Double Feature

Sometimes flattery gets you everywhere, and flattery won this round of the guessing game for Lesley this month. Lesley guessed my fruitcakes would cost a whopping $74 to make and while she guessed a tremendously high amount, I appreciated her kind words and I realized that if I had used a different brand of brandy, my fruitcake would have cost more to make. Maybe not quite $74, but still...

For Lesley I have two holiday appetizers, an easy Asian meatball dipping sauce and a holiday bruschetta. I think they're both unique and pretty special, just like Lesley. Here are the recipes!

Holiday Bruschetta and Easy Asian Meatball Dipping Sauce

Easy Asian Meatball Dipping Sauce - serves 6

2 teaspoons pickled ginger, minced

2 teaspoons chili garlic sauce

3 tablespoons soy sauce

1 lime, zest and juice

1 teaspoon sesame oil

1 teaspoon honey

1. Combine all ingredients and mix well. Serve with meatballs for dipping! 

If you prefer a sweeter sauce, add a little more honey. If you prefer a spicier sauce, add a little more chili garlic sauce. Or if you prefer a zestier sauce, add a little more lime juice. 

Holiday Bruschetta - serves 6 

1 baguette, thinly sliced into rounds

1 large onion, finely chopped

3 tablespoons olive oil, divided

2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

1 pint of cherry or grape tomatoes, chopped

1/2 cup of olives, chopped

1 cup of mozzarella cheese, grated

Salt and pepper to taste

1. Add 1 tablespoon olive oil and onions to a pan on your stove at medium low heat. Let onions slowly caramelize, about 10 minutes. Stir in balsamic vinegar and cook another 1-2 minutes. 

2. When onions are finished cooking, preheat oven to 375 degrees, then prepare your bruschetta topping. Combine onion, tomatoes, olives, cheese, and remaining two tablespoons of olive oil in a medium bowl. Stir to combine. 

3. Divide the tomato mixture between the rounds of baguette and place each round on a cookie sheet. 

4. Bake for 15-25 minutes or until the cheese melts and browns slightly. 

5. Serve with friends and enjoy!