HAVE YOURSELF A CHEESY HOLIDAY
8 easy, cheesy appetizers you can whip up in 20 minutes or less
At its best, the holiday season is a chance to get together with friends and family. And at many of those shindigs, bite-sized holiday nibblies will be the star of the show.
You may find the thought of crafting countless individual appetizers a bit overwhelming — but it doesn’t have to be all that time-consuming. Here are eight festive and indulgent holiday apps you can easily throw together in the time it takes to get to the grocery store’s frozen-food section.
1. Baked Brie with cranberry sauce
Start with a round of Canadian Brie on an oven-proof dish. Top with a mixture of ¼ cup (60 mL) dried cranberries, ¼ cup (60 mL) halved pecans, 2 tbsp (30 mL) honey and 1 tbsp (15 mL) minced orange zest. Heat in 400°F (200°C) oven for seven to 10 minutes. Serve, warm and melting, with fresh baguette.
2. Bocconcini-tomato kebabs
Using small bamboo skewers, alternate grape tomatoes, fresh basil leaves and small balls of Canadian Bocconcini. Sprinkle with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper and drizzle with balsamic reduction.
3. Canadian Cream Cheese and prosciutto croutons
Cut a baguette into slices and toast about five minutes in a 400°F (200°C) oven to make croutons. On a separate baking sheet lined with parchment paper, toast thin slices of prosciutto until as crispy as bacon (about four to seven minutes). When croutons have cooled, spread with Canadian Cream Cheese and top with a small dollop of marmalade and a crispy prosciutto slice.
4. Blue Cheese stuffed mushrooms
Remove mushroom stems and place caps in a baking dish. Stuff with clumps of Canadian Blue Cheese, sprinkle with bread crumbs and bake in the oven at 425°F (220°C) for five to seven minutes.
Sprinkle with fresh thyme and drizzle lightly with balsamic reduction before serving.
5. Warm and cheesy artichoke dip
In a food processor, coarsely blend one 14-oz. (414-mL) tin of artichoke hearts (drained), 1 cup (250 mL) of mayonnaise, 1 cup (250 mL) of grated Canadian Parmesan, a dash of Tabasco and a dash of Worcestershire sauce. Transfer to oven-proof dish and bake at 400°F (200°C) for about 15 minutes, until hot and bubbling. Serve with crackers or baguette slices.
6. Party cheese ball
Cook 12 slices of bacon until very crisp, reserving 2 tbsp (30 mL) of drippings. Mix bacon and drippings with 1 pkg (125 g) Canadian Cream Cheese, softened, and 3 cups (750 mL) shredded Canadian Cheddar. Shape into a ball and roll in ½ cup (125 mL) chopped nuts and ¼ cup (60 mL) chopped parsley.
7. Fig and Blue Cheese rounds
Spread toasted baguette slices with creamy Canadian Blue Cheese, top with ¼ to ½ of a fresh fig and drizzle lightly with olive oil. Pop in the oven at 375°F (190°C) for 10 minutes.
8. Ginger-lemon fruit dip
Combine ½ cup (125 mL) natural yogurt with ½ cup (125 mL) Canadian fresh or quark cheese. Stir in 1½ tbsp (22 mL) of honey, 1 tsp. (5 mL) lemon juice, ½ tsp (2.5 mL) each of grated lemon zest and grated fresh ginger. Serve with chunks of fruit.
For more holiday recipe ideas, check out allyouneedischeese.ca.