Monday, December 6, 2010

Hot And Cheesy



After what seemed like a long hiatus, T and J returned to our house for dinner on Friday night. Sometimes life just happens, but on Friday everything seemed to fall into place. John walked in the side door, as T and J arrived through the front. John shook the martinis until his hands froze as I patted out the pizza and our friends perched on the stools at the kitchen counter. Ready for pizza and politics as usual.

I had come across a recipe last month that got me thinking. With the publication of Amanda Hesser's, The Essential New York Times Cook Book,  this recipe for Hot Cheese Olives was all over the press. It was extremely similar to one I had made many times in the early years of my marriage, Olive-Cheese Balls, from my 1969 edition of Betty Crocker's Cookbook. There are a few differences in the recipes, so I thought I would try the one passed on to Ms. Hesser from Southerner, Julia Reed. They are a bit more fussy to make than what I normally serve with drinks, but I had the time and gave it a go.



















































These tasty morsels proved to be perfect with a drink as well as addictive.  If you try this recipe, and I strongly suggest that you do, make the dough in the food processor--fast and easy.  The olives may be wrapped in the dough then parked in the fridge on a baking sheet until you are ready to pop them in the oven. Make sure the olives are very dry before wrapping. And be careful when eating as the olives remain quite hot! I saved half the dough and froze it for use during the holidays. I'll let you know how that works out.

If you love olives as much as I do you are bound to love these Fried Green Olives a staple, I hear, at some Roman bars. Delicious!

9 comments:

  1. These look scrumptious. I could go for a handful right now.

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  2. I recall seeing this recipe via NYTimes, and love how everything comes back around---these retro hors d' are fun and delicious.

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  3. VALERIE and TRACY--I wish I could send them to you right now. Better yet, I wish you were both here for drinks.

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  4. NANCY--Funny, if you stick around long enough, everything old is new again!

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  5. These look like so much fun. One small plate of these little gems beside a martini would be very welcome right about now.

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  6. DENISE--Try them! Sometimes the repetitive act of rolling out dough and wrapping it around small bits of something is like therapy to me.

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  7. Michele these look KILLER!!! I'm with Denise. A martini and a few (if not more) of these are just what the doctor ordered. Just in time for holiday parties.B:)

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  8. BETH--Thanks. Do try them; they are worth the bit of fussiness to prepare!

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