Make a Simple Vegetable Platter Extraordinary

Tags

5 minute appetizer, easy recipes, fall vegetables, garden platter, simple entertaining, vegetable tray

The vegetable platter has gotten a bad name over the years. I think it is because people buy the basic ones at grocery stores and they are so generic and so boring. What we need to remember is that we eat with our eyes not just our mouths.

Food needs to look good too!

Here are my tips for you to jazz up a basic vegetable tray.

1. Use different ingredients. (Try to make one without carrots, cucumbers, celery and broccoli) you might think to yourself… How? It is easy! Try new vegetables!

2. Asparagus is great on a vegetable platter you just need to blanche it first. How? Bring a pot of water to the boil, add a generous amount of salt. Cook for 2 minutes and then drop Into ice water to stop cooking. It keeps the veggies green and crisp.

3. Try Fennel or baby endive. Both are delicious raw and make a great addition to a vegetable platter.

4. Use French green beans. They are delicious and cook in minutes. Blanche them like the asparagus.

5. Experiment with green, orange or purple cauliflower. It adds colour to the platter and tastes just like regular cauliflower.

Use these simple tips to make your next vegetable platter extraordinary.

http://www.monicaskitchen.com

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I am a girl who loves food. I grew up with a Mom who was an excellent cook. She wrote a cookbook when I was a child, and as they say, the rest is history. Started a catering business in 2005 and haven’t looked back. I am a mom to 2 beautiful girls and I want them to love food as much as I do. In the meantime, I love life and love my job @ http://www.monicaskitchen.com

Bet you can’t eat just one!

Tags

easy appetizers, fall, nuts, simple entertaining

Well I had the pleasure of being back on Daytime TV today for a cooking segment and it was a blast! Derek Fage is hilarious! What a great group of people over at Rogers channel 22.

I made a charcuterie board, some canapés and these delicious spiced nuts. These nuts take 10 minutes to make and they are irresistible. You can’t stop eating them 🙂

Try them today!

Here’s what you need.

Sweet and Spicy Mixed Nuts

2 cups of assorted mixed unsalted nuts
2 tbs butter softened
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tbs brown sugar
2 tsp flaked sea salt
2 tbs fresh rosemary (topped)

Roast the nuts in a 350 degree oven for 8-10 minutes. While the nuts are roasting, in a large bowl combine the butter, sugar, salt, cayenne and rosemary. Remove the toasted nuts from the oven and place in the bowl. Toss the nuts with the seasoning. Eat, eat and eat some more.

These are addictive and are a perfect addition to anyone’s Fall dining room table.

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I am a girl who loves food. I grew up with a Mom who was an excellent cook. She wrote a cookbook when I was a child, and as they say, the rest is history. Started a catering business in 2005 and haven’t looked back. I am a mom to 2 beautiful girls and I want them to love food as much as I do. In the meantime, I love life and love my job @ http://www.monicaskitchen.com

Simple Entertaining. Try a charcuterie board.

Tags

appetizers, charcutiere board, cheese, entertaining, meat, simple appetizers

Are you having people over this weekend? Put together a simple but delicious charcuterie board! A charcuterie board is usually a mix of meats, cheeses, olives, nuts and breads.

Make it your own. For the cheese chose 1 or 2, use Brie, or exta old cheddar, Parmesan or blue cheese. For the meats, try 2 or 3, like a salami, chorizo, prosciutto, kielbasa, or pate. You can pull it together is a matter of minutes and guests can freely serve themselves.

For my dinner I chose an extra old cheddar. I cut it in squares and then triangles to add to the presentation. Followed by German salami, chorizo and kielbasa. I added some fresh tomatoes from my garden too. Then comes the olives. I love olives. My favorite are called castelvetrano olives. They are delish! I wrote about them a while back so check it out!

Once you have your ingredients start assembling! If you have a wood cutting board use it as it looks lovely. Start with your meats and cheeses, add some olives and tomatoes and then fill in the gaps with slices baguettes and crackers. Enjoy!