Baked Pesto And Cheese Appetizer Food

PESTO PINWHEELS

Steps:

• Unfold the first sheet of puff pastry on a work surface (if the pastry is sticky, lightly dust the work surface first). Roll it into a 10x12-inch rectangle. Spread with 1/4 cup of pesto leaving a 1/2-inch border on all sides. Lay 5 prosciutto slices on top, overlapping as needed. Sprinkle with 3/4 cup Mozzarella and 2 tablespoons Parmesan.
• Starting at the long (12-inch) edge, roll the puff pastry into a log. Press it lightly as you go so that the filling rolls inside the pastry. Trim the ends so that they are even, then tightly wrap the log with the plastic wrap. Place in the refrigerator for at least 20 minutes or up to 1 day. Repeat with the second sheet of puff pastry, and remaining pesto (if using 2 types of pesto, use the second variety here), prosciutto, and cheeses. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
• Once the logs have chilled, using a sharp, serrated knife, carefully cut each log into 1/2-inch-wide slices. (If each log is 12 inches, you will get 24 rolls from each roll-if you are worried about the recipe yield, be sure to measure). Arrange the rolls on the baking sheet spiral-side up, spacing each 1 inch apart. Bake until the puff pastry is flaky and golden brown and the cheese is hot and bubbly, about 18 minutes. Immediately sprinkle with chopped basil as desired. Let cool slightly. Serve warm or at room temperature.

PESTO CREAM CHEESE BAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
• Combine the first 5 ingredients down to the olive oil in a food processor or mini chopper and blend together to make the pesto.
• Put the cream cheese block on a baking tray. You can put parchment paper under the cream cheese to make the transition to the serving tray later a little easier.
• Spread a thick layer of the pesto on top of the cream cheese block.
• Bake for 20 - 25 minutes or until it is a little brown and bubbly on top. Serve with whole grain crackers or toast points.

MOZZARELLA AND PESTO TWISTS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment.
• Unroll the crescent dough sheet onto a lightly floured work surface and gently stretch into a 14-by-8-inch rectangle. Using a pizza cutter or sharp knife, cut the dough in half into two 7-by-8-inch rectangles. Using a small offset spatula or the back of a spoon, spread 2 tablespoons of the pesto on the top half of each rectangle, then sprinkle 1/2 cup of the mozzarella evenly over each half. Fold the bottom half of the dough upwards to cover the mozzarella and pesto and gently press the edges to seal.
• Cut each rectangle into 8 strips, each about 1/2 inch wide. Carefully twist each strip several times, making sure to keep the filling intact, then place on the prepared baking sheet and pinch the ends to seal. Refrigerate the twists for 30 minutes. Bake until puffed and golden brown, 13 to 15 minutes. Serve warm.

PESTO TORTA

Steps:

• 1. Blend butter and cream cheese with mixer until creamy.
• 2. Line a small mold with plastic wrap.
• 3. Beginning and ending with cream cheese mixture, alternate layers of cream cheese mixture with pesto sauce, tapping mold to release air bubbles between layers.
• 4. Refrigerate between layers for 5-10 minutes; repeating until mold is full.
• 5. Refrigerate 4-6 hours or overnight until mold is set.
• 6. Invert on plate, removing plastic wrap.
• 7. Garnish with sun dried tomato pieces and shaved Parmesan cheese.
• 8. Serve with crackers or crostinis. Homemade crostinis can be kept in freezer until ready to use.
• 9. Will keep for up to two weeks.

BAKED CREAM CHEESE-PESTO APPETIZER

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400°F.
• Cut cream cheese horizontally in half. Place 1 piece in center of pastry sheet; spread with pesto. Cover with remaining cream cheese.
• Bring sides of pastry over cream cheese, completely enclosing cream cheese; press edges together to seal. Place, seam side down, on baking sheet sprayed with cooking spray.
• Bake 20 min. or until golden brown.

EASY-BAKE CHEESE & PESTO

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F.
• Unroll crescent dough on baking sheet sprayed with cooking spray; press into 12x4-inch rectangle, pressing perforations and seams in dough together to seal.
• Cut cream cheese horizontally in half to form 2 rectangles Place 1 cream cheese piece on half the dough; top with peppers and 1 Tbsp. pesto sauce. Cover with remaining cream cheese piece; spread top with remaining pesto sauce.
• Brush dough with egg; fold in half to completely enclose filling. Press edges of dough together to seal. Brush top with any remaining egg.
• Bake 15 to 18 min. or until lightly browned. Cool 10 min.

CHEESY PESTO ROLL WREATH (CHRISTMAS WREATH APPETIZER)

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Draw a 5-inch circle on the center of the parchment paper.
• Open both cans of dough and separate crescents into 16 triangles. Arrange the triangles on the prepared baking sheet the flat edges lined up and overlapping along the 5-inch circle and the points facing outward; it will resemble a sunburst.
• Combine cream cheese, mozzarella cheese, and 6 tablespoons pesto in a bowl. Mix until well combined, then spread around the center of the ring of crescent dough.
• Wrap each dough triangle up over filling and tucking it under the bottom to secure. Repeat around the entire ring. Brush remaining 2 tablespoons pesto on top.
• Bake in the preheated oven until the dough is golden brown and cooked, 18 to 20 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool for 5 minutes.
• Slice into individually portioned rings, but keep all the rings in place in the shape of a wreath. Garnish with rosemary sprigs and cherry tomatoes.

BAKED PESTO & SUN-DRIED TOMATO APPETIZER

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F.
• Unroll crescent roll dough (I use Pillsbury); separate into 4 rectangles.
• Place 2 of the rectangles side by side, on a nonstick baking dish. Firmly press seams and perforations together to seal. Reserve remaining dough for decorative garnish.
• Cut the block of cream cheese horizontally. Place one half on the pastry. Spread with 2 tsp basil pesto and 2 tsp of finely chopped and drained oil packed sun dried tomatoes. Place the other half of the cream cheese on top to form a sandwich.
• Bring up sides of dough to encase the cream cheese completely and decorate with remainder of dough.
• Bake for 20 minutes. Enjoy!

BAKED PESTO AND SUN-DRIED TOMATO APPETIZER

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F. Unroll crescent dough; separate into four rectangles. Place two of the rectangles, side-by-side, on nonstick baking sheet. Firmly press seams and perforations together to seal. Reserve remaining dough for decorative garnish.
• Cut block of cream cheese horizontally in half. Spread pesto onto bottom half of cream cheese; cover with tomatoes. Top with remaining cream cheese to form sandwich. Place in center of dough. Bring up ends of dough around all sides of cream cheese to enclose completely; pinch ends of dough together to seal. Place, seam-side down, on baking sheet. Cut remaining crescent dough into small fun shapes, such as leaves or fruit. Arrange on top of dough.
• Bake 20 min. Serve warm with assorted crackers and fresh vegetables.