Prosciutto & Mozzarella Bites

There is a lot to love about Friday. After a busy week, Friday evenings bring the feeling of anticipation of what a great weekend may reserve. Fridays are perfect for unwinding and sharing good moments with friends. Naturally, every celebration is better when complemented with good food.

Several finger foods are quick to prepare and they are full of flavor too. The “Prosciutto and Mozzarella Bites” recipe is one of them. It combines some of my favorite ingredients: prosciutto, herbs, cheese and olive oil.

Prosciutto means “ham” in Italian and here it is commonly associated with a type of dry-cured ham from central and northern Italy. It seems that the Italians have been making this fantastic ham since 100 B.C. and it is traditionally paired with melon or figs. In my opinion prosciutto is a great on appetizers and pasta.

Here is an easy and fast recipe that you may enjoy:

Prosciutto and Mozzarella Bites

Ingredients:

4oz of sliced prosciutto

6oz of mozzarella cheese

½ tablespoon of olive oil

1 tablespoon of fresh oregano, chopped

½ tablespoon of fresh marjoram, chopped (optional)


Cut the prosciutto in half lengthwise. Cut each half into 3 equal pieces. Reserve.

Cut mozzarella cheese into 1 inch cubes. Wrap each mozzarella cube with a strip of prosciuto and secure with a toothpick.

Transfer prepared mozzarella cubes to a serving dish. Drizzle olive oil over them. Top with fresh herbs and serve immediately.


Note: You may use fresh mozzarella, if you like.

Delicious Sausage Rolls

Ingredients:
1 tablespoon of olive oil
½ cup of red onion, chopped
1 large garlic clove, minced
1 tablespoon of lemon juice
¼ cup of fresh parsley, chopped
1 teaspoon of paprika
3 large eggs
Ground cayenne pepper, to taste (optional)
1 lb of breakfast sausage, thawed
2 sheets of puff pastry, thawed


Preheat oven to 400F. If necessary, remove sausage meat from case.

In a sauté pan, heat oil over medium heat. Cook onion and garlic for about 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat. Set aside.

In a large bowl, mix thoroughly sausage, lemon juice, onion mixture, parsley, paprika, cayenne pepper and 2 eggs. Set aside.

Unfold pastry sheet on a lightly floured surface and gently roll out dough to make a 22” x 10” rectangle. Cut each rectangle in half. Cut again each strip in half (lengthwise) to make four 5 ½” x 10” strips. Beat remaining egg and set aside.

Place ¼ of sausage mixture on the center of each pastry strip. Brush the edges with beaten egg. Fold pastry over filling and press down to seal. Repeat the same steps with remaining pastry strips.

Place filled pastry strips on a baking sheet and bake for 18 to 20 minutes – or until golden. Cool slightly and cut into 1 ½ inches slices.

A Great Game Day Snack: Fish Bites!

The Super Bowl is coming up and I need to come up with snacks that the adults and the kids will like. If you are in those same shoes, I have a winner for you: homemade fish sticks. They are easy to make and it is not your usual Game Day Snack.



Catfish Bites:

Ingredients
1 pound of catfish fillet
1 teaspoon of paprika
1 teaspoon of dried Italian seasoning
3 eggs
½ teaspoon of garlic powder
1 ½ teaspoon of onion powder
2 cups of Panko bread crumbs
2 teaspoons of salt
Pepper, to taste
Vegetable oil

In a large bowls, beat the eggs with the paprika, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper - just until combined. Cut the fish fillets into bite size pieces and add to the egg mixture. Toss gently with a rubber spatula until fully coated. Cover and refrigerate. It can be refrigerated overnight for flavor infusion.

Heat the vegetable oil in large sauce pan. Meanwhile, remove the fish cubes from the egg mixture, drain and dredge in Panko (Japonese style bread crumbs). When oil is hot (350F), fry the fish for 3 to 5 minutes, turning it only once. Work in batches, if necessary. Drain fried fish with paper towels to remove excess oil. Serve hot with lemon wedges and the Yogurt Dipping Sauce (recipe follows).


Yogurt sauce:

Ingredients

2 cups of plain yogurt
2 ½ teaspoons of lemon juice
2 teaspoon of dried dill
1 clove of garlic, minced
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
½ cup of fresh parsley, finely chopped
Salt, to taste


Mix all ingredients in a medium bowl and test the seasoning. Add more salt if necessary. It can be refrigerated for 2 weeks.

Delectable Mushrooms!

Mushrooms can be part of a healthy diet. Some types of mushrooms are claimed to be cancer-fighters and they contain no fat or cholesterol. In my opinion, the qualities of mushrooms go way beyond its healthy benefits. They are also flavorful, easy to prepare and very versatile! I would like to share with you one of my very favorite recipes. It can definitely be the star of your next dinner party:


Provence Baked Mushrooms

Ingredients:
2 large Portabella mushroom caps
3 cloves of garlic, minced
½ cup of fresh parsley, chopped
¾ cup of red wine
¼ teaspoon of paprika
¼ teaspoon of dried thyme (optional)
½ teaspoon of dried oregano
1/8 cup of cognac
Sea salt, to taste
1/3 cup of olive oil

Place mushroom caps in a baking sheet. Place all other ingredients but parsley in a small bowl and stir to combine. Pour it over mushroom caps and let marinate at room temperature for one hour. Heat the oven to 3550F. Bake mushrooms uncovered for 15 minutes, sprinkle parsley and bake for another 5 to 7 minutes. Serve immediately with remaining cooking juices. It is a flavorsome complement to roasted or grilled meat.

If you need a mouth-watering appetizer for a bridal or cocktail party, replace the large mushroom for 8oz of baby Portabella mushroom caps. Bake it for 5 minutes and then add the parsley. Bake for another 4 to 5 minutes. Serve it with thin sliced toast. I recommend sea salt bagel crisps or lightly toasted French baguette. It is to die for!!!


“We are indeed much more than what we eat, but what we eat can nevertheless help us to be much more than what we are”. Adelle Davis

Pan Grilled Shrimp

A good cocktail tastes even better when balanced with appetizing food. If you are wondering what could go well with the Strawberry and Kiwi Caipirinha, the answer is a quick and succulent Pan Grilled Shrimp:

Ingredients:
1 pound of raw large shrimp, divined and thaw
¼ cup of lemon juice
1 clove of garlic, minced
½ teaspoon of paprika
1 teaspoon of onion powder
½ tablespoon of vegetable oil
Sea salt and pepper to taste


In a small bowl, combine lemon juice, garlic, paprika, onion powder, salt and pepper. Whisk until combined and pour over shrimp. Cover and refrigerate for at least one hour.
Heat the oil in large sauté pan. Drain and shrimp and cook it over medium heat for about 5 minutes (or until it turns pink) turning it only once. Serve with lemon wedges.



“Food is the most primitive form of comfort.” Sheila Graham