Tapas

My niece came over for dinner tonight.  I made my spicy chicken tacos with spanish rice and mexican corn.  For appetizers we had these delicious Mini Cooking Chorizo from La Tienda, along with some olives, Goat cheese and Naan bread.

I can highly recommend these mini cooking chorizos.  In fact, I have already placed order for more!!

Beef Carpaccio

Beef Carpaccio

8 to 10 ounces beef tenderloin from the tip end of the roast
4 handfuls arugula or mixed greens
2 tablespoons Capers
1 Shaved Shallot
Your favorite vinaigrette
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
Shaved Parmesan

Wrap the tenderloin in plastic wrap and place in the freezer for 2 hours.
After 2 hours, unwrap the tenderloin and thinly slice the beef into approximately into 1/8 to 1/4-inch pieces. Lay out sheets of plastic wrap and place each slice onto the plastic. Top with another piece of plastic and gently pound the meat with a meat mallet until paper thin. Repeat until all of the meat is sliced and pounded. Divide the meat evenly among 4 chilled plates. Serve with greens tossed with vinaigrette, salt, pepper and/or Parmesan.

Stuffed Squash Blossoms

after my allergy shots tonight i went by the cambrian farmers market. i got a nice box of squash blossoms that was supposed to be $3.00 for 10 but ended up being $3.00 for 13. i guess someone at the farm can't count. anyway, i have been wanting to try this since i read about it in one of my italian food magazines. i had some mozzarella medallions in the fridge.

after gently washing the blossoms i stuffed them with mozzarella, then i made up a batter from flour, pellagrino, an egg, garlic salt, and fresh ground mixed peppercorns and dipped each one in it.


i fried them one at a time in a small pan of vegetable oil and drained them on a paper towel.

once the excess oil was drained i plated them and sprinkled them with a little gray sea salt.

the taste testers of team barbie have pronounced them yummy and requested more. :)

Herbed Tomato Crostini

2 cups seeded, chopped tomatoes
1/4 teaspoon garlic salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
1 tablespoon capers
1 teaspoon chopped fresh oregano
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 baguette
Combine first 6 ingredients and set aside. Slice baguette into half-inch slices and toast at 400 degrees for 6 minutes, turning once. Spoon tomato mixture onto slices. Drizzle with olive oil and serve immediately