Appetizers With Grapes
Grapes by themselves are a no-muss, no-fuss, pop-in-your-mouth treat. Combine them with other foods for creative appetizers for your next entertaining event. Choose seedless grapes or you'll have to spend time cutting each grape in half and removing the seeds. Grapes combine well with cheese, meats and vegetables. Does this Spark an idea?
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Stuffed
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Since grapes are small, they're difficult, if not impossible, to stuff the conventional way of hollowing out and then stuffing the cavity with bread crumbs or cheese. You can either stuff them by folding a stuffing around them or cutting the grape in half, putting the stuffing in the middle and then putting the halves back together. A cheese mixture works well for either of these methods. Combine blue cheese, cream cheese and chopped walnuts. Place a grape in the middle of a teaspoon of the mixture and press around the grape. For the sliced method, cut a piece of goat cheese so it's roughly 1/4 inch thick and the same width as the grape. Put the cheese in the middle of two halves and press together. Roll in crushed pistachio nuts then spear with a toothpick for easy serving.
Kabobs
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Salty and sweet is a tempting taste combination. Let the grapes be the sweetness in kabobs made with chunks of ham. Spear cubes of cooked chicken with the grapes and serve with a teriyaki dipping sauce. Grill the kabobs of grapes, shrimp and pearl onions. Serve with a spicy dipping sauce. Grapes go well with pork, but since pork takes longer to cook through than the grapes, grill or roast the pork first then assemble the kabobs and serve with a tangy barbecue sauce.
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Salad
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Individual servings of salad wrapped in a lettuce package are impressive appetizers that take little time to make. Use purchased chicken salad. Add grape halves. Spoon a teaspoon of the salad mixture in the center of a soft lettuce leaf such as butter or oak leaf. Wrap the leaf around the salad mixture and fold as you would a burrito. Another alternative is to serve salads in small 4 oz. clear plastic glasses or shot glasses if you have them.
Caramelized
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Grapes become intensely flavorful when roasted. Wash grape clusters, dry, then roast on a cookie sheet at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes. Arrange around a round of brie. Place several clusters on top of the cheese as well. Serve with bread slices. Combine grapes with chopped onions and slowly saute until both are caramelized. Spread cream cheese on crackers and top with a dollop of the grape and onion mixture.
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References
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