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I was a touch stressed about providing enough hors d'oeurves for the group because we planned the party during a mealtime, so I knew that I needed to expect people to eat enough to substitute dinner. If you're curious as to what I made, the menu can be found here (though there were minor substitutions, like shrimp cocktail for bacon-wrapped shrimp because the former was on sale this weekend at Safeway).
Two of the nibbles I served, though, caprese skewers and prosciutto-wrapped pears, are so phenomenally easy that I wanted to share them with your right away.
Caprese Skewers (Pictured above)
Cherry (or grape) tomatoes
Fresh mozzarella, cubed
Fresh basil leaves
Balsamic vinegar
Olive Oil
Salt and pepper
Toothpicks
Skewer one tomato on the toothpick. Follow it up with a leaf of basil, folded in half, and then skewer a cube of mozzarella. Layer the skewers on platter. When finished, drizzle the skewers with balsamic vinegar, olive oil, and salt and pepper.
Prosciutto-wrapped Pears
6 pears, sliced
2 packaged prosciutto, thinly sliced
2 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup dry white wine
Salt and pepper
Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the pear slices and coat with butter. Add the white wine. Cook until pears are slightly tender, but still have a bite.
Remove the pears from heat and let cool. Cut the prosciutto into thin strips, and wrap it around a pear slice. Skewer it onto a toothpick and lay it on a baking sheet.
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Place the baking sheet topped with pears into the oven and bake until the prosciutto is crispy. Season with salt and pepper and serve immediately.
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Menu Tuesday
After the past few weeks, encompassing Thanksgiving and the holiday party, I feel like I've been spending a crazy amount of time in the kitchen, as well as eating relatively unhealthily. This weekend will likely be no exception, as it's my husband's 28th birthday on Sunday and my parents are flying in from Arizona on Saturday for a four-day visit. During the week, though, I'm trying to cook healthy menus to make up for all the indulgences. (You'll notice quite a few of these recipes are from the Mayo Clinic.)
Monday: Baked lemon pasta with scallops and artichokes (recipe coming soon!)
Tuesday: Frozen ravioli with spinach and diced tomatoes (My husband is out of town, so it's just my lonesome self ... ergo, no fancy cooking!)
Wednesday: Roasted Chicken with Balsamic Vinaigrette (I use boneless, skinless chicken breasts, and it's super easy and very healthy), Lima bean ragout with tomatoes and thyme, brown rice
Thursday: Whole-wheat bowtie pasta with spinach and chickpeas, topped with salmon
Friday: Pineapple chicken stirfry over leftover brown rice (I don't have a recipe for this. I'm going to make it up as I go along, I think, but it sounds great.)
Saturday: My parents arrive! Julia Child's Beef Bourguignon, roasted potatoes, dinner rolls, and a wedge salad with homemade blue cheese dressing
Sunday: My husband's birthday! His parents and a friend will be joining us for dinner. Lasagna, roasted vegetables, and French bread for dinner, with crab dip as an appetizer.
