This fresh pesto appetizer with tomato and mozzarella slices might be my favorite appetizer of all time. It’s easy to make, and virtually everyone seems to like it. Fresh pesto is an Italian classic that is popular around the world. The star of a great pesto is the fresh basil, and basil is one of my favorite herbs. (See below for tips on how to grow your own fresh basil.) And when you add fresh pesto to tomato slices and mozzarella slices, you have the ultimate Italian appetizer! I like to make the pesto ahead of time and keep it chilled in the refrigerator. Then, when guests arrive, I assemble the tomato and mozzarella slices. I add a dollop of pesto to the top of each stack. The appetizers are ready in minutes. Warm fresh pesto appetizers right out of the oven. Yum! How to Make My Fresh Pesto Appetizer with Tomato and Mozzarella Slices Pesto Ingredients 2 cups basil leaves ¼ cup pine nuts 2 cloves of garlic 2/3 cup olive oil ½ cup grated … [Read more...] about Fresh Pesto Appetizer with Tomato and Mozzarella Slices
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Country Style Quiche Lorraine
Country Style Quiche Lorraine is an easy-to-make recipe that is sure to please almost everyone. Quiche Lorraine is the mother of all quiche recipes. It is a light egg and cheese custard with lots of bacon in a buttery crust. Culinary trends took an odd turn in the 1970s when quiche gained the reputation of being a ladies-who-lunch type of dish. That must have been because they took the bacon out and started putting everything else in-- like asparagus, goat cheese and mushrooms. Some people even skipped the crust. And that's just wrong. But the classic Quiche Lorraine has endured. Probably because of the bacon! If you’ve never made a quiche before, don’t worry, it couldn’t be easier. Especially if you’re working with a prepared frozen crust. If not, it’s still easy, it just takes more time and planning. Watch the Video Country Style Quiche Lorraine Recipe Yield: Serves 6 NOTE: Onions or shallots can be used in place of the chives. Use about 1/2 … [Read more...] about Country Style Quiche Lorraine
Easy-to-Bake Lemon Tangelo Meringue Pie
A delicious Lemon Tangelo Meringue Pie is a variation on the classic lemon meringue pie. If there is a Dessert Hall of Fame, surely the lemon meringue pie is inducted. It’s delicious. It looks great. And it’s not hard to make—it just looks like it would be hard to make. The lemon meringue pie is so awesome it even has its own Wikipedia page. When you bake a lemon meringue pie, people are impressed. So, imagine the kudos you’ll get when you bake a Lemon Tangelo Meringue Pie. Whoa! Your friends and family with think you just got back from a pastry-making class in Paris. The list of ingredients is in the graphic below. I have also included a link to my video on YouTube that shows all the steps in making this delicious dessert. Helpful Instructions for Making a Lemon Tangelo Meringue Pie When I make this Lemon Tangelo Meringue Pie, I make it gluten free. So, I buy a gluten-free pie crust from the natural foods market. Feel free to use a regular pie crust if you would … [Read more...] about Easy-to-Bake Lemon Tangelo Meringue Pie
Edible Spring Flowers: Dandelions, Tulips and Violets
After a long winter is finally over and flowers are bursting forth everywhere, it’s time to start thinking about edible spring flowers. Edible spring flowers (and some edible summer flowers) grow throughout the garden—and even in the lawn. These flowers do double duty, because they are as attractive outdoors in the yard and the meadow as they are on the plate. And they taste really good. Let’s look at three spring-blooming edible flowers —dandelions, sweet violets and tulips. While some folks bemoan dandelions and violets in their lawns, I rejoice at the ever-increasing number of lawns that are not pristine green, because the presence of these lively yellow and purple flowers mean that the lawn has not been treated with chemicals. (See The 10 Commandments of Edible Flowers posted here on HG&H.com.) Meanwhile, tulips rarely have any pests or diseases, so there’s no need for any chemical intervention. Edible Flowers: Dandelion Native Americans and the American … [Read more...] about Edible Spring Flowers: Dandelions, Tulips and Violets
