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Quick All Parmesan Crackers

15 Aug

For as infrequently as my husband and I entertain, you’d be faced with quite a difficult task if challenged to find someone who is more prepared to entertain than I am.  We own more cocktail glasses and tiny plates than I think we’ll ever be able to use.  There are at least three types of cheese knives in our silverware drawer, we’re never without an assortment of nuts and crackers for snacking, and we live four blocks away from an absolutely divine wine shop that is more than capable of supplying us with several festive nights’ worth of beverages.

My favorite party trick, however, might just be the one I only recently discovered.  Last week, after finishing off a small, precious package of delicate Parmesan crackers that was gifted to me by my cousin, I began to sniffle a little at the thought of no longer being able to nibble the crackers while enjoying a small splash of white wine as we relaxed in the garden each night.  The crackers were absolutely delightful, you see, very light, pleasantly piquant, and the perfect item to pair with a little nightcap.  Their savory secret lied in the fact that the crackers were made of nothing more than baked Parmesan cheese, a bit of knowledge I was privy to when I first received the crackers, but not really in full realization of until I ran out of them and almost immediately began to yearn for more.

The crackers, allow me to repeat, were made out of nothing but Parmesan cheese, an item I not only had in my refrigerator right then, but always make sure to have in the refrigerator at all times.  The mourning period was over.  The crackers would return.

And, ten minutes later, they did.  Brightened up with a small sprinkling of chopped fresh rosemary (an herb we are able to grow year-round) and a dash of cracked pepper (which, come on, everybody has on hand), I soon found myself in the company of my very own plate of homemade Parmesan crackers that are as easy to make as they are enjoyable to eat.  Made of only two ingredients at most, these crackers are a simple, satisfying treat that are the perfect greeting for any guest.  Or, if you are like me and my husband, they are the perfect small bite to enjoy while engaging very contentedly in a small and cozy party of two.

Quick Parmesan Crackers

These crackers are a totally self-contained treat, meaning they are not the type of cracker one is meant to eat topped with anything.  Trust me, though, you won’t long for any embellishment when eating one of these fine snacks, as they are perfectly fulfilling and satisfying all on their own.

Quick All Parmesan Crackers

½ cup coarsely shredded (not grated) Parmesan cheese

That’s it.  No, seriously.  That’s all.

Optional:

very finely chopped fresh rosemary

freshly ground black pepper

Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Scoop 1 rounded teaspoon of Parmesan cheese into a little mound on the parchment lined baking sheet.  If you want to add rosemary or black pepper to your crackers, sprinkle a pinch of each one onto as many Parmesan mounds as you wish, and gently mix in with your fingers.

Bake crackers for 5 minutes on the center rack of the oven.  The crackers will be done when they are deeply golden at the edges and just beginning to turn golden in the middle.  Remove sheet pan from the oven, and allow crackers to cool on pan for 2-3 minutes, until they have cooled firm enough to not fall apart when removed with a flexible spatula.

Makes 20-24 crackers.

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Tiny Party Sandwiches

9 Aug

Let’s say you are in charge of providing snacks and treats for a party.  The party is not a dinner affair, nor a lunchtime soiree, but rather something that falls in between.  It’s a casual backyard get together, and you are expecting 30-40 people to join you.  Though those people will certainly not be expecting you to provide them a meal, it is, of course, assumed that you will be laying out a selection of light bites to hold people over until their next meal, which should helpfully supply some sort of absorbent landing pad for the selection of beer and wine that are also very likely to be consumed.

You’ll, of course, want to make something that isn’t terribly time consuming to begin with, but you’ll also help yourself immensely by making something that is capable of being replenished quickly and with minimal fuss.

Do you know what you want to do?  You want to make your lovely guests some sandwiches.

Now, hear me out on this one.  I am not advocating that you bust out the deli ham and mustard (though, to clarify, there is, of course, nothing wrong with serving such a thing to your guests).  What I am talking about in this instance is a selection of spreads and toppings laid atop tiny slices of baguette.  It’s not quite crostini, and not really bruschetta, but more of a cross between an open-faced sandwich and an appetizer.

The components are simple, but pleasing.  Light and creamy ricotta cheese is folded together with a sprinkle of herbs, honey, or spices.  The ricotta is generously spread on top of a small piece of crusty bread, then topped with a vegetable or fruit of your choosing.  One sandwich pictured here features a cool mint and ricotta spread topped with fresh cucumbers.  The other, which happens to be pleasing to both children and adults, is a lightly honey-sweetened ricotta topped with ripe strawberries, then drizzled with just a thread more honey.  That’s it.  You’re done.  Two baguettes later, your guests are pleased, your tummy is pleased, and you’ve discovered the secret to a delicious party snack that is light, fresh, and delicious, but also delightfully uncomplicated.

Leaving you all the more time to actually enjoy your own party while you simultaneously enjoy your sandwiches.

Mint Ricotta and Cucumber Sandwiches

2 cups ricotta cheese

1/2 small garlic clove, smashed and finely chopped

1/3 cup finely chopped fresh mint

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

salt and pepper to taste

2 medium cucumbers, peeled and thinly sliced

1 large baguette, sliced into 1/2-inch thick slices

In a medium bowl, combine ricotta, garlic, mint, and olive oil.  Mix well and add salt and pepper to taste.

Top each slice of baguette with 1 tablespoon of ricotta mixture, then top ricotta with thin slices of cucumber.

Honey Ricotta and Strawberry Sandwiches

2 cups ricotta cheese

6 tablespoons honey, divided

pinch of salt

1 pound of ripe strawberries, hulled and thinly sliced

1 large baguette, sliced into 1/2-inch thick slices

In a small bowl, combine ricotta cheese with 4 tablespoons of honey.  Add pinch of salt and mix to combine.

Top each slice of baguette with 1 tablespoon of ricotta mixture, then top ricotta with 3 or 4 thin slices of strawberry.

When you have topped all of the slices of baguette, thinly and lightly drizzle remaining 2 tablespoons of honey over the tops of the assembled sandwiches.

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Mango and Avocado Salsa

27 Jun

As the weather finally warms, I am growing ever more excited for the arrival of one of my most treasured summertime traditions: the non meal-meal.  The non meal-meal is exactly what you might ascertain it would be, given its name.  It is a meal that is comprised of many different things that do not, on their own, constitute a meal.  The non meal-meal can be anything one wants it to be, really.  It can be a handful of nuts, an apple, and half of a leftover biscuit.  It can be a log of string cheese and some crackers slathered with almond butter.  Sometimes, when no one is around to express displeasure at my oftentimes rather questionable eating habits, it can be a single bite taken from each container in the refrigerator that holds leftovers from throughout the week.

I’d like to blame my propensity for eating non meal-meals on a lack of food preparation motivation when the warm weather arrives, but, to be quite honest, I don’t really have an excuse for eating that way, so much as I just have an outright confession: I like to eat that way.  My favorite type of meal involves many small bites of many different things (hello, tapas), so grazing my way through the fridge and pantry is a pleasant and long held tradition of mine.

Occasionally, however, I will take this buffet approach of mine and apply it to an actual meal that needs to be, albeit very simply, prepared.  I’ll toss leftover roasted vegetables on some salad greens and sit down for a lunch that involves actual silverware, or, if I feel it must be done, I’ll briefly peel and chop a few items and then combine them into something that resembles an actual dish.

I’d like to tell you all that after I took the time to put this salsa together, I made sure to set some aside for the other people in the house who I am sure would have loved it.  But I did not.  Upon sampling a taste of this creamy, spicy, and sweet concoction, I immediately hoovered down the entire bowl, first with the aid of some tortilla chips, but then, realizing that the chips were merely a cumbersome vessel getting in the way of me and the salsa, I ditched the chips and proceeded to attack the salsa while armed with nothing more than a very large spoon.  Am I ashamed?  Absolutely not.  This salsa, filled with fresh fruit and invigorated by a kick of jalapeno, is nothing short of delightful, and nothing less than vigorously healthful.  Devoid of chips, you can make this salsa and call it a salad, then eat it on a bed of greens (or not) and call it lunch.  Or, if you are me, you can eat it any way you wish and just call it delicious.

Mango and Avocado Salsa

1 large mango, peeled and sliced into small chunks

1 large avocado, peeled and sliced into small chunks

juice of 1 lime

1 jalapeno pepper, chopped finely, seeds and white inner ribs removed and set aside

4 tablespoons of finely chopped red onion

2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro

1/4 teaspoon salt

In a small bowl, combine all of the ingredients.  Toss thoroughly with a spoon, then taste for seasoning.  If you want to add more heat to the salsa, add a small amount of the reserved jalapeno seeds, toss again, and taste.  Continue in this fashion until you have reached the spiciness you desire.

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