appetizers, stuffed peppers, vegan appetizers, quinoa, vegan
Sweet peppers stuffed with Quinoa presented in a deviled egg plate=brilliant

I’m usually on the other side of the chef’s jacket, but not this night.  This time instead of teaching a cooking class I got to take one from fantastic chef and food stylist Nancy Waldeck (TasteandSavor.com )  at COOKS WAREHOUSE Merchants Walk  Nancy had great ideas about using unusual items to present your food. She told us a story about how once she and her assistant bought tons on mushrooms from the grocery store just for the cute boxes they were in ( I’m sure she did something wonderful with all those mushrooms).  Her recipes were lovely, light and healthy appetizers great for any party.

The assistants at Cooks Warehouse had the mise en place prepped and ready to go
The assistants at Cooks Warehouse had the mise en place prepped and ready to go
pork sliders, appetizers, sliders
Adorable presentation for pork sliders with red pepper jelly
mini stuffed potato, Cajun crab salad, appetizer
This was the dish my “lab partner” and I chose to make. Teeny potatoes filled with Cajun crab salad. Also pictured, delicious Spanish paprika chicken bites with Romesco sauce.

 

potato cake, appetizer, kale, broccoli, bacon, Chinese soup spoons
 I created this little app out of the potato scraps from the stuffed mini potato recipe and some stuff I found when I raided the fridge at Cooks Warehouse. Waste not want not…and eat well. This is a kale, broccoli and potato cake with bacon.

Mini Potato Cakes with Kale, Broccoli and Bacon ( makes about 15 potato cakes)

1 and  1/4 cups diced Yukon gold potatoes boiled and mashed

1/4 cup finely chopped kale

1/4 cup finely chopped broccoli

1/4 cup diced cooked bacon ( save a few pieces of bacon for garnish if you like)

2 garlic cloves grated

1 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup mayonnaise (or light mayonnaise)

2 tablespoons butter or canola oil

2 tablespoons sour cream or plain Greek yogurt

Mix mashed potato, kale, broccoli, bacon, garlic mayonnaise and salt together in a bowl.  Scoop about a tablespoon of the mixture and form into a small scallop shaped disk.

Heat a skillet on medium with butter or canola oil.  Brown the potato cakes on both sides, about 2 minutes per side. Serve on spoons (Chinese soup spoons or regular tablespoons)

Garnish with a dollop or sour cream or Greek yogurt and top with a piece of bacon

Chinese soup spoon, appetizers
Inexpensive Stainless Steel Chinese Soup Spoons are a great way to serve appetizers

 

chocolate dipped strawberries
Strawberries dipped in chocolate, peanuts and Dukkah (an African spice blend) DELICIOUS
shrimp, tomato soup, appetizers, cocktail
I love this presentation of tomato soup and shrimp skewers in shot glasses on top of a pedestal and gorgeous detailed wooden mat
Sweet Savant
The fabulous Nancy Waldeck and me at Cooks Warehouse Merchants Walk