A recent meeting of new friends led to a casual invitation to dinner at our place, which is always welcome for us. It gives me an opportunity to try new recipes, sometimes including those that I have had in my library for some time but also recipes that I have been planning to try. This was the perfect occasion to do both.
We started the evening with three of my favorite small bites. This step is perfect as all of the little dishes come together quickly and sharing these pre-dinner bites sets the stage for casual conversation.
Baked Fontina Garlic, Rosemary and Honey
The combination of flavors in this Baked Fontina with Garlic, Rosemary, Honey and Orange is different and delicious. A perfect small bite before dinner.
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Hot Honey and Sea Salt Blistered Shishito Peppers
One in five of these Blistered Shishito Peppers are hot. Just like Russian roulette, it’s always a surprise and it’s a lovely first small bite.
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Spicy Spanish Mushrooms
Spicy Spanish Mushrooms are a wonderful tapa and a lovely addition to a trio of small bites as a start to an evening with friends. The dish is Spanish through and through, from the garlic scented olive oil to the reduced sherry vinegar. A tasty morsel.
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I followed these tasty morsels with my first new recipe for a spicy watermelon appetizer, which was light and very interesting as it was sweet, salty and slightly spicy all at the same time.
Spicy Watermelon and Feta Salad
Spicy Watermelon and Feta are a perfect combination for a summer appetizer. The salad is light and refreshing, it has a beautiful color and will satisfy most tastes as it has loads of flavor with little bit of heat for contrast. All in all, a brilliant appetizer.
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To keep the menu light, I prepared my seared scallop and roasted cauliflower dish, again light but full of flavor.
Seared Scallops with Roasted Cauliflower, Raisins and Pinenuts
I guess I like scallops, I have more than one recipe for you to look at. This Seared Scallops with Roasted Cauliflower, Raisins and Pinenuts recipe is mostly my creation as I combined 2 or 3 recipes and then omitted and added ingredients to make this delectable dish. I served it for dinner, but it would be very nice as an appetizer with a single perfect seared scallop on top of the roasted cauliflower.
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The dessert course was my next new recipe. I was originally inspired by a photo of a half and half dessert which captivated me. I was more interested in its appearance at the time than what it contained as I knew exactly what I would use for the half and half portion of the dessert.
Buttermilk Cream Parfait
I have wanted to make this recipe for quite a while, mainly because I love the presentation. It is beautiful! The recipe is easy, and as it turned out, so was the preparation. I filled these dessert glasses with a delicious Buttermilk Cream Parfait and a strawberry coulis. Simple, pretty and delicious.
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Light, casual and fun. Here’s to summer!
