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Monday, May 20, 2013

LADYBUG CANAPES

I frequently remark that I can make a meal for myself just with appetizers. Sometimes when I go to restaurants I just order an "appetizer sampler" instead of a meal. I love rumaki, stuffed mushrooms, potato skins, fried zucchini, mozzarella sticks; the list goes on and on!

A particular favorite appetizer in my family is ham rollups. At one of our Christmas parties, one of my nephews approached me and breathed in an exaggerated manner and said, "I ate 54 ham rollups." That year Les and I had made more than 1,000 ham rollups and all were eaten! I have made them with numerous kinds of vegetables, such as green onions, celery, and pickles, but my favorite is made with asparagus, but everyone else favors green onions (see recipe below).

In the movie Mermaids, Cher plays a single mother rearing two daughters. In the movie, Cher's character does not cook, but she prepares artistic appetizers for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, much to the chagrin of her daughter (played by Winona Ryder), who wants to have a "normal" life. (see clip below)

In the movie Another Stakeout, the character portrayed by Rosie O'Donnell made appetizers resembling penguins, by using hard-cooked eggs and black olives. She also created armadillo-shaped meatloaf!

My friend Gretchen and I adore ladybugs and we have a nifty little collection of ladybugs. Today I was checking out gluten-free recipes on the internet because a friend who is coming to dinner on Friday is on a gluten-free diet. I was excited when I found the recipe for "LADYBUG CANAPES"!

When I showed the site to Les, he said, "OMG, is Winona Ryder coming for dinner? Lock up the silver!"


HAM ROLLUPS

16 slices boiled ham (rectangular shape)
16 green onions (the thinner the better)
8 ounces cream cheese, cut into 16 equal pieces, and softened
Place boiled ham on paper towels and blot dry. Spread cream cheese onto slice of boiled ham.
Place green onion with white part at top and trim bottom to fit the slice of ham.
Roll TIGHTLY and then cut into slices. Arrange attractively on tray.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

I love Les' ham rollups! ML