Appetizers

Appetizer Ideas

Cheese & Pesto Stuffed Mushroom Caps

These are really simple and turn out delicious.

Ingredients
1.5 lbs white button or cremini mushrooms
200 g cheese (a goat cheese or strong cheese works or if you can find a local cream cheese...)
1/4 cup pesto*

Directions
Clean mushrooms and carefully remove stems. Place on a baking tray and stuff each with about a 1/4 teaspoon of cheese. On top of each a dab of pesto. Bake for about 10 minutes at 300 degrees F or until cheese is melty and mushrooms cooked. Apparently these can also be microwaved with good results.

*100-Mile Pesto
by the 100-Mile Community Kitchen

4 cups washed basil leaves
1/2 cup hazelnut oil
4 cloves garlic
1/2 cup grated hard cheese (Moonstruck cheeses from Salt Spring Island has a good one)
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup hazelnuts

Blend basil and hazelnut oil in food processor. Add the rest of ingredients and blend again.

Local Cheese and Apple Platter
Moonstruck, Salt Spring Island Cheese Company and Little Qualicum Cheeses all make wonderful cheeses. Serve with sliced apples.

Other appetizer ideas? Please add them on!