Duh! Appetizers are a perfect lunch!

[politicat]

Call me slow, I guess. I'd never made the connection that a small, snack-like food could be paired with a salad or a cup of soup and called lunch. For years, lunch has been the boring meal I make for myself either at home or to take, and it's never very interesting - left-overs or a not fancy sandwich.

But appetizers, those things in the front of the cookbook I never really looked at deeply because we don't do a lot of entertaining... They seemed like a lot of work for two people, especially when the recipe makes a gazillion.

But... all the goat cheese recipes are in the appetizer section. and I got great chevre at Costco the other day - 12 ounces for 4 bucks!!! That never happens!

So, without further ado:

Baked Chevre
4 ounces chevre
squirt EVOO
basil leaves
crumbled bacon
touch of crushed garlic
baugette

oil a small ramekin with the EVOO. Mix all other ingredients except the baugette in the ramekin, layered or muddled as you see fit. Bake 20 minutes at 400 in a toaster oven, or 15 minutes at 350 in a big one. Slather on crusty bread and serve with a spinach salad.

[NMDemDist2]

1. YUM! I love to have soup and appetizers when we go out but I

rarely make them at home, thanks for the reminder!

one of my favs that would work well for lunch

Asparagras wrapped in Lox


get some thin sliced lox (but not TOO thin)

spread with a light layer of cream cheese, then wrap around lightly poached and chilled asparagras spear

quick, easy, light and tasty

[merci_me]

2. There are lots of appetizers that work well

when you make them in a baking pan. For instance, if there is a crust, just line the baking pan and spread the filling over and cut it like a tart, rather than making 48 little thingies.

Also, some fillings work great spread on a toasted English muffin, rather than making little triangles.

[Stinky The Clown]

3. Here's a great little book ... and cheap, too

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0316310131.01._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-dp-500-arrow,TopRight,45,-64_AA240_SH20_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0316310131/104-2393916-7263952?v=glance

The author's the wife of a friend of mine. I'm guessing this book is about 15 years old, now, but should still be very good. The recipes are not strictly appetizers, but rather, just what the title says ... 'little meals'.

[politicat]

4. Book ordered....

Had to buy used, it is out of print.

If what the one reviewer says is true, I will paste in some of the snootier and snobbier comments when I get it. If nothing else, the amusement factor might be fun.

[NMDemDist2]

5. that review was hilarious! you'll have to share some of the recipes

with us poor folk hehehe

[Stinky The Clown]

6. I hadn't read the reviews, but the author certanly has always

traveled in the upper range of the New York culinary scene. An 'in' member of the 'in' crowd.

[mandyky]

7. I love appetizer lunches

things like Hot wings and salad with Italian bread, grilled cheese and tomato soup, oven baked breaded veggies like zucchini, mushrooms, okra with various dipping sauces.
Plain cheese quesadillas also make a great lunch item.

[eleny]

8. I'm glad you brought this up

For a while now I've been hankering for finger foods. It started with one of the Rachel Ray shows where she went to a tapas restaurant. I haven't made the tapas yet but it's on my list of things to explore.

Meantime, I look for little things at the store like small stuffed peppers and such. I like Chinese dumplings, too. Always did like a table full of little plates of different things. I think it's time to have dinner at the Chinese buffet real soon. They always have several dumpling dishes there.

Thanks for your chevre recipe. It sounds scrumptious.