Antipasto Grilled Cheese Food

ANTIPASTO PLATTER

Steps:

• 1. Assemble the meats and cheeses on a large cutting board or flat platter to come to room temperature at least 30 minutes before serving.
• 2. Place cheese knives next to each kind of cheese, small forks for the meats, and a small bowl for anything like olive pits or used toothpicks.
• 3. If time permits, serve with at least one simple homemade item like: Honey Ricotta Pears, Wine-Poached Figs, or Warm Mediterranean Olives.
• 4. Place the bread and crackers in a basket on the side or directly on the board. Arrange the fruits and nuts on the board or in small decorative bowls. Serve with red and white wine.
• 1. Halve and core the pear, then cut into slices, leaving the stem-end intact and not cutting through to separate the slices. Squeeze the lemon juice over the cut side of the pear halves.
• 2. Season the ricotta with 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper, then place in 2 mounds on a plate. Top the ricotta mounds with the sliced pear halves, gently fanning out the slices. Drizzle the pears with honey and sprinkle with the pine nuts.
• Trim and halve the figs, place in a saucepan with the wine, sugar, salt and pepper and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook until the wine is reduced by half and slightly thickened, about 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the thyme sprigs. Serve on top of an assertive cheese, such as blue, Taleggio, or a triple cream, spread over the bread slices.
• Heat the oil in a heavy saucepan over medium heat. Add the shallots and garlic and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the sugar, vinegar, cinnamon stick, orange peel, and olives. Season with salt and pepper.

ANTIPASTO PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Bring a pot of generously salted water to boil and cook the fusilli per package instructions. Drain and set aside.
• Whisk together the oil, vinegar, oregano, honey, 2 tablespoons Parmesan and salt and pepper in a large bowl. Add the warm pasta, then toss to coat and sprinkle with the remaining 2 tablespoons Parmesan. Add the artichokes, red peppers, olives, mozzarella and salami and toss well to combine. Sprinkle with fresh basil.

ANTIPASTI POTATO SALAD

Steps:

• Soak the red onion in a small bowl of ice water, 10 minutes; drain and pat dry.
• Meanwhile, put the potatoes in a large saucepan; cover with cold water and season with 1 teaspoon salt. Bring to a simmer and cook until tender, 10 to 12 minutes. Drain and transfer to a large bowl. Add 1/4 cup olive oil, 2 tablespoons vinegar, the sugar, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper; toss until the potatoes absorb most of the dressing.
• Add the giardiniera, provolone, salami, artichoke hearts, olives and red onion to the bowl with the potatoes; toss. Let cool to room temperature.
• Drizzle the potato salad with the remaining 3 tablespoons olive oil and 1 tablespoon vinegar. Add the basil and season with salt and pepper. Toss again just before serving.

ANTIPASTO SALAD

Steps:

• Combine lettuce, salami, chopped hot pickled vegetables, olives, red peppers and artichoke hearts. Drizzle vinegar and oil over the salad. Toss salad and season with salt and pepper, to your taste.

ANTIPASTI SKEWERS

Steps:

• Toss the mozzarella, olive oil, oregano and salt together in a small bowl.
• Thread six 8-inch skewers as follows: mozzarella, yellow pepper, cherry tomato, green olive, piquillo pepper, Kalamata olive, artichoke heart, salami, basil. Serve on a platter.

ANTIPASTO SALAD WITH PROSCIUTTO WRAPPED BREADSTICKS

Steps:

• Place the spinach and arugula in a large bowl. In a medium bowl or measuring cup, whisk 2 tablespoons of the olive brine with the mustard, then drizzle in the olive oil while whisking constantly to emulsify. Taste and season with salt and pepper (you might not need salt since the olive brine is salty already). Toss the greens with half of the dressing and transfer to a large shallow serving bowl. Top with the olives, mozzarella, Parmesan, artichokes, peppers, tomatoes, pear and salami. Wrap the prosciutto around the breadsticks and place them on top. Add a few drizzles of balsamic glaze (I hone in on the pear and tomatoes), then drizzle on the remaining dressing and sprinkle on the basil. Serve and enjoy!

ANTIPASTO PLATTER

Steps:

• Place the sliced mozzarella on a serving platter, sprinkle the slices with the olive oil and cracked pepper. Artfully arrange the salami, Peppadews, cucumber slices, artichoke hearts, tomatoes, olives and Bruschetta around the platter and decorate with stems of basil leaves.
• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Slice the baguette at an angle 1/2-inch-thick. Brush both sides of the bread with olive oil and sprinkle one side with salt and pepper. Bake for 10 minutes, until lightly toasted.