Lettuce Celebrate the Last Days of Summer With the beginning of school right around the corner it’s time to host your final summer bash! Whenever you throw a party, be it large or small, one of the most important aspects of your soiree is the food. Below are a few simple, yet delicious, appetizers that will be sure to please your guests. BRIE & BLACKBERRY CROSTINIS Place the Brie cheese on a baking sheet then place in the oven until the inside is warm and gooey. Remove from the oven and cut the white top off the Brie so that the soft melted interior is showing. Top the cheese with fresh blackberries and drizzle with honey. Serve alongside sliced, toasted crostinis or thick crackers. CAPRESE SALAD SKEWERS Assemble cherry tomatoes, basil, and mozzarella balls together on a skewer. Once skewered, drizzle with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Top off your dish with salt and pepper then serve! CHEESY GARLIC KNOTS Using premade biscuit dough, create a ball and stuff chopped garlic and mozzarella cheese inside. After filling the dough, seal off the ball so that the cheese and garlic can’t escape during the cooking process. Place the stuffed biscuits in the oven and bake according to the instructions on the package. In a separate bowl, mix together melted butter, dried oregano, dried parsley, and salt. Once the biscuits are baked, remove from the oven and brush the butter herb mixture on top. Before serving, finish off the biscuits with a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese.
46
U P G R A D E D L I V I N G M AG A Z I N E AU G U S T 2 0 1 9
WATERMELON FETA MINT SKEWERS Slice a large watermelon and feta cheese block into 1 inch x 1 inch squares. Once cut, stack the sliced feta on top of the watermelon then top with a mint leaf. Skewer the stack with a toothpick and drizzle with balsamic dressing. ZUCCHINI TOTS Using a cheese grater, grate your zucchini into shreds then place onto a paper towel. Using the same towel, squeeze all of the water out of the zucchini shreds then place them into a bowl. If you do not squeeze out your excess water then your tots will get soggy. Next, combine the zucchini shreds with cheese, bread crumbs, garlic powder, and eggs. Transform your mixture into tiny balls and place onto a baking sheet. Bake your tots until then are golden brown then top them off with a sprinkle of salt. Serve with marinara sauce, ranch, and blue cheese dressing for dipping! Note: This dish can also be fried! If frying is more your forte, heat a pan with about a half inch of oil in it. Once the oil is hot slowly add your tots in. Cook both sides until they are golden brown then let rest on a paper towel. This will help absorb some of the excess frying oil. Spending time with family and friends eating good food is what summer is for! Hopefully you find pleasure in some of these treats at your next party. Enjoy!
WRITTEN BY NERISSA QUINN
GRILLED PROSCIUTTO PEACHES Cut the peaches into thick quarter slices then wrap them with a strip of prosciutto. Use a toothpick to hold the prosciutto and peach together. Spritz the wrapped peaches with olive oil then grill on high heat. (Tip: Brush a bit of olive oil onto your grill so that the peach doesn’t stick to the grill face.) Once grilled, drizzle the peaches with balsamic and top with sliced basil.
SALTY DARK CHOCOLATE DIPPED MANDARIN SLICES Lay a piece of parchment paper on a platter then set aside. Peel the mandarin oranges into individual slices. Using a double boiler or the microwave, melt and stir the chocolate until the consistency is even and smooth. Dip each slice halfway into the chocolate then place on the parchment paper. Sprinkle each slice with sea salt and let harden. Once the chocolate is firm, enjoy! (Tip: place in the fridge for a few minutes to help the chocolate harden faster.)