Category Archives: Appetizer

Prosciutto, Mozzarella, and Cantaloupe Salad

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prosciutto mozzarella and cantaloupe salad

As much as I loved summering in Florida, visiting friends and family, it’s nice to be home again. Whenever I travel, especially for long stretches, I start to yearn for my kitchen. A kitchen is a very intimate space and the objects and ingredients within a kitchen tell a story. This summer I was in a kitchen devoid of personality—a hotel kitchen. Alas, no hanging pots and pans, no piles of randomly stacked cooked books, no handwritten notes, no jars of spices from far reaches of the world, and no stashed away goodies for late night snacking. read more

Crunchy Shrimp Balls

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crunchy shrimp balls

Crunchy shrimp balls are fun to make and incredibly tasty. Their unique, satisfyingly crispy texture contrasts nicely with the shrimp filling. Spring roll wrappers—similar to wonton wrappers, but thinner and made with rice flour—are the secret to this delicate texture. They’re sold in the refrigerated or frozen aisles and are not to be confused with the dried rice wrappers used in Vietnamese spring rolls.

This recipe comes from Bee Yin Low’s cookbook, Easy Chinese Recipes. Her blog, Rasa Malaysia, is one of my favorites. She features authentic Asian recipes, with a particular emphasis on Chinese and Malaysian cuisine, but also occasionally dapples in Western baking. The stunning photography, frequent giveaways, and easy-to-follow recipes make her blog worth checking out. read more

Spicy Moroccan Olives

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spicy Moroccan olives, Moroccan olives

When Corey and I were traveling in France, each day was a new adventure. The simple task of grocery shopping became an exciting expedition. What unknown treasures would we delight upon? What tasty morsels would we discover? One day we ventured into a Middle Eastern market and discovered barrels upon barrels of olives and at incredible prices. We were beyond thrilled and quickly purchased several varieties. My favorite by far were the Moroccan olives.

The spiciness of the Moroccan olives pairs well with refreshing white wines and mild cheeses. Tart lemons, spicy harissa, briny olives, and herb-infused tomato paste all contribute to making these Moroccan olives incredibly flavorful. Once the olives have been eaten, the leftover sauce tastes great on slices of baguette. Moroccan olives can be made ahead of time and in fact taste better with age. They’re great as an appetizer or as a snack. The vibrant red sauce, bright yellow lemon slices, and green olives make for a beautiful presentation. read more

Tabouleh (Burghul and Parsley Salad)

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Tabouleh, burghul and parsley salad, I recently featured two recipes with pancetta, after all what’s not to love? However, this week I want to present a tabouleh recipe to show that vegetarian food can be equally delicious and fulfilling. This healthy and flavorful tabouleh stems from the Middle East and consists of burghul, parsley, scallions, mint, and tomatoes tossed with a lemon vinaigrette. Burghul is a type of whole grain wheat, making this salad extra nutritious. The herbs add freshness to the salad, while the tart lemon juice counterbalances the sweet tomatoes. Serve this tabouleh with pita chips and hummus for a complete meal! read more

Chinese Lettuce Wraps

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Chinese Lettuce Wraps, Chinese appetizer, authentic Chinese appetizer, hoisin sauce

I love Chinese food, especially appetizers! I get hungry just thinking about crispy wontons, fried shrimp toast, savory spring rolls, and the endless varieties of delectable dumplings. The flavor combinations, textures, and delicious sauces of Chinese cuisine make it one of my favorites.

Oftentimes, American Chinese restaurants poorly represent the fare, offering unhealthy and/or bland dishes. Today I present you with an authentic Chinese appetizer that’s both healthy and delicious: Chinese lettuce wraps. read more