Maegan Brown — otherwise known as The BakerMama — wants to breathe life back into your cooking routine. Her new cookbook, Brilliant Bites: 75 Amazing Small Bites for Any Occasion, is all about fun hors d’oeuvres that are as easy to assemble as they are impressive to look at. Whether you’re snacking solo on a luxurious girl dinner or prepping for a big get-together, this book has all the inspiration you need to craft creative yet comforting appetizers. Check out her innovative recipe for antipasto bites that makes use of bow ties in a way you’ve never seen (but will automatically appreciate).
Bow-Tie Antipasto Bites
These charming bites are dressed to impress! A bow tie, even in pasta form, is quite elegant and, when topping olives, salami, and cheese, quite delicious. These bites are a fabulous addition to any special occasion.
Ingredients
- 40 pieces bow tie pasta
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
- 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
- 1 block (7 ounces, or 198 g) aged white Cheddar (about a 3½-inch, or 9-cm, square)
- 20 large pimiento-stuffed green olives
- 20 large pitted whole black olives
- 40 peppered salami slices
Supplies
40 decorative food picks
Instructions
- Cook the pasta to al dente according to the package directions. Drain and let dry, then toss with the olive oil, garlic salt, and Italian seasoning.
- Slice the cheese into forty ¾-inch (2 cm) blocks that are ½ inch (1 cm) thick.
- To assemble, on a food pick, place a piece of bow-tie pasta, an olive—either green or black—a folded slice of salami, and a block of cheese. Repeat with the remaining ingredients.
Note: These bites can be assembled up to 2 days in advance. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Makes 40 bites
