Festive appetizers from Emily Richards
Balsamic Roasted Pear Wedges with Prosciutto
This is a delicious appetizer for entertaining, but it can also be served as a dessert to finish the meal. Serve it with a sparkling wine to start your meal or a sweet ice wine to end your meal.
- 4 firm ripe Bosc or Bartlett pears
- 1/4 cup (60 mL) aged balsamic vinegar
- 1 tbsp (15 mL) chopped fresh Italian parsley
- 1 tsp (5 mL) chopped fresh thyme
- 1 tsp (5 mL) Dijon mustard
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- Pinch of pepper
- 12 slices Prosciutto di Parma, halved lengthwise
Gorgonzola Cream Dip:
- 3 oz (90 g) gorgonzola cheese, at room temperature
- 1/4 cup (60 mL) 35% whipping cream
- 1 tbsp (15 mL) chopped fresh Italian parsley
Gorgonzola Cream Dip: In a small bowl, stir together gorgonzola, cream and parsley until smooth; set aside.
Line baking sheet with parchment paper; set aside.
Cut pears in half and remove seeds and core. Cut each half into thirds and set aside.
In a large bowl, whisk together balsamic, parsley, thyme, mustard, garlic and pepper. Add pear wedges and stir to coat well. Let stand for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
Remove one pear wedge at a time, reserving marinade and wrap with prosciutto slice half and place on prepared baking sheet. Repeat with remaining pears and prosciutto.
Roast in centre of oven for about 15 minutes or until golden and pears are tender but firm. Spoon remaining marinade over top of pears and let cool slightly.
Serve with Gorgonzola Cream Dip.
Makes 24 pieces.
Prosciutto and Ricotta Honey Crostini
Fresh Prosciutto di Parma is a perfect match to this chestnut honey drizzled ricotta crostini. Be sure to save some slices to enjoy before your guests arrive!
- 12 ciabatta crostini
- 3/4 cup (175 mL) ricotta cheese
- Chestnut or buckwheat honey
- 12 slices Prosciutto di Parma
- Fresh cracked pepper
Spread crostini with ricotta cheese and drizzle lightly with honey. Decoratively add prosciutto slice to each crostini and sprinkle with pepper to serve.
Makes 12 pieces.
Prosciutto Wrapped Gorgonzola Dates
Rich and smooth from the dates, salty and crisp from the prosciutto and creamy from the gorgonzola. A perfect bite, and so quick to make.
- 12 large Medjool dates
- 1/3 cup (75 mL) Gorgonzola cheese
- 6 slices Prosciutto di Parma
Slit each date, removing the pit.
Open slightly and fill with cheese. Press edges to close. Cut prosciutto in half lengthwise; wrap each date with 1 strip of prosciutto.
Arrange on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. (Make-ahead: Cover and refrigerate for up to 8 hours.) Bake at 375°F (190°C) about 10 minutes or until the prosciutto is crisp. Let cool slightly and serve with toothpicks.
Makes 12 pieces.
Tip: Alternatively, panfry in nonstick skillet until warmed through.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
'It was joy': Trapped B.C. orca calf eats seal meat, putting rescue on hold
A rescue operation for an orca calf trapped in a remote tidal lagoon off Vancouver Island has been put on hold after it started eating seal meat thrown in the water for what is believed to be the first time.
Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
B.C. judge orders shared dog custody for exes who both 'clearly love Stella'
In a first-of-its-kind ruling, a B.C. judge has awarded a former couple joint custody of their dog.
Saskatoon police to search landfill for remains of woman missing since 2020
Saskatoon police say they will begin searching the city’s landfill for the remains of Mackenzie Lee Trottier, who has been missing for more than three years.
Shivering for health: The myths and truths of ice baths explained
In a climate of social media-endorsed wellness rituals, plunging into cold water has promised to aid muscle recovery, enhance mental health and support immune system function. But the evidence of such benefits sits on thin ice, according to researchers.