Category Archives: Appetizers

Playing Chopped

Have you seen the Food Network’s show “Chopped”? The basic premise is that participants are given a few core random ingredients and challenged to make a dish that will impress a panel of judges. While you may, or not, be a fan of the show, it is fun to play the game with a few random ingredients.

We were up in Canada helping our daughter Jenn and her husband Ethan get ready for a move to Albuquerque NM. As we were cleaning out the refrigerator, I decided to play the game to make an appetizer for a neighborhood birthday party. In the freezer was a package of phyllo dough that had probably been there for quite a while. Our grandkids are major consumers of cream cheese, but a Costco purchase of two containers of cream cheese was too much. Hence the question.

What can be made with phyllo dough and cream cheese?

Phyllo dough, while not easy to work with, became a wonderful base. Using a mini cupcake pan as a shaper, I was able to bake up a good set of phyllo cups.

Cream cheese became the base for a homemade Boursin. Combining the cream cheese with butter, and:

  • Dried spices from the pantry (dill, black pepper, and marjoram),
  • Fresh chives, thyme, parsley, and basil from the herb garden
  • Sauteed shallot and garlic

This resulted in a tasty product that was easy to make and better than the store-bought version.

With these bases in place, I raided the refrigerator and came up with two version of

Phyllo Cup Boursin Appetizers with: (check out the recipe)

  • Bacon, Scallion and Tomato
  • Blue Cheese, Strawberry and Apricot Preserve

The best part of the game was the audience. Jenn and Ethan have been in Ottawa for close to 4 years and have the best set neighbors. After corporate stints in Virginia, Saint Louis, and Charlotte they have found that all neighborhoods are not that receptive to short timers. Their neighbors in Ottawa have been the best, especially given the difficult environment caused by Covid over the last two years. The group in Ottawa doesn’t need much of an excuse to party and are particularly appreciative of whatever I make. They loved the Phyllo Dough, Boursin Appetizers

 

The moral of this story is that sometimes the combination of  Impromptu Appetizers, an Impromptu party and a great set of friends can be more than a lot of fun.

If you enjoyed this blog and similar other stories/wine group/supper club lessons follow me on Facebook and Twitter and subscribe to get future blogs at www.impromptufridaynights.com/ blog and check out my book Impromptu Friday Nights a Guide to Supper Clubs. Published by Morgan James Publishing and available through most channels where books are sold.

 

 

 

The Seven Dollar Tomato

There are good things and bad things about spending the summer in Westhampton. And, sometimes even the bad things are good.

When you tell people that you are spending the summer in the “Hamptons”, quite often you get that look. You know the one, it is where someone looks at you as if you are too cool for school. My buddy, the “High Rolling Redneck” from Memphis once flicked his finger off of his nose when I told him my mom lived in Westhampton. My mom, who is one of the least pretentious people on earth, has taken to telling people she lives on Long Island, versus Westhampton, just to avoid that look.

One of the really good things about summer in the Hamptons is the local produce. Everyone has heard about the rich and the famous, but the truth is, historically, the Hamptons is more famous for its farm produce, than its celebrities. There is a local farm stand that we have been fans of for over 40 years. It is one of my mom’s favorites and she has gotten to know its owners. Not only are the owners good farmers, but they are really good business people. They have built a reputation and expanded their offering to meet what the market will bear.

To me, very little says summer more than a home-grown tomato. In Westhampton, you usually don’t get the real thing until August. To push the season, our local farm stand has found a local source (probably New Jersey) of tomatoes that gets a decent tomato to market a little bit early, but you have to pay for it. Hence:

The Seven Dollar Tomato

Mom’s favorite farm stand sells a bunch of them. They have even come up with ways to ripen them (see photo below). The early tomato is sold as an “Amish Tomato” which builds on the mystique of the farm stand’s elderly owners long flowing white beard. My guess is that he is more likely a good presbyterian versus Amish, but one thing is for sure, he is a good marketer and I buy his Seven Dollar Tomato. They also sell a full offering of produce, and emphasize local wherever possible. I once heard a New York City-ite right off the expressway, ask the bearded owner if his pineapple was local. To his credit, and marketing skill, he didn’t laugh at her, but you can.

Note: The farm stand offers a wide range of produce, some it local and some not so much. Notice how they ripen their $7 tomatoes under the shelves.

If you ever make it to the Hamptons, make sure you check out the farm stands, just be sure that you don’t pay too much for the good and the bad. But,then again, even the bad is good.

The Seven Dollar Tomato Caprese Salad

Check out the recipe

 

If you enjoyed this blog and similar other stories/wine group/supper club lessons follow me on Facebook and Twitter and subscribe to get future blogs at www.impromptufridaynights.com/blog and check out my book Impromptu Friday Nights a Guide to Supper Clubs. Published by Morgan James Publishing and available through most channels where books are sold.

 

Crostini Base