Good Morning and Happy Holiday Entertaining Season! Honestly I’m not even sure that is a thing to celebrate because unless you have a knack for entertaining you dread all the details like most of us. Don’t get me wrong I love hosting parties and events but as soon as the day comes to put all of my outlandish ideas in motion I start to stress. Like big stress not little stress, if it could be quantified.

This weekend I held a low-key (aka just a couple of friends) Christmas Ornament Decorating Party at my apartment. Fun fact I never had a Christmas Tree growing up. Therefore I wanted to celebrate having my first one by putting ornaments decorated by the friends I’ve made in Seattle on it. I pulled out the craft supplies (I like crafting so I had way more than I thought) chilled the Champagne (what’s a party without Champagne) and figured I needed to have a couple of snacks.

I had the drinks already figured out and I love to cook so when it came to figuring out Appetizers I had too little time and too many ideas. I chose to do the thing that you never should do, I went to the market (Trader Joe’s) for inspiration. I grabbed the first couple of things I saw which happened to be Strawberries and Cherry Tomatoes and voila lightbulb!

I decided to make Strawberry Goat Cheese Bites and Mini Caprese Skewers. Why? Because, these apps don’t require a bunch of ingredients, there is little to no cooking, and you can use Basil for both. All it takes is a little prep and cute plates to look like you spent a bunch of time making them. People will come in like “wow you made this”! When in reality you threw it together after cleaning up (or throwing everything in the closet #adulting). So without further ado below you will find the quick and easy (sort of fake fancy) way to make them both.

Strawberry Goat Cheese Bites

(Little bites of sweet creamy goodness)

Serves about 4-8

Ingredients:

1 package of Brioche Toast (or any Triscuit like cracker, you want something sturdy enough to hold other ingredients)

5oz of Goat Cheese (more if you like, totally up to you)

1 container of Strawberries

1 bunch of Basil (don’t worry you will use the Basil for the next app too)

Balsamic Glaze (recipe to follow)

Directions:

Cut strawberries in half, julienne basil (aka cut very finely, you do not need a lot)
Arrange;
- Place brioche toast (or cracker) on the bottom
- Spread goat cheese on toast (as much as you want)
- Add strawberries and some of the basil
- Finish with a drizzle of balsamic glaze

Mini Caprese Skewers

(Your healthy-ish friends will love this)

Serves about 4-8

Ingredients:

1 package mini bamboo skewers (I got mine from World Market)

1 pound Ciliegine Mozzarella (mini mozzarella balls)

1 pint of Cherry or Grape Tomatoes

1 bunch of Basil

Balsamic Glaze (recipe to follow)

Salt and Pepper to taste

Directions

Place one tomato, one leaf of basil (fold in half), then one mozzarella ball, another leaf of basil, then one more tomato on the skewer
Season all skewers with salt and pepper. Please do not add a whole bunch, that would make it weird real fast. Think #Saltbae
finish with a drizzle of balsamic glaze
(optional) To fancy it up a bit you can write fun messages on the skewers depending on which ones you choose

Balsamic Glaze

(You can also buy this if you like)

Ingredients

1/4 cup Balsamic Vinegar

2 tbs Dark Brown Sugar (or any sweetener like Honey or Agave)