Italian Tapas
I had dinner tonight with another group of friends I hadn’t met yet; a couple who had bid on me (and won) at a silent auction to raise money for the Foundation Fighting Blindness and their pals. I went to their house and cooked (but really spent most of my time agonizing over her collection of CP silver) – it was their 44th anniversary, and we decided on Italian tapas. Prosciutto wrapped prawns with pesto for dipping, arancini, grilled portobello mushroom pizzas, panini made with slow-roasted tomato and garlic pesto and melty cheese, grilled zucchini, eggplant, asparagus and red peppers, and maple-rosemary pork loin satay. For dessert, mascarpone panna cotta topped with strawberry-mango salsa, and chocolate panini. Phew, sounds like a lot when I type it all out.
The grilled portobello pizzas went over particularly well – it’s something I made last year and then promptly forgot about until a week or so ago when I was challenged to come up with some interesting vegetarian eats for the barbecue. Portobello mushrooms are always a good bet, but if you brush them with a little oil (I crush a clove of garlic into the oil first) and grill them until they lose some of their moisture and turn a bit leathery, they are great as a burger, set atop a burger, or filled on the cupped side with any number of pizza-esque fillings and topped with cheese. The easiest way to do this, I’ve found, is to spoon on some chunky jarred bruschetta – Classico Extra Garlic is my favourite, and they don’t even give me free jars to say that. Fresh bruschetta (made with fresh tomatoes) tends to be a little too watery – the jarred kind is kind of cooked down, saucier, and more intense. Top with grated cheese and then close the lid of the barbecue to create an oven environment and melt the cheese. I made some for lunch last week and Mike declared a) his love for them, and b) his intention to load an entire one, bruschetta, cheese and all, on top of a burger next time. Can’t wait to see him try to eat it.
Sorry to be brief, but I seem to be coming down with something, and have 4 banana loaves to bake for an event tomorrow morning. I also need to do a little fixing upping around here, with a new header and a bit of index tweaking, so I’m going to get on that. I have dug through my tickle trunk though, and for Free Stuff Friday came up with… drumroll please… a brand spanking new, hot off the presses, new and improved, extreme-makeovered copy of Grazing! Yes, it’s here. It’s about time. (Congrats to Donna and Ellen, who are on the receiving end of a pound of Pike Place coffee and a $25 Starbucks card – thanks Starbucks! See you in the morning!)
So, in keeping with the theme, for one of the very first copies (I don’t think they have trickled into stores yet, but are on their way) – what do you like to graze on? (It’s not just for cows anymore!)
One Year Ago: Pesto Salmon and Israeli Couscous with Tomatoes, Garlic and Feta
May 22 2009 08:38 pm | appetizers and on the grill and veg
Donna on 22 May 2009 at 8:47 pm #
I like to graze on anything chocolate, bread -like, or crispy,
but I am learning to like to graze on fruit and veges.
Slowly.
Am I the lucky coffee recipient ? Ya Hoo !
Laurel on 22 May 2009 at 9:03 pm #
I love to graze on any kind of cheese with Rainforest Crisps. Or if it’s the weekend, left over pancakes.
Shelley on 22 May 2009 at 9:04 pm #
I like to graze on crackers and hummus, or peanuts or almonds. Fast and easy.
chris on 22 May 2009 at 9:09 pm #
I could graze on grapes all day long, never leave me alone with a bag if you want it back.
Erica B. on 22 May 2009 at 9:23 pm #
Love the cover! Congrats
I “graze” on a lot of different things… Lesser Evil Kettle Corn is one I-could-eat-the-whole-thing fave, other healthier faves: Lund’s carrots, and sugar snap peas (Mann’s please, I’ve found others are too striiiingy ick).
margaret on 22 May 2009 at 10:00 pm #
Grazing favourites: cherries, olives, home made snack mix, any kind of super fresh nuts or dried fruit and nut mix, guacamole, salsa, tapenade, bruschetta, antipasto, goat cheese, blue cheese, all sorts of cheese, and crackers, chips, grilled prawns…the list go on indefinitely.
Sophie on 23 May 2009 at 12:57 am #
Wow, I didn’t know that you wrote cookbooks? Is this your job? Or a hobby?
Those appetizers souds so yummie! That book too!
Kathryn on 23 May 2009 at 3:30 am #
I like to graze on grape tomatoes …. that’s the healthy one. I also like all those savoury and salty snacks … any of ‘em.
Tamara on 23 May 2009 at 3:45 am #
Is it wrong to “graze” on wine? Red, wonderful glorious wine? I can’t cook, so… But I do like japanese fish crackers!
Monique on 23 May 2009 at 5:17 am #
Anything salty!The book looks delish.Love nibbles.You wrote it? How exciting!! I would be over the moon!!
Kelly (@sunnydnella) on 23 May 2009 at 5:43 am #
i like grazing on red wine too
but my favourite thing right now is my trail mix with a bit of lovely choccy chips thrown in! YUM
congrats on the book makeover.
K
Robin on 23 May 2009 at 6:10 am #
Yogurt with homemade granola if I have it otherwise with berries and walnuts
Ada on 23 May 2009 at 6:41 am #
Least virtuous: chocolate chips and dried cranberries
Somewhat better: Rainforest crisps and cream cheese
Most virtuous: carrots, when they are fresh and sweet
Diane on 23 May 2009 at 7:13 am #
I love to graze on hummus and crackers. Or hummus and veggies.
Marcia on 23 May 2009 at 7:19 am #
A couple of times a months I make the family waffles for breakfast. On the rare occasion there are actually leftovers, they go into the freezer for future (the very near future) snacking.
My favorite is to throw a wedge into the toaster for a couple of minutes, then liberally douse with liquid gold: Roger’s Golden Syrup – nothing else even comes close!
Cheryl on 23 May 2009 at 7:43 am #
My favourite grazing nibble is dried cranberries and raw almonds….highly caloric but good fibre eh? Helps with the cholesterol counts too!
The salties are another serious weakness, and in a pinch I will reach for rye crisps and cave-aged gruyere cheesse. It has to be something quick to stave off the growlies.
So glad to hear that ‘Grazing’ will finally be available again in the bookstores, I need to give it to at least half a dozen friends! Good for you Julie!
Lindsay on 23 May 2009 at 7:44 am #
What don’t I like to graze on? Chocolate chips, random snacks… I think if I had to be a hit man, I’d choose Random Snack as my code name. Wow, that was kind of weird – I don’t want to be a hit man, I just think the name would be funny.
Ok, favorite grazing food – banana bread!
Simone on 23 May 2009 at 7:46 am #
Lately I’ve been grazing on raisins. Boring!
ladyloo on 23 May 2009 at 8:16 am #
Growing up my mom always made sure to have plenty of fresh fruit around, and that was what we grazed on. It’s something I’m trying to do in my house as well, with varying levels of success. But bananas, grapes, and cherries all get eaten very quickly.
rea on 23 May 2009 at 8:21 am #
hummus and pita chips made by my daughter. roasted almonds are pretty delicioso, too.
Christine on 23 May 2009 at 8:26 am #
I can’t wait for the new Grazing to hit stores! A friend of mine showed me hers just as there were no more available and I have been waiting to get my hands on my own copy. I could “graze” for every meal and would happily make 3 or 4 appetizers for dinner. My current favs are guacamole, and roasted beet hummous … oh and the cilantro jalapeno hummous from the Calgary Farmers Market – but does it count as grazing if you could eat the whole container in one sitting?
Natalie (Michigan) on 23 May 2009 at 8:33 am #
Yipee – Congrats…. bread, bread and more bread… any kind…. sweet, quick breads…. you name it. Chocolate comes in a close second but somehow I justified bread. Baby carrots when feeling guilty or my shorts don’t fit….
Rosalie on 23 May 2009 at 9:30 am #
Round things: olives, radishes and tomatoes. The one snack that I absolutely cannot resist, if it’s sitting in the cupboard, is a bag of chips. O.K., maybe I can bypass the ketchup variety.
Anne on 23 May 2009 at 10:16 am #
I graze on chips and salsa…then hit the crackers and when I’m trying to keep going at work its all about the salt and vinegar chips! I know not too healthy but it keeps me going (sort of)
Elaine on 23 May 2009 at 10:29 am #
The cookbook looks gorgeous; well done! The hubs and I have tried to cut down on our grazing habits, but I still find it difficult to resist masala chickpeas, stovetop popcorn w/ olive oil, and hard prezels.
The salt/crunch factor is important.
Holly on 23 May 2009 at 10:31 am #
Hey Julie, when and where can we buy this awesome cookbook of your??
Jenn on 23 May 2009 at 11:40 am #
Cheese, hummus, and chocolate!
Melanie on 23 May 2009 at 12:12 pm #
my favorite thing to graze on??? Depends on the day and even then, sometimes the time of day! Tend to head for salty but have no problem with sweet… oh yeah, then there’s chocolate!
Congratulations on the revision being done!! I use my Grazing (which is actually my husband’s) all the time… Can’t wait to see the new one (and that one will be just mine – all mine!)
Sue (London, ON) on 23 May 2009 at 1:48 pm #
The new cover looks great.
My husband & I just grazed on Saltines with smoked oysters, cheddar cheese and a bowl full of large green olives. YUM!
steph on 23 May 2009 at 2:10 pm #
roasted almonds with salted peanuts and raisins and dried cranberries and chocolate chips – great grazing!
glenda on 23 May 2009 at 3:37 pm #
My grazing fixes must involve some crunch and some salt – /I know that covers a lot of options. Maybe I like to graze a little too much?
sue.d on 23 May 2009 at 3:44 pm #
Great news! I too know so many people who need a copy of Grazing. It’s my most used cookbook ever.
I constantly graze on unadorned fruit and veggies, whatever’s in season in the summer/fall, and whatever seems like it almost could be in the winter and early spring.
…and then once I’ve done that I graze on homemade caramel sauce, shortbread cookies, tzatiki with anything, kettle chips, cheeses…breakfast cereals. And chocolate in between of course.
Linda on 23 May 2009 at 3:46 pm #
Grazing on fresh vine tomatoes and basil with sea salt and freshly ground pepper
Homemade samosas with mint/coriander chutney
Carolyn on 23 May 2009 at 3:57 pm #
I love to graze on good chocolate, dry cereal and rainforest crisps smeared with Romesco dip. Lately, though, in my continuing effort to shed pounds, grazing has consisted of sugar-free mints.
I can’t wait (or weight) to get my hands on another copy of Grazing! Thanks for the heads-up on it’s release, and CONGRATULATIONS, Julie!
p.s. am I still on your list for sour dough starter?
Mairi on 23 May 2009 at 4:01 pm #
Snackfest is our family version of grazing. Crackers & cheese, fruit and whatever baking happens to be around. I thought that I was very stealth with my late night grazing until my 6 year old son wrote about it in his Mother’s Day booklet “My Mum likes to stay up late & eat chips.” That would be Kettle Potato Chips with Sea Salt & Vinegar.
piccola on 23 May 2009 at 4:02 pm #
I have a few go-to grazing items: grapes, frozen fruit (yep, the storebought bags of frozen raspberries or mango chunks), homemade trailmix (with Nature’s Path Heritage O’s, Quaker Corn Bran, raisins, dates, peanuts and walnuts), edamame.
Dana mccauley on 23 May 2009 at 6:11 pm #
Hope you feel better – sounds like a great evening!
Bec on 23 May 2009 at 6:14 pm #
Depends on kind of graze. If a quick grab from fridge, probably cheese, or cheese with bread or crackers of any kind. Or maybe a slice of deli-sliced turkey. If in middle of night for growling tummy preventing sleep, a few spoons of cottage cheese or some yogurt. If snacking while TV watching or browsing Dinner with Julie, might be full blown chips and dip. Weakness alert. Also like apples, oranges and naners when I have some which are flavorful. Lately though, I have been grabbing a handful of frozen blueberries from freezer (LOVE IT) and also have been devouring ruby grapefruit. I also graze often on raw almonds. Okay, I give up. I can’t pick a favorite.
Margaret L on 23 May 2009 at 6:26 pm #
Grazing? Salsa and rice crackers, Asiago/Artichoke dip and crackers, yogurt, dried mango… but if there’s fresh butter and buns from Cobs, then that’s no. one for me!
Cory Lievers on 23 May 2009 at 6:47 pm #
Depending on the mood:
Nuts (cashews, macadamia, almonds)
Chocoloate
Chocolate covered nuts
Ice Cream
Chips
Apples too.
Hmm, I should do some chocolate dipped Apple. mmm…
thepinkpeppercorn on 23 May 2009 at 7:07 pm #
Ooooh! Looking forward to the book!!! It sounds like you prepared an absolutely exquisite meal – Italian tapas – yum!
I like to graze on a baguette with just about anything; nutella in the morning, and as the day goes on anything I can slather on the bread – particularly if it is a little salty or contains garlic (or both!). I also like to eat olives and cherry tomatoes with it, and then add a Venetian spritz, and I could carry on like that ALL day!
K-Line on 23 May 2009 at 7:20 pm #
THat dinner sounds awesome.
Erica B. on 23 May 2009 at 9:04 pm #
My favourite thing to graze on changes a lot… tonight we had T’s 39th (1st time around heh) and served up bacon wrapped cheese stuffed jalapenos, inspiration courtesy of Pioneer Woman(and the abundance of fresh jalapenos at T&T grocery): http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2007/07/bacon-wrapped_j/ Oh My!! I made them wrapped with bacon as she does and then a slimmer version dusted with crushed rice crackers.
eroica on 24 May 2009 at 6:21 am #
ciabbata with olivado,mmmm.
Susannah on 24 May 2009 at 7:25 am #
Lately my fave thing to graze on is anything that you have recently made! I know I sound like a stalker! Pretzel buns, pink popcorn, sloppy joes…you name it if I’ve read it here a few days later we are eating it….and it ia ALL GOOD!
Vivian on 24 May 2009 at 8:36 am #
Just thinking of grazing makes me want to whiz up some black olive tapenade to put on cream cheese on a rice cracker. My other fave is a generous daub of Cambazola also on a plain rice cracker. I look forward to your new, up-dated version of “Grazing”, congratulations!
Nancy on 24 May 2009 at 8:44 am #
So excited about the new book!! I have the old Grazing on hold at the library AGAIN to pick up. Grazing for me? If I’m not on WW (going strong, down 21.2 lbs!!!) it’s cheese cheese cheese, the runnier and stinkier the better, preferably with your rosemary crisps! mmm. But as I am working on my weight for summer, cherry tomatoes with salt are so yum, or roasted chickpeas with garlic for a guilt free munch!
Shobha on 24 May 2009 at 9:16 am #
Edamame is my favorite grazing food. The kids love it, it’s salty and good for you!
Are the recipes different than your old one?
Shobha
Nicki on 24 May 2009 at 10:10 am #
I like to graze on baked goods. My favourite are scones! Yummm!
Cheryl on 24 May 2009 at 10:52 am #
I eat all day long, unfortunately. If I’m not snitching chocolate chips I do like an apple with with aged cheddar.
charm on 24 May 2009 at 4:10 pm #
My grazing favourite = hummus. You can’t really go wrong no matter what you add to it. And even better with homemade rosemary pecan crisps.
Haruko on 24 May 2009 at 5:26 pm #
Summer is picnic season in our household, so I try to have picnic-fare which I believe is very grazing-esque. I try to have pitas or mini pitas or good bread to dip up hummus or tzasiki (sp?) or other delicious dip.
Pat on 24 May 2009 at 5:29 pm #
Like Nancy, I am on WW. (137 down, and going for a total of 200 pound weight loss). I have found a new frozen yogurt that I enjoy. It’s made by Chapman’s and is called Yogurt Plus. There are 4 different kinds and are all delicious. My favourite is the dark chocolate. All of the flavours have 2 probiotics and 5,6 or 7 grams of fibre!!!! (depending on which flavour you choose) The point count is 2 for 1/2 cups.
Fiona on 24 May 2009 at 5:59 pm #
We’re big grazers here. I love toasted almonds or grapes or sometimes wheat crackers with sharp cheddar. My other half grazes at work, because he never gets a real lunch break, so he snacks on fruit or granola bars or, also crackers. I’m pretty sure the crackers really need to be banished from our household, along with that ten pounds I can’t seem to lose.
Jen on 24 May 2009 at 6:14 pm #
I like to graze on warm raspberries – right from the bush. Heaven!
robyn on 24 May 2009 at 6:19 pm #
Wow Pat! Congrats on your weight loss!
Buddiegirl on 24 May 2009 at 6:23 pm #
I like chips and dip, crackers and any type of cheese, popcorn with real butter, pita and hummous and fruit.
Lately though, because I too am on WW, my grazing is on apples or 98% fat free popcorn.
Kirsten on 24 May 2009 at 6:55 pm #
Unfortunately, I have to agree with Cheryl – especially with young kids who want/need the odd snack, I have a tendency to graze all day long. I try to go for things like apples, bananas, almonds, etc. but it doesn’t always happen!
Dianne on 25 May 2009 at 3:04 am #
Anything salty and crunchy! Cherry tomatoes, a bit of cheese, and some crackers is also nice to graze on.
Jen T on 25 May 2009 at 5:41 am #
chips and salsa are always a favorite to snack on. We typically have popcorn on Sundays to eat throughout the evening.
Barb on 25 May 2009 at 6:17 am #
I like to keep an open mind when it comes to grazing and never limit myself to only one favorite. I happen to have the library copy of the old Grazing at home right now (I have been impatiently waiting for your new one to come out:-D) and a friend just came back from Florida with a bag of fresh Georgia pecans! for me so I turned some of them into Maple Cinnamon Pecans and some more into Sweet and Spicey Pecans from the book. Oooooo soooo good. To be quite honest the nuts didn’t need to be inproved upon at all. So fresh and tender.
erin on 25 May 2009 at 6:43 am #
I also graze all day long, unfortunately…. and will graze on anything, as long as it is in this order: sweet, salty, sweet, salty.
Diana on 25 May 2009 at 8:32 am #
I am somewhat addicted to baked lays potato chips and ‘helluva onion dip’. It is a bit foolish though, to be eating the baked chips with that dip! Sometimes I mix it 1/2 and 1/2 with no fat sour cream.
Nicelydunn on 25 May 2009 at 10:24 am #
Homemade Raincoast crisps (thank you for the recipe) and homesmoked chinook salmon with creamcheese if there is some in the fridge….heaven.
The new book cover looks great. Even if I don’t win one they are arriving at our local Coles books “at the end of the month” the clerk told me….yay Great job JVR.
Amanda on 25 May 2009 at 1:29 pm #
I like to graze on cheese crackers, crunchy and salty…yum!
Kate on 25 May 2009 at 4:53 pm #
Guacamole, hummus and salsa. All go great with corn chips and or crackers/pita…. unfortunately. I am trying to cut back on carbs and so far I’ve been not faring well. Above all grazing habits, NUTS are my true passion.
Vicki on 26 May 2009 at 10:25 am #
I like grazing on berries, or dry cereal with plain yogurt!
Emma on 26 May 2009 at 12:54 pm #
I’m very excited for your new book!
I usually graze when I do homework.
I graze on pretty boring things like peanut butter on ricecakes, bread, fruit, and my baking!
Brittany on 26 May 2009 at 2:24 pm #
I love to graze! I find that grazing keeps me from overeating actually! Lately, I’ve been grazing on anything that resembles bruschetta– my mom’s bruschetta, crab bruschetta, asparagus bruschetta.. do you know how many different kinds of bruschetta is out there? Plus, I love toasting the baguette rounds with olive oil in the oven. YUM!
hmac on 01 Jun 2009 at 3:20 pm #
I’ll graze on just about anything, particularly during the witching hour between getting home from work and getting supper on the table! I’ve been waiting impatiently for your book, after my sister told me about the earlier edition. I’m happy to say I picked one up yesterday, and was flipping through it last night thinking “got to try that, and that, and that…” I suspect it will be as well used as “One Smart Cookie” is!