Entertaining is a BIG part of the holidays and I typically like to bring a little something when I'm invited over someone's home, or if I'm entertaining, I like to have a nice spread of yummies for everyone to enjoy. And when it comes to pot luck, somehow, someway, I always get appetizers.
I kind of love appetizers. I could eat appetizers as a meal, and I have. Many times. Tapas? I'm in. I like small morsels of goodness, bitesize bursts of flavour, a variety of gourmet goodies. And while I'm a fan of a hot appetizer, it's not always ideal to serve a hot appy, especially if you need to transport it or make it in advance. And let's face it, an appetizer that's supposed to be served hot, tastes best when it's hot. Obviously.
So I'm going to give you not one, not two, but FOUR easy appetizers that you can serve that will wow guests -- they taste great cold.
Psst.....a little secret. There's nothing to make, either. These elevated appetizers are simple and require just a few ingredients -- one of which is not a secret at all: Summer Fresh.
Bruschetta: Who doesn't love bruschetta? Full of juicy tomatoes, flavours of garlic and onion. Using the Traditional Summer Fresh Bruschetta, I topped a very basic Baguette Style cracker. You could use bread, too. ELEVATE: To elevate your bruschetta, drizzle a balsamic glaze in a zig zag pattern. Serve on a crystal dish and we're now blingy bruschetta!
Charcuterie Boards: Charcuterie Boards are all the rage right now, and they're so simple to put together. Really, there are no rules. I usually have some sort of preserved meat, whether it's prosciutto or salami, speck or capicollo. Then, add some bread and of course, at least one cheese. Fruit or compote makes an excellent pairing, and my Summer Fresh add on -- hummus. This is my new favourite Hummus -- Kalamata Olive hummus! The saltiness from the Kalamata olive perfectly complements the breads and the prosciutto. Plus it's good for you. Who knew you were so hipster?! ELEVATE: This is already a complex platter, but you can easily elevate with some great nuts or a special cheese. Who are we kidding? This is already pretty special.
Middle-Eastern Medley: Baba Ghanouj is a beautiful eggplant spread that goes really well with pita or soft bread. On it's own, it's pretty fabulous. But let's jazz it up. I love pomegranate, especially this time of year. OK, they're a pain to cut and clean, but once you get in, they're so satisfying. ELEVATE: Ready for this one? Drizzle some pomegranate seeds into your Baba Ghanouj for little bursts of fruity goodness. Oh, we're fancy now.
Easy Endive: Endive is a lettuce that is so easy to work with. It presents beautifully, has a fresh crunch and has a bit of a crisp and bitter taste. So it brings out some flavours really well. This one is so easy. Take SummerFresh Tzatziki and smear it into some Endive leaves like little boats. ELEVATE: Top with chopped dill, chive or fennel shoots. TaDa! Look at you.
Entertaining and appetizer preparation doesn't have to be stressful, or time consuming, or even expensive. Use these simple tips to come up with your own elevated appetizers using a few simple ingredients and a little bit of creativity!
Be sure to visit @simplysuppa on Instagram for your chance to win a Summer Fresh prize!
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