Cheese Crackers

Another yummy and easy appetizer for drinks are these savory crackers.  They are easily storable and you can make them ahead of time and freeze them, then bake them when you need to take something to a party or host a little wine hour for your friends.

I've made several combos with different cheeses, nuts, herbs.  Depending on your mood and what you got in the fridge, the options are endless.  I made these Jalapeno and Cheddar Crackers for a friend's party I went to earlier this year.

The recipe is from Ina Garten's cookbook.

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon kosher salt
¹⁄8 teaspoon baking powder
14 tablespoons (13/4 sticks) cold unsalted butter, 1/2-inch-diced
5 ounces extra-sharp white cheddar, grated
1 tablespoon minced seeded jalapeño pepper
1/4 teaspoon chipotle chili powder
3 tablespoons ice water
1 egg beaten with 1 tablespoon milk, for egg wash
Fleur de sel or sea salt

Place the flour, kosher salt, and baking powder in a food processor fitted with the steel blade and pulse to mix. Add the butter and pulse until the mixture resembles coarse meal. Add the cheddar, jalapeño, and chipotle chili powder and pulse again. With the food processor running, add the ice water all at once. Continue pulsing until the mixture begins to form a ball. Dump the dough onto a floured board and roll it into a 14-inch log. Wrap in plastic, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.

When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper.

Cut the dough in 3/8-inch-thick slices. Place the crackers on the prepared sheet pan, brush with the egg wash, and sprinkle with the fleur de sel. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes, until golden brown. Serve slightly warm or at room temperature

 

Savory Pie Bites

Boy it's been a long time!  Well, I've been making good food to eat and to share, but life has been a bit busy to post.  I'm also working on a new site soon with a new camera, with the hope to change the feel and focus of this blog journey I've been on. More to come at some point later this year.

Life has really come to a great place, I'm able to focus and take a deep breath and hopefully do more baking and sharing of food!

Last holiday season, I made these little Pie Bites that are super easy to make when you are on the go.

Pie Bites
1 package of store bought pie shell (I know but it saves time!)
Handful of Dates, Pitted and Chopped
Parmesan Cheese, Chopped in little chunks
Handful of Pecans, Broken
Black Pepper, A Dash
Egg Wash
Salt Flakes

-Preheat oven to 350 degree
-Cut the pie shell into 2x2 inch squares
-Lay out the squares on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper
-Put even amounts of dates, cheese, and pecans
-Sprinkle some black pepper
-Cover each one with another square of pie dough
-Using a fork, crimp all four sides of each square
-Brush each with egg wash
-Sprinkle a pinch of salt flakes
-Bake for about 15 minutes until golden brown
-Cool 15 minutes 

That's it!  People will ooohhh and ahhhh but it's a simple appetizer for any party.  You can change up the filling in any combo you like!