Monday, January 27, 2014

Heart these Super Appetizers!

The Headlines:


Super bowl means super food!

Appetizers are a must.

Here's an easy one the ladies will LoVE!



If anyone knows me, they know I am not a huge football fan.  Yes, I was a cheerleader for football starting in the 4th grade.  I continued in high school.  I was even captain of the squad and called cheers for multiple years.  However, ironically, I knew not a thing of the sport.  I think I even may have, inadvertently, cheered for the other side.  That offense/defense was a bear!  Today, I am much better at understanding the game of football.  Why?  Well, for one reason, I married a former (high school) football player.  And two, he is a current football fan.  Yes, I married one of those men who love to sit on a Sunday (and sometimes a Saturday) and watch football from sunrise to sun down.  You probably have one of those in your life too.  They seem to be everywhere.  All I have to say is thank the lord in heaven for all this DVR stuff… otherwise we would never get anything done!


With all of that said, I still do not actively watch football.  When BP (my husband) sits down to catch his beloved San Diego Chargers on screen, I sit to catch up on my magazines.  It's a perfect situation.  Until Super Bowl.  Then, watching football becomes bigger than that.  Much bigger, right?  Women, men, kids of all ages, probably even some pets tune in and, somewhat actively, watch the big game.  You're either throwing a party, going to a party or having some sort of private party.  And with any and all of those possibilities… food is involved.  Preferably party food or appetizers.

The typical Super Bowl food I would say is:  pizza, some sort of bean and cheese dip, maybe an artichoke dip, perhaps a veggie plate…. blah blah blah boring.  I say, do a little something different.  Now, I have yet to throw a Super Bowl party… and I may never do so because my son's birthday is around the same weekend (and I'm more focused on his party details).  But I will say, if I did,  I'd either want to take all the traditional Super Bowl food and turn it up a notch.  Or, I'd want to add some, non-traditional app's, to the mix.

Something like this… Let's call them Tomato Love Puffs.


Aren't the cute?  A heart shaped finger food that's perfect for the ladies on game day (goes great with wine)… that also pays an homage to the impending holiday ahead.   Yes, it can be used as a perfect reminder for the man in your life - Valentine's Day is around the corner!!

Oh what fun this could make your Super Bowl!  And, of course, it's super easy to do.  Okay, let's get to it.

Ingredients:
1 bag (3 oz) sun dried tomatoes
1 box (10 oz) thawed, frozen artichokes (these can be a little harder to find - you may have to hit a store or 2 )
1 cup pitted kalamata olives
1 cup shredded parmesan
1/4 tsp pepper
1/4 (plus)  tsp salt (optional)
2 sheets frozen puff pastry, thawed
1 egg

Heat oven to 400 degrees.  In a small bowl, cover tomatoes with warm water to rehydrate for 10 minutes.  Remove and pat dry.  Put in a food processor with artichokes, olives, parm, pepper and optional salt.  I think most dishes need salt.  Combine. Gently roll out party dough on parchment paper.  Spread half the mix atop it.


This is hard to explain so bare with me here…. fold 2 sides of dough (short ends if they have them) in about 2 inches each (as tight as you can), then fold each side again (and again) until the edges touch.  Honestly, this is the delicate part and it was a little hard but you just have to work fast and do your best to make it work!  

  
Repeat with second sheet and then cover both, tightly, with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes. Meantime, beat 1 egg with 1 tablspn of water in a small bowl.  Remove "logs" from fridge, take off plastic and brush outside with egg mixture.  Slice each roll and divide among 3 or 4 parchment lined cookie sheets.  Make or mold them, as best you can, into heart typed shapes.



Bake for 12-15 minutes or until golden.  Take them out and they look like this!  Some are adorably shaped hearts… others are not.  This was my first time making them!


They are tasty, sweet (as in cute),  out of the ordinary apps… and if they're not suitable for your Super Bowl party then… save them for your next Valentines celebration!  Whatever works.   I just know these would keep ANY Picky Chick tuned into to any football game!  Now… who's playing again?



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