Tag: Appetizers

Cornbread Griddle Cakes topped with Pulled Pork Barbecue and Sweet Cherry Salad on a square dinner plate.

Cornbread Griddle Cakes

These simple corn pancakes make a great base for Slow-Cooked Pulled Pork topped with homemade Sweet Cherry Salsa. Cornbread Griddle Cakes are also delicious on their own as a supper side dish or as a breakfast entree topped with butter and maple syrup.

Sweet Cherry Salsa fills a curvy bowl from Mud Pie beside a wooden bowl filled with tortilla chips.

Sweet Cherry Salsa

Sweet Cherry Salsa draws on ginger, as well as peppers, to create a spicy warmth. Then it brings in notes of citrus and a splash of balsamic vinegar to lend depth to the sweet tang of ripe red cherries. To make the transition from a starter to a meal’s sweet conclusion, you might even add a few bites of dark chocolate.

Sweet Strawberry Salsa fills a small glass bowl on a wooden tray served with chips for dipping.

Sweet Strawberry Salsa

Sometimes I just can’t follow a recipe to save my life. Last weekend I set out to make Alanna’s Strawberry Salsa. Then, with additions and substitutions of cinnamon basil, fresh ginger, pineapple and a splash of balsamic vinegar, I had a fresh fruit salsa that was fragrant, tart-sweet, and just a little bit spicy. By adapting a good recipe to the realities of my kitchen at the moment I created my own Sweet Strawberry Salsa.

Marinated Bourbon Steak

I wish I could say I knew enough about photography that you could see my success.  Gladly I am a little better at choosing recipes than camera settings for low light situations…

Rosemary Biscuits filled with slivers of country ham, topped with rosemary flowers on an antique plate.

Wonderful Little Rosemary Biscuits

You may think biscuits sound rather ordinary but, in the moment, they may turn out to be the best thing you ever tasted. Try some of these fragrant little Rosemary Biscuits for yourself to see if you agree.

Spicy Hot Brie

The simplicity of this recipe for Spicy Hot Brie, nestled in a baking dish and topped with flavorful herbs and spices, recommends it for a casual celebration. Serve this melty warm appetizer with crisp crackers or a crusty baguette.

Candied Bourbon Bacon Bites served on a wood tray.

Candied Bourbon Bacon Bites

To a Kentucky girl with a heart for traditional Kentucky flavors, this recipe for Candied Bourbon Bacon Bites stands out as both special and uncomplicated. In fact it uses only three ingredients most Kentucky cooks are likely to have on hand: bacon, brown sugar and bourbon.

Derby Classics – Benedictine Spread

Benedictine Spread is a delightfully fresh tasting spread for tea sandwiches. It makes a perfect addition to a classic Derby Day celebration, a Mother’s Day Tea or any spring gathering. It can also be served as a tasty dip for fresh vegetables or as a spread for crackers. As my sister-in-law promised, it is easy to make and surprisingly delicious.

Pomegranate and Roasted Corn Salsa with Plantain Chips

Pomegranate and Roasted Corn Salsa

The flavors of sweet roasted corn, tart pomegranate arils, crunchy jicama and rich pine nuts meld with honeyed ginger and lime in delicious Pomegranate and Roasted Corn Salsa. Served with plantain chips it makes a beautiful appetizer.

A pretty Bruschetta made from Crostini topped with red pepper sauce and a fried quail egg sprinkled with fresh herbs.

Farmer’s Market Quail Egg Bruschetta

To make this easy appetizer: bake Crostini, top with jarred red pepper sauce and add a single fried quail egg to each slice. Finish with a sprinkle of snipped herbs and freshly ground pepper. The result is irresistible!