Abundance of Appetizers

I was adamant this year that I wanted to go out to dinner for my birthday and not to stay home and cook. I've never been one to go out to eat too frequently, and with the grad school budget that frequency has become even smaller. However, this seemed like a good excuse to go out and let someone else cook for us!

However, it's nearly impossible to keep us out of the kitchen for an entire Saturday so we decided to put together a few appetizers and a signature drink to share with our guests before heading out. We poured through a few cookbooks and in a shocking turn of events got a little carried away, but everything was delicious!

Grilled Prosciutto Wrapped Goat Cheese Stuffed Asparagus

Ceci Bruschetta

Pepperonata

Cucumber Tartine

Sparkling Wine with Watermelon, Ginger and Lime Agua Fresca

Watermelon,Ginger and Lime Agua Fresca

I became obsessed with the agua frescas last summer and thought that another flavor combination would be great, particularly with a little sparkling wine to serve as our "signature cocktail" for my birthday appetizer celebration!

I used the juicer which made this recipe very simple. If you don't have a juicer you could definitely process the watermelon in a blender, grate the ginger and wrap it in a cheese cloth and press out the juices and juice the lime by hand, but this seems much easier!

WATERMELON, GINGER AND LIME AGUA FRESCA

1 Large watermelon slice (not a half, more like a quarter of a melon)
4-5 oz. piece of ginger
1-2 limes

- Juice each of the components separately into their own containers

- Mix the ginger and lime juice into the watermelon bit by bit, adusting for taste and cutting with water

- Chill in the fridge before serving

Summer Indeed, Lemonade!

I wasn't kidding when I said I went a little crazy in the kitchen last Friday afternoon.

I love lemons and lemonade, and can you believe I have never made lemonade? Now, with the juicer it's even easier. I used what was described as the "Perfect Lemonade" recipe. The perfect designation seems to be a result of using a simple syrup instead of just dumping in straight sugar

PERFECT LEMONADE

- scant 3/4 cup sugar

- 1 cup water

- 1 cup lemon juice (approximately 5 lemons in the juicer)

Heat the sugar and water gently in a sauce pan until the sugar dissolves

Juice the lemons.

Add the simple syrup and lemon juice to a pitcher. Dilute with 3-4 cups water. Add lemon slices to serve.

Summer Indeed!