It’s time for apps and brie! Christmas party apps are fun to make, and bringing a treat that looks difficult but really isn’t is a good way to make it seem like you have you life together (other non holiday related hints: talk about listening to NPR and your 5:00am workouts). We often find ourselves looking for recipes that seem gourmet but is feasible for the layperson. We found this random site for wine and cheese recipes, and they have some good ones. Check out one below and more here.
Artichoke and Goat Cheese Bruschetta
18 baguette bread slices, cut on the diagonal about 1/4-inch thick
olive oil
2 jars (6 to 6 1/2 ounces each) marinated artichoke hearts
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons chopped flat-leaf parsley, divided
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese (preferably Parmigiano-Reggiano)
Freshly ground black pepper
6 ounces creamy goat cheese, crumbled
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
Brush baguette bread slices on both sides with olive oil and place them on a baking sheet. Bake slices until just crisp, about 3 minutes a side. Remove from oven and leave on baking sheet. (Bread can be toasted 3 hours ahead; cover loosely with foil and leave at room temperature.)
Drain artichokes, reserving about 2 tablespoons of the oil they were packed in, and place them in a food processor fitted with a metal blade. Add reserved 2 tablespoons artichoke oil, 1/2 cup of the parsley, Parmesan cheese, and several grindings of black pepper. Process, pulsing machine, until mixture is a coarse puree. (Puree can be prepared 3 hours ahead; cover and leave at cool room temperature.)
When ready to serve, spread each bread slice with a mound of artichoke puree and top with some crumbled goat cheese. (Bruschetta can be assembled 1 hour ahead; leave uncovered, at room temperature.)
