First Monday of October, and here I am to divulge the recipe chosen from my assignment in The Secret Recipe Club. Life has been beyond busy for us lately. Allow me to take a little detour. In our work we are subject to the “publish or perish” doctrine. Once we gather enough data, we write a scientific article and submit it for publication. A group of referees reads it and the assigned editor comes back with the verdict. Accepted or not. But the usual outcome, instead of a simple yes or no answer, turns out to be a lengthy series of requests from each referee for clarification, objections to this or that, “suggestions” of additional experiments. Sometimes the requests are valid, sometimes they are not. But even when they are not, we need to address them and, using as much tact as possible, explain our rationale. Obviously, you never win by getting nasty with a referee. Never. It turns out we have two articles in this final stage of negotiations, so it is a bit of a roller coaster at the moment. What does it have to do with The Secret Recipe Club? Usually I jump on my assignment right away and have the post ready to go within a couple of weeks. This month, believe it or not, I am composing this post mere 24 hours before Reveal Time. Talk about living on the edge! I hyperventilate a little as I type. This month, I was assigned the blog Lori’s Culinary Creations. I must share with you Lori’s motto, which I find perfect:
Today is life-the only life you are sure of. Make the most of today.
Get interested in something. Shake yourself awake. Develop a hobby.
Let the winds of enthusiasm sweep through you.
Live today with gusto.
That is pretty much what we should all be doing, shaking ourselves awake, paying attention, enjoying the ride. Do not sweat the small stuff might be too cliché of a phrase, but it is always a valid point to keep in mind. Lori is from California but now lives in Utah with her husband and a bunch of pets. Her recipes are geared for busy empty nesters. For the most part they are recipes that you can put together quickly but then she also enjoys making more complex creations during the weekend. Busy empty nester. It describes me to a T. I stalked her site and saved a bunch of options to share today. Like Spanish Meatball Appetizer (which I would love to have as my lunch); Seafood Crepes for a Romantic Valentines Brunch (write that down, folks, V-day will be here before we know it); Savory Griddle Cakes (I adore this type of concoction); Sweet Potato Burger with Roasted Jalapeno; Chickpea Carrot Burgers; and strangely enough I just saved one dessert, her Easy and Delicious Peach Blueberry Hand Pies. Am I losing my sweet mojo? I hope not. So, what did I fell for? The very first recipe I bookmarked because I could not shake it off my mind. Little Bites of Paradise, made with Brie, Canadian bacon (I used prosciutto), and green apples. Are they adorable or what?
PROSCIUTTO, BRIE & APPLE WON TON APPETIZER
(slightly modified from Lori’s Culinary Creations)
2 medium Granny Smith apples (chopped small)
2 tablespoons pomegranate vinegar
12 won ton wrappers
3 slices prosciutto
3 oz brie cheese, cut in chunks
chopped chives
Heat the oven to 325 F.
Place the chopped apples in a bowl and add 2 tablespoons of pomegranate vinegar. Set aside.
Spray a mini muffin pan lightly with cooking spray. Lay the won ton wrappers in the cups, filling every other cup and pinch the four sides as you go so it forms a flower bowl. Pinch the sides, not the corners.
Sprinkle an equal amount of prosciutto pieces on the bottom of the won ton cups. Place a small chunk of brie in each cup. Top with the apples, then with the chives.
Bake for 15 minutes.
ENJOY!
to print the recipe, click here
Comments: This was SUCH a fun recipe to put together! Won Ton wrappers are quite versatile, and in this type of shaping they turn into cute flowers, waiting for you to pick them and…. wolf them down. There goes the poetic image… But, seriously, these were awesome. A perfect combination of salty and sweet, apples and brie are one of those matches hard to beat. I baked them in our small toaster oven and it took a little longer than 15 minutes, maybe closer to 20 minutes. The idea is to get the edges crisp and golden brown. By that time the Brie will have melted and be all comfy with the diced apple. As you can tell, I forgot the chives before baking them. I sprinkled some all over once the appetizer was out of the oven, and pretended it was meant to be like that. Oh, well… Perfection is overrated.
A LITTLE BITE OF PARADISE INDEED!
Lori, it was fun to stalk your site, I hope you enjoy my post on your beautiful Culinary Creation!
For my readers, click on the frog below to see what my friends came up with this month. For those interested in the ongoing friendly war between me and Dorothy, she gave me a royal beating this month. But I lose a batter. Never the war! Bring it, Dorothy, bring it!
ONE YEAR AGO: Coxinha de Galinha: A Brazilian Delicacy
TWO YEARS AGO: Prosciutto-Wrapped Shrimp Skewers
THREE YEARS AGO: A Simple Dinner
FOUR YEARS AGO: Brown Butter Tomato Salad
FIVE YEARS AGO: Spelt and Cornmeal Rolls
SIX YEARS AGO: Roasted Potato and Olive Focaccia
SEVEN YEARS AGO: Multigrain Bread Extraordinaire
Bewitching Kitchen 
Good luck with the paper. I’m crossing my fingers you will get through without too many headaches. I love cooking with won ton wrappers either like this or filled with pasta and then either steamed or fried. I would really enjoy these little bites of paradise.
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Unfortunately headaches are often part of this game… but paper number one should be going back to the referees this week. Paper number two requires a bit more work…. (sigh)
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These look great and yummy! I am adding a link but I haven’t figured out how to back-link my blog to this yet. Hopefully soon!
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a pingback? Can you edit a line in your post and then include a hot link to mine?
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Oh OK, yes I can do that! I was wondering what that meant. 🙂
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OK done!
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Oh those peer reviewed journals. Egos abound.
Your post is so wonderful! 24 hours? It sounds like you were working on your prose all semester!
Aaaaand I need to try these! They are the perfect treat after answering the referees (nicely), or, if you are not as smart as you guys, just snacking!
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yeap, you nailed it. The worst is when you realize the person is not quite from your field and comes with stuff that is pure nonsense. But, you need to be civil. Sometimes you can direct a more harsh comment to the editor, of course. Anyway, it’s the part of the job that is quite stressful and poor Phil is the one who deals with it. I deal with the additional experiments and that’s “fun” enough…
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Reblogged this on hocuspocus13 and commented:
jinxx♠xoxo
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thanks for sharing the love!
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Those little bites are indeed paradise for me, as I am a BIG apple fan and I LOVE all types of tarts and pies! Great SRC pick, Karen
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same here – it is odd because to eat as a fresh fruit, my favorite is Red Delicious, the apple that everyone twists the nose at, too “pedestrian” – I love them. But to cook with, I think Granny Smith, Honey Crisps, Gala – are better
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Another great use for wonton wrappers! Sally, do you think if I thin pomegranate molasses with a bit of water I can substitute it for the pom vinegar? The point is to get that sweet/tangy flavor into the apples, right?
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Yes, definitely – or even if you like, another type of vinegar with low acidity, like apple cider… But I think the pom molasses would be pretty awesome too
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These are so cute! Love the filling. Your story brings back memories from living with my step-father, who was a professor/researcher. Ugh! Good Luck!
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Yeap, those are the ordeals associated with the job. Sometimes it is really tiring, as you know… 😉
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Oh my goodness these sound incredible!
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Pretty nice little appetizer… and really easy to put together
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Oh wow. I could eat platefuls of these gorgeous little bites.
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You and me both. In fact, we did! 😉
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Lots and lots of luck with your papers sweetie xxxx
And loving the little bites, I’ve never used wonton wrappers, maybe I need to try….? !
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They are fun to use – even to do like a canneloni type dish, if you buy the bigger ones, cook them briefly and roll a filling inside – baking them with a bit of tomato sauce all over.
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I’m so glad you made this! It’s a favorite snack of mine. Of course almost anything with Brie cheese works for me. Great pick and I’m so glad you enjoyed them!
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Brie is such a nice cheese, I totally agree… thanks for a great recipe that will be in my rotation for “party appetizers”
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Yum! This looks like the perfect “impress your guests”: straightforward in execution and packs a punch directly to the taste buds.
Bookmarked!!
Happy Reveal Day!
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Exactly! I don’t mind impressing my guests as long as I don’t torture myself in the process… what’s the point, right?
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Had a very well known Asian-born Australian blog writer nearly ‘bite’ my ear off but days ago: ‘WHAT!! You use Asian wrappers for European recipes’? Ha! Ha!! Yours do evoke heavenly tastes . . . easy too!! Best of luck at being a diplomat amongst all your other ‘hats’!!! I am very good methinks at being ‘nice’ when the other side is but a somewhat sarcastic pusscat when someone’ else’s neuroses and ego problems make them stop listening and hearing and seeing . . . . hmpph 🙂 !!
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I simply call it “fusion cuisine” and leave it at that… But if there’s one thing that doesn’t bother me is criticism about my food. I eat what I like, I cook the way I want. It is my kitchen… 😉
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I finally can use that Pomegranate Vinegar bottle I bought recently. These look yummy. I can’t wait to try them out.
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Awesome! Good timing….
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These little bites look delicious!
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Indeed! I intend to make them again soon, so many fillings to try!
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They are absolutely adorable, and the flavor combination sounds amazing.
I do not envy you the whole publishing process.
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Thank you! It is true that the publishing process gets harder and harder. The amazing thing is that we are now involved with research to find new antibiotics for multi-resistant bacteria – you would think with such an important goal it would be easier to get our results out there. Well, think again… 😉
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These sound like a perfect starter – but, for me, it will be phyllo dough as I can’t get wonton wrappers. Brie and apples….
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You’re right. These are simply adorable, and munchable, and delightful. Great SRC recipe, as usual! We’re ON for one final month. I shall try not to leave you too far in the dust. 🙂
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Uh oh, another excuse to buy a new vinegar. giggle. (I’m not too sure how many different vinegars I now have in my vinegar and oil cupboard, but it’s getting crowded in there) I wonder how my Gravenstein Apple vinegar would work here? Hmmmm, great choice for SRC. And good luck on the papers, I don’t think I could handle that.
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