Brie, Bacon and Fig Jam Tarts | Secret Recipe Club

If you have been following my foodie adventures for a while now, you know I absolutely love appetizers.  I take pleasure in a one to two bite delight that is packed with flavor and is full of various textures.  Even when we are at home regardless of the day of the week, enjoying appetizers makes us feel like we are celebrating.

Hubby and I are hooked on a show that airs on the Hallmark Channel called Cedar Cove.  Saturday night was the 2 hour season premier and we could hardly wait to view it.  We actually don’t call it Cedar Cove but rather "the feel good show” since overall it is a happy show with some twists and turns along the way.  We felt the premier deserved an appetizer dinner along with a great bottle of wine. 

For my July Secret Recipe Club match, I was paired with Rhonda who published The Kitchen Witch blog.  She goes by the nickname Giggles and is a blogger, culinarian, photographer and avid motorcycle rider.  She has a blended family with 6 kids and 3 grandchildren and one on the way.  Her eldest daughter had a blog and inspired Rhonda to start one too.  From browsing her blog, she has a great palate of various tastes and recipes and great photography skills.  In fact a few months ago, she was paired with me and chose this recipe to make.

This month is a bit bitter sweet for me.  Almost 4 years to the date, I joined the Secret Recipe Club and it has been a great adventure.  This month, I have decided to make it my last month.  With my busy career, being a DOLE Ambassador, blog commitments and life, my plate is full and unfortunately something had to give.  I thought long and hard about my decision.  This group has some absolutely lovely bloggers and I have enjoyed purusing through their blogs over the years and making some absolutely stunning recipes.  Thank you to Debbi who has been the Group C leader the entire time I have been involved – you have been simply great!

For my last post, I chose a appetizer recipe that simply had my name written all over it.  Rhonda’s Brie, Bacon and Fig in a Fillo Cup simply sang to me.  It is simple yet full of flavor and the presentation will impress your guests.  Hubby and I enjoyed it for our premier of Cedar Cove and enjoyed a Chiarello Family Vineyards  red wine called 2012 Bambino Cabernet Sauvignon.  Thank you Rhonda for a great new appetizer recipe!

Brie, Bacon and Fig Jam Tarts

1 Pkg. Pre-backed Mini Fillo Shells (15)

4 oz. of Brie, rind removed and cut into ¾ inch cubes

6 Slices of bacon, cooked and crumbled

Balsamic Fig Jam (click here for recipe) or use your favorite store bought variety

Micro-Greens (for garnish)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Place shells on a cookie sheet and fill each one with one piece of brie.  Place in oven for 5 to 8 minutes or until the brie melts.  Remove from oven and add a small dollop of fig jam and sprinkle with bacon on top then garnish with a few micro greens or finely diced chives.

Check out the other recipes for this months blogs by clicking here!

Crinkle Sugar Cookies | Blogger C.L.U.E. Society

Summer is in full force!  Tis the season for grilling, BBQ’s, vacations, flip flops, longer days and warm summer evenings. I love this time of year with all of the fresh fruits and vegetables that are full of flavor, especially the corn, tomatoes and stone fruits are among my favorites.  It is hard to believe that we over halfway done with 2015 and before you know it, the holiday season will be around the corner.

Before we start celebrating the holiday season, I want to fully embrace the summer season and all that it has to offer.  My grill has been busy with chicken and vegetables lately along with fresh salads.  Speaking of grilling, it is time for Blogger C.L.U.E. Society and our theme this month was “Summer Barbecue/Grilling – grilled vegetables or meats, main courses or side dishes or desserts or drinks that would be great at a barbecue”.  What a fun theme and the possibilities were endless.

I was paired this month with Rebekah who writes a blog called Making Miracles. After learning more about Rebekah I can certainly understand why she named her blog making miracles. She has been a surrogate for 4 little baby girls and made four families extremely happy and grateful.  She has lived all around the United States and oversees. She is happily married and has two kids of her own and believes that each day is a gift, and a miracle.  I could not agree more. 

She also loves to experiment with new recipes but her favorite thing to do is bake.  I took that clue when sifting through her blog for the right recipe to fit this month’s theme.  I thought if I am heading to a summer barbecue, the easiest thing to bring is cookies plus I love making cookies.  I chose her Crinkle Sugar Cookie recipe and added 2 more teaspoons of vanilla, since I love vanilla and topped with some pretty silver sprinkles to add that extra sparkle factor.  The end result was nothing short of pure deliciousness.

Crinkle Sugar Cookies

Makes 36 Cookies

1 ¼ Cup Sugar

1 Cup Butter, room temperature

3 Egg Yolks

1 Tablespoon Vanilla Extract

2 ½ Cups All-Purpose Flour

1 teaspoon Baking Soda

½ teaspoon Cream of Tarter

Favorite candy sprinkles

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Line cookie sheets with parchment paper or lightly grease if not using a non-stick cookie sheet.

Use a stand mixer and cream together sugar and butter. Beat in eggs yolks and vanilla.  Add the baking soda and cream of tarter and mix well.  Slowly add the flour until all is incorporated.  Use a 1 inch ice cream scoop to form balls of dough. Roll in your favorite candy sprinkles and place 2 inches apart on the cookie sheet.  Don’t flatten. Bake for 11 minutes, until tops are cracked and just turning color.  Remove from sheet and let cool on a wire rack.

Artichoke and Green Chile Stuffed Mushrooms by Jean from Lemons and Anchovies

Arugula Salad with Figs, Prosciutto, Walnuts, and Parmesan by Kathy from Bakeaway with Me

Bourbon Baked Beans by Stacy from Food Lust People Love

Classic Southern Potato Salad by Alice from A Mama, Baby and Shar-pei in the Kitchen

Cornish Game Hens with Citrus, Herb and Whiskey Glaze by Kate from Kate's Kitchen

Crinkle Sugar Cookies by Lisa from Authentic Suburban Gourmet

Crockpot Chili Dog Sauce by Kelli from Kelli's Kitchen

Grilled Asian-Style Chicken by Christy from Confessions of a Culinary Diva

Grilled Chicken Shish Tawookby Sue from A Palatable Pastime

Grilled Salmon with Mojo de Ajo by Kathy from A Spoonful of Thyme

Grilled Southwestern Chicken Salad by Aly from Cooking in Stilettos

Grilled Zucchini with Sea Salt and Lemon Zest by Christiane from Taking on Magazines

Lemintini by Anna from annaDishes

Marinated Grilled Flank Steak by Debra from Eliot's Eats

Oklahoma Spicy Baked Beans by Lea Ann from Cooking on the Ranch

Spatchcock BBQ Chicken by Wendy from A Day in the Life on the Farm

Steak Kabobs by Liz from That Skinny Chick Can Bake

Sweet Potato Turkey Burgers by Lauren from Sew You Think You Can Cook

White Bean Tomato and Basil Salad by Rebekah from Making Miracles

Zesty Grilled Ham Steaks by Heather from girlichef

Pecan-Cheddar Coins | Friday Night Bites

Today is my Friday.  I am taking a few extra days off to enjoy the upcoming 4^th of July holiday weekend. It is a time to: de-stress, relax, eat great food, exercise, drink wonderful wine, and spend time with hubby, friends and family.  I know it has been several weeks since the last Friday Night Bites post but I am happy to announce that the series is back.

This week I have the most divine little bites I have had in a long time.  I was inspired to make these from a “thank you” package that arrived at my office a few weeks ago.  I had assisted a friend’s daughter with her job search.  Her daughter was a recent college grad and having a challenge with finding that first real job to kick start her career.  I gave her some advice and connected her with a few of our recruiters in another branch.  Although she found a job on her own, the advice seemed to resonate and I was pleased she found something.  I think her Mom; my friend was ecstatic and sent me some magnificent baked goods from Rustic Bakery.  It was extremely thoughtful and their three cheese coins were out of this world delicious – I knew I had to duplicate them.  I came pretty close with this version and will be testing out new flavors soon.

I pulled a few of my new favorites from our wine cellar to share with all of you.  Hubby and I are partial to cabernets and they go terrific with these rich little cheddar coins.  My new favorites include:  2012Farm Cabernet, 2012 Hall Ellies Cabernet, 2012 Keating Montecello Cabernet and Meyer Family Cellars 2012 Cabernet.  I have each one hyperlinked, so check out their websites to learn more and perhaps even have a few shipped to your house.  Smile.  Cheers to a long, safe and fun holiday weekend!

Pecan-Cheddar Coins

1 1/3 Cup Flour

¾ Cup Sharp Cheddar Cheese, grated and packed lightly

½ Cup Parmesan Cheese

1 teaspoon Salt

1/8 teaspoon Cayenne

½ Cup Butter, cut into small pieces

1 large Egg Yolk

2 Tablespoons Water

1/3 Cup Pecans, toasted

Yields about 6 dozen 1 inch coins

Use a food processor and add the flour, pecans, cheese, salt and cayenne.  Pulse until combined.  Add the butter pieces and pulse until the dough resembles coarse crumbs.  Mix the water and egg yolk together, then drizzle over the mixture and pulse until the dough forms.  Remove and kneed together if needed.

Spilt dough into two parts and flatten into two disks.  Wrap each disk seperately in plastic and chill for an hour.  Use a large plastic cutting board and open up the disk and leave the plastic wrap on top of the plastic board.  This will prevent the dough from sticking.  Sprinkle the top with a dusting of flour and roll until ¼ inch thick.  Use a one inch in diameter circle cookie cutter to cut out the coins.  Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Place onto a prepared cookie sheet with parchment paper. Place at least ½ inch apart and cook for 15 to 20 minutes.  Repeat process with the remaining dough until all utilized. Let cool and store in an airtight container.