Hors d’oeuvres CAN be quick and simple!
Don’t deny it. Things get busy over the holidays, people tire of the preparations and just want to gather and relax. You may have ended up with an impromptu party or two, so here’s how to make the most of it and be prepared. You’ll look like you had it planned all along. 🙂 Nosh on these tidbits with a glass of Frey Wine.
MENU – Hors d’oeuvres CAN be quick and simple!
Sun-dried tomato palmiers
Parmesan sticks
Herbed goat cheese
Assorted crackers
seedless grapes
Camembert fondue
Ingredients
1 package frozen puff pastry sheets (11 oz)
1 6.5 oz jar of oil-packed sun dried tomatoes
4 oz grated parmesan cheese
8 oz of goat cheese
assorted fresh herbs, including basil, thyme, oregano, rosemary
seedless grapes
8 0z (or more) wheel of Camembert cheese
best quality assortment of crackers
Method
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F
Palmiers 
Thaw the puff pastry or quick-thaw according to package directions. Drain but reserve the oil from your sun-dried tomatoes. Buzz the tomatoes in a food processor until smooth. Gently roll out one 10″x15″ pastry sheet without crushing the edges (or it won’t rise). Place it on a cutting board. Paint the dough lightly with the oil from the tomatoes with a pastry brush. Paint the sun-dried tomato mixture on the dough. Roll the long side of the pastry up to the center and stop. Roll the other long side up to the center. With a very sharp knife, slice into 1/4″ thick slices and place each slice on a baking sheet sprayed with cooking spray. Bake until golden 10-12 minutes. These hold up well at room temperature for a short period of time.
Bread sticks
Roll out another sheet of the pastry dough, as above. Sprinkle it with parmesan and using a ravioli cutter or a knife, cut into 1/4″ strips. Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray and twist each end in opposite directions creating a spiral bread stick. Place each stick on the cookie sheet an inch apart and bake at the same temp as above for 10-12 minutes until golden brown. These also hold well.
Herbed goat cheese 
Chop assorted herbs finely. Roll cold goat cheese into twelve balls. Roll in the fresh herbs and serve.
Camembert fondue
Take the plastic wrap off the cheese and place back in the wooden round container. Place it on a baking sheet and bake until very soft and melted. Carefully cut off the top and the melted cheese can be spread on crackers. Re-heat if necessary.
Serve all of the above with grapes and assorted crackers.
