• Recipes

    Skewer Appetizers – An Easy Treat

    May 23, 2021

    What is a skewer appetizer? These Skewer Appetizers – an easy treat are a delightful little tidbit of several flavors, easy to make and easy to enjoy! There are so many variations – I will be sharing a Caprese Skewer that I frequently serve for afternoon tea as a savory. Its fresh taste is a nice interlude so all the richness that is frequently served with savories. But this only serves as a platform for you to change and create new skewers depending on your menu. Here is Caprese Skewer – one skewer appetizer – an easy treat.

    Ingredients

    • Fresh Italian Basil
    • Mozzarella Balls (I use the marinated ones)
    • Grape or Cherry Tomatoes
    • Bamboo Skewers
    • Balsamic Glaze Reduction
    Skewer Appetizers - An easy treat. Ingredients assembled.

    Assembling the Skewers

    Its very simple. For the Caprese Skewers, take one of the basil leaves, fold it and insert onto the bamboo skewer. Follow this by one tomato, then a mozzarella ball, another tomato, and finally another piece of basil folded.

    If you are not serving immediately, place the skewers in a container and refrigerate for up to one day. Any longer and the basil will turn dark to black.

    I like to use 4 inch bamboo skewers. These can be purchased about anywhere. Grocery stores, restaurant supply stores, and even Amazon.

    Skewer Appetizers - An Easy Treat. Bamboo Skewers

    A comment about the basil. For the Caprese Skewer, you will want to use Italian Basil. Thai Basil is frequently available but has a sharper and peppery taste – you could use this for an Asian inspired skewer.

    Prepare the Balsamic Glaze Reduction by taking 1 cup of Balsamic Vinegar and bringing it to a boil. Once it begins to boil, reduce to a simmer and cook for 10 – 15 minutes until it reaches the thickness that you desire. Don’t inhale over the pot – the vinegar fumes are pretty strong as they reduce. This reduction will keep for up to 3 months in the refrigerator.

    If you won’t want to use a Balsamic reduction, you can use an Italian dressing or a Balsamic dressing. Dress your skewer directly before serving. If done too early will turn your basil black.

    Skewer Appetizers - An Easy treat Prepared skewers

    Serving and Variations

    To serve, simply place the skewer on your serving plate and drizzle with the Balsamic Reduction….and enjoy! If serving for afternoon tea, place with other savories for your guests.

    This recipe is so simple and has so many variations. Here are just a few to stimulate your imagination.

    • Mint / Watermelon cubes / Feta cubes
    • Italian Basil / Salami / Tomato / Mozzarella
    • Italian Basil / Pepperoni / Tomato / Mozzarella / Pepperoncini…topped with marinara sauce
    • Thai Basil / Cucumber / Green Pepper / Roasted Chicken….topped with soy sauce or sweet and sour sauce

    Serve for a party, have a platter full. Or serve individually – great for an afternoon savory. Skewer appetizers…..an easy treat.

    Skewer Appetizers - An Easy Treat. In a box full of teatime treats.
    Ready to enjoy with other tea time treats!
    Print Pin
    5 from 1 vote

    Caprese Skewers

    An easy and delicious appetizer skewer, only limited by your imagination.
    Course Appetizer
    Keyword Appetizer Skewers, Caprese Skewers
    Prep Time 15 minutes
    Total Time 15 minutes
    Servings 12 servings

    Ingredients

    • 12 Marinated mozzarella balls
    • 24 Grape or cherry tomatoes
    • 24 Fresh basil leaves
    • 12 Bamboo skewers

    Balsamic Glaze Reduction

    • 1 cup Balsamic Vinegar

    Instructions

    • Assemble items for skewers
    • Starting with a basil leaf, fold leaf and insert onto skewer
    • Place remaining items in sequence – basil, tomato, mozzarella, tomato, basil
    • Drizzle with balsamic glaze / reduction

    Balsamic Glaze / Reduction

    • Take 1 cup of Balsamic vinegar and place in a saucepan.
    • Bring the vinegar to a boil and reduce heat to a simmer for 10 -1 5 minutes or until reduction reaches your desired thickness.

    Notes

    This is a very simple recipe and really can be altered and adjusted to fit your imagination.  The numbers are only an idea depending on what your guest number is.
    Other variations include Mint / Watermelon / Feta Cheese Cubes,   Basil / Salami / Tomato / Mozzarella, Basil / Pepperoni / Mozzarella / Pepperoncini.  
    Can be made ahead and refrigerated for several hours before serving.  However, not too long as the basil will turn dark or black.
    The Balsamic Reduction will keep for up to 3 months if kept in an airtight container.
     

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  • Recipes

    Pretty Fours – Simple Elegant Cakes

    May 10, 2021

    This little treat is a delicious little mouthful of almond flavor and elegance. Not to be confused with Petit Fours, these little cakes are called Pretty Fours. First presented by my sister, Pretty Fours are simple yet elegant cakes. This recipe can also serve as a basis for many variations depending on your imagination. These are a great option for Afternoon Tea – Desserts or for group functions. Here is how it comes together – its really just this easy! Here is Pretty Fours – Simple Elegant Cakes.

    Ingredients

    • Cake Flour
    • Almond Paste (can or tube)
    • Sugar
    • Eggs
    • Unsalted butter
    • Buttercream Frosting
      • Butter
      • Vanilla
      • Powdered Sugar
      • Cream (or milk)

    Putting the cake together

    This is a very simple cake to put together. But an important step is to crumble up the almond paste by itself. This helps to facilitate the blending of the ingredients into a smooth batter.

    Once the almond paste is crumbled, mix in the sugar and 2 of the eggs. Beat until smooth. Add your room temperature butter and then the remaining 4 eggs.

    Grease and / or line your 15X10 jelly roll pan with parchment paper. Pour batter in pan and spread to even. Bake the cake at 350 degrees for 25 – 30 minutes until golden brown. Let the cake completely cool before cutting into shapes.

    Pretty Fours - Simple Elegant Cakes. Cake cut outs.

    Prepare the toppings for your Pretty Fours

    Here is where the fun of these little cakes begins. You can use several toppings just depending on your imagination and your menu. You can use the buttercream frosting recipe provided or use jams or curds. The options are endless and you just have to give them a try.

    Putting the Pretty Fours cakes together

    Using a 1 1/2 inch cookie cutter, cut the cool cake into desired circles. This cake is a dense cake full of almond flavor. It holds the cut very well and allows you to frost as a single layer or as a double layer, with a filling. Though I have only used the circular cookie cutter, I think you could use any shape as long as the cake is level.

    You can see both a single cake and a double cake. The double cake is filled with simple strawberry jam and then topped with a second layer of cake and buttercream frosting. For a recent afternoon tea, I served this cake as a Strawberry Jam Cake and had fresh strawberries on the side.

    Pretty Fours - Simple Elegant Cakes. Using strawberry jam

    Serving your Pretty Fours

    Pretty Fours - Simple Elegant Cakes Ready for the freezer.
    OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

    This cake freezes well, uncut or cut. And it also freezes well went it is prepared as a Pretty Four. You can always have some in your freezer for those impromptu afternoon tea times! Have fun and enjoy.

    These little treats are special additions to your sweet recipe file…..Pretty Fours – simple elegant cakes

    .
    Pretty Fours - Simple Elegant Cakes Ready for afternoon tea.
    Print Pin
    5 from 2 votes

    Pretty Fours

    A delicious and moist almond cake that serves as a base for buttercream frosting or fillings
    Course Dessert
    Keyword Afternoon Tea Desserts, Almond cake, Jam cakes, Pretty Four
    Prep Time 15 minutes
    Cook Time 30 minutes
    Frosting / filling 15 minutes
    Total Time 1 hour
    Servings 50 cakes

    Ingredients

    • 1¼ cup cake flour
    • 1 can 8 ounce almond paste (or tube of almond paste)
    • 1¼ cup sugar
    • 6 eggs
    • 1⅓ cup unsalted butter, room temperature

    Buttercream Frosting

    • ½ cup salted butter
    • 1 tsp vanilla
    • 1 lb powdered sugar
    • 1-3 tbsp cream or milk (use to thin as appropriate)

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 350°
    • Crumble almond paste by itself. Very important step.
    • Add sugar and 2 eggs. Beat until there are no lumps in the mixture.
    • Take room temperature butter and add to mixture.
    • Add remaining 4 eggs to batter.
    • Fold in the flour.
    • Place in greased jelly roll pan, 15X10 inch
    • Bake for 25 – 30 minutes or until light brown.
    • Cool completely.
    • When cool, use 1½ inch cookie cutter to cut out circles.
    • Mix buttercream frosting until smooth.
    • Using piping bag, pipe flower of frosting on top.

    Notes

    This cake freezes well uncut or in cut circles.
    You can top as a single layer or double and will with jam or curd.  
    Allow to come to room temp for serving. 
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