Garlic and herb egg puffs

Appetizing...

This recipe just screams weekend brunch. These garlic herb scrambled eggs in a flaky puff pastry shell are sure to open appetites. The garlic and herb compound butter gives the scrambled eggs more pizazz, it’s not every day someone has garlic eggs. I really love when a dish looks complicated but ends up being extremely easy, and this appetizer is one of those dishes.

“Creamozzagouda” sticks

Appetizing...
 

Who would have ever thought that homemade mozzarella sticks were even attemptable, (who knew attemptable was even a word :) I had no idea what to make for this post, I had planned doughnuts, however was in no mood to deal with yeast. So I began asking my friends and family what are their favorite appetizer items on a restaurant’s menu. I got wings, and shrimp both already on the blog, then someone said if mozzarella sticks are on a menu they have to order it, And I got very excited.

Grilled Pesto Shrimp

Appetizing...

And then there was shrimp. The ultimate appetizer and finger food, I can’t think of a restaurant I’ve ever been to that did not have some form of shrimp as an appetizer. Hence a shrimp appetizer had to be shared.  I was inspired to make pesto last week at Valentine’s Day dinner. My sister had grilled lobster with a choice of miso, pesto or lemon butter. (We went to Rojo at Spanish court hotel in New Kingston. Food is amazzzzzzingnggggg…but I digress) I told her to try the pesto and she loved it. The lobster got me thinking that a shrimp pesto could be just as delicious as the spicy shrimp shooter I had planned. So that’s exactly what I did.

Mini Lemon Passion Cakes

Appetizing...

Can I just start by saying what a task it was to find passion fruits out of season? I managed to get four, two were ripe, and the other two are still in my kitchen.  That’s one thing about Jamaica; produce is extremely seasonal, whereas in NY I can almost get any fruit or veggie any time of the year (which may not be a good thing). However here in Jamaica, if it’s not the season, please prepare to go on the hunt and fork out top dollar when you do find it. At least the dessert I envisioned a few months ago is here in all its lemony passion filled glory. Crisis averted!

Tamarind glazed Wings

 

   

Appetizing...

My sister hates the grocery store, to the point where she waits in the car while I go in and shop. But what she does not understand is that the best ideas come to you while looking for something completely different. Originally I had every intention of making ginger glazed chicken wings.  I was walking towards the produce isle all the lights dimmed and a spotlight hit the box of tamarinds and a thought came to my head. I questioned if I should change my recipe idea to include a tamarind glaze, but threw out the idea finished shopping and went on my merry way home. Once home I was plagued with the what ifs and shoulda-coulda-woulda’s.  The very next day I went on instagram and saw @fatboo making tamarind juice, I took it as a sign, went straight back to the store and did what I should have done the day before. 

Honey Mustard Jerk Pork with Crostini sticks

  Appetizing...

If you’re a pork eater you must love Jerk pork. Jamaican Jerk pork is absolutely delicious when done right. Thyme, pimento, scallion, peppers are staples in our kitchen, as they serve the base for a good jerk marinade. We make jerk pork and especially jerk chicken all the time. This time I wanted to make an unconventional jerk sauce, and since Ive recently been obsessed with honey mustard, what better than a honey mustard jerk sauce.

Sweet and sour meatballs in cucumber cups

 

 Appetizing...

How amazing are the flavors of sweet and sour, another lovely marriage. This easy sweet and sour sauce is my specialty. I can’t tell you how many times I have made sweet n sour meat balls. For those of you who follow me on instagram, you would remember about two weeks ago, I posted an image of some sweet and sour chicken. This is that very same sauce. It can top any meat.  I knew it had to make an appearance this month as an appetizer, especially atop these meatballs in cucumber cups. The perfect two to three bites.

Jalapeno Sweet Corn Cakes

 Appetizing...

This month of recipes are inspired by a purchase I made over the Christmas holidays. My mother sister and I were in PriceSmart (Caribbean Costco) and I saw a 36 pc. appetizer serving set, it had 6 cute spoons, mini forks, shooters, small glass dishes and mini plates. I just had to have one. Immediately I wanted to get right into a month of appetizer recipes, however I was in the middle of “Greedy Girl Eats” and January was chocolate month. So without further ado I welcome February, my chance to use my cute little purchase from Christmas, First up, some yummy Jalapeno sweet corn cakes.