Posts tagged as appetizers
Part I: Eastward Ho!
We just returned from visiting my in-laws’ home in the Hamptons, one of the prettiest places in the world. With lush flowers, towering trees, white beaches, and sprawling “cottages,” there is always somewhere picturesque to rest your eye. The food is lush too, spilling over onto quaint farm stands and into local markets. Berries, melons,…
Eggplant Caviar
My family is more than a little obsessed with the eggplant spread – or melitzanosalata – at It’s Greek to Me. The creamy eggplant is perfectly balanced with lemon, garlic, fresh herbs, and salt. Nathan and I could sit down with just that, and a mountain of pillowy, hot-off-the-griddle pita bread, and stuff ourselves like…
Creamy, Fluffy Hummus – The Way It’s Supposed to Be

Thanks to reader Michael G. for the following email: Stephanie, I make my own hummus but I can’t get it as creamy as others. I add a good amount of olive oil & lemon juice, but I want it creamier. Thanks, Michael Have you had the same problem – homemade hummus that seems more like…
Summer Appetizer: Smoky Chipotle Guacamole
If you’ve eaten at Barrio Tequila Bar lately (and if you haven’t, you should…), you’ll recognize this guacamole presentation, with sliced jalapeños and radishes. I copied it because I’m absolutely smitten with the extra crunch and heat of the raw vegetables – as if I needed yet another reason to love guacamole. Or anything at…
Summer Appetizer: Bite-Size Tomato Tarts on a Parmesan Crust

Here’s a new twist on an old favorite, turning this lovely 101 Cookbooks tomato tart into little tomato tart canapés. Don’t worry, I didn’t mess with that perfectly buttery, cheesy crust. Oh no. I just baked it in a flat rectangle instead of in a tart pan, then cut the still-warm crust into bite-size squares….
Blue Cheese Shortbread Crackers
I’ll confess a deep, dark secret. I love…Cheez-its. I don’t want to know what cheez is, and I endeavor to not eat the things (I forbid them from the house…most of the time), but I’m moved by their flaky, tangy, processed perfection. Addictive little beasts, grrr. But as tasty as they are, I’m obviously not…
Happy Mother’s Day: Rustic Bread with Dark Chocolate, Olive Oil, & Salt
You read that right. Bread, chocolate, oil, and salt. Could there be a better combination? Could there be an easier combination? Mother’s Day, any day, simply beautiful. Slice crusty bread into thin slices, drizzle with really good olive oil. Toast in a hot oven until crisp and golden, scatter with dark chocolate pieces. Now we’re…
Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps
Back from Seattle, although not back from the double-whammy sinus infection/bronchitis that hit me the day before we left. My son and I did our best to dig in and really experience the city, but given that I could hardly breathe, we didn’t get very far. Luckily we had a lovely hotel room at Inn…
Stuffed Portabella Mushrooms
Stuffed mushrooms are the way I learned to love mushrooms as a kid – apparently I would eat almost anything with stuffing in them. I still love stuffed mushrooms, so once in awhile I make myself a large portobello version for a light lunch or dinner. I tend to make just one for myself, but…
Egg Salad – Yes, Egg Salad (With Lemon, Anchovies, & Crostini)
I’ll admit, this is a bit similar to the post below (grilled cheese with baby artichokes), as in, “How to Make a Meal from a Baguette,” but hey, a baguette makes a lovely meal, as do artichokes and eggs, so stay with me. Just like in Caesar salad, the anchovy adds a punch of salty-savory,…