Hoosier Home Cookin'

My company, Mulberry Health & Retirement Community, celebrated moms, daughters, grandmothers, sisters and friends in our first-ever Women's Day. And, I performed my first-ever cooking demonstration during the weekend festivities! Paula Deen, I'm not. However, I did use plenty of butter and cream cheese for the appetizer recipes I shared. I think you'll like them too. And, they're perfect little bites for your own graduation teas or bridal showers.

Pineapple Nut Tea Sandwiches are pretty, sweet and tasty. If you prefer, serve the spread on water crackers. Baked Brie with Kahlua and Nuts is a wonderful special occasion appetizer with a pretty strong kick. Serve with wheat crackers or crisp slices of Granny Smith apples. And, finally, Asparagus Roll-ups are delicious with their rich cream cheese filling.

Next week, I'll share a few more of my appetizer favorites. Happy Mother's Day and happy eating!

Pineapple Nut Tea Sandwiches

2 C. crushed pineapple, drained
1 C. sugar
1 C. toasted chopped pecans
1 8-oz. pkg. cream cheese
milk
In saucepan, combine pineapple and sugar. Bring to a boil. Cook until thick, stirring constantly. Cool. Stir in nuts. Soften and mash cheese with enough milk to make a good spreading consistency. Combine with pineapple mixture. Spread on thin bread, top as sandwich. Trim and cut into squares.

Brie with Kahlu and Nuts

1/3 C. chopped pecans or walnuts
½ tsp. vanilla
¼ C. Kahlua
3 T. brown sugar
1 14-oz. Brie

Combine first 4 ingredients. Place Brie in shallow baking dish, cover with mixture. Bake at 325 degrees for 8-10 minutes. Serve with crackers or baguette slices.

Asparagus Appetizer Roll-Ups

12 slices white bread, crusts removed

1 8-oz. pkg. cream cheese
2 T. chopped green onions
3 bacon strips, cooked and crumbled

24 fresh asparagus spears
¼ C. butter, melted
3 T. grated Parmesan cheese

Flatten bread with a rolling pin. In a small bowl, combine cream cheese, onions and bacon. Spread mixture over bread slices. Cut asparagus to fit bread. Place two spears on each bread slice. Roll up bread slice and place seam side down on greased baking sheet. Brush with butter, then sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Bake at 400 degrees for 10-12 minutes