsley.






Dates Stuffed with Goat Cheese

Serving Size: 4 Dates
Number of Servings: 6

Ingredients:

*1 Tbs. olive oil
*2 Tbs. fine dried bread crumbs
*24 large dates, preferably Medjool
*1/4 lb. soft fresh goat cheese


Directions:

1.) Preheat an oven to 375°F.
2.) Lightly oil a baking dish just large enough to hold the dates in a single layer.
3.) In a small fry pan over medium heat, warm the olive oil.
4.) Add bread crumbs & cook, stirring, until bread crumbs are golden brown, 1 minute.
5.) Remove the pan from the heat, transfer the bread crumbs to a plate and let cool.
6.) Using a small knife, make a small lengthwise incision in each date.
7.) Carefully remove the pits.
8.) Stuff 1 tsp. of the goat cheese into the cavity left by each date's pit.
9.) Arrange the dates, with the goat cheese side facing up, in the prepared dish.
10.) Sprinkle the bread crumbs evenly over the top.

(Dates can be prepared up to this point, 24 hours in advance. Store, tightly covered, in the refrigerator.)

11.) Bake the dates until warmed through, 10 to 12 minutes.
12.) Transfer to a serving platter and serve warm.


I hope you are able to make these great recipes and enjoy them as much as I do.

Until Tomorrow:

Go Ahead and Indulge!