Appetizer Recipe:

Parmesan Crisps Three Ways

Parmesan crisps are fantastic with bacon bits and blue cheese, fresh rosemary or just plain with kosher salt. Only one ingredient is required for this recipe: Parmesan cheese (or a hard cheese such as Romano or Parmigiano-Reggiano). You can get creative with fresh herbs and toppings. For my husband's milestone birthday, we hired a professional chef to cater the food and asked her to make menu recommendations. This is my version of Parmesan crisps based on Chef and author Janie Ebinger's original recipe. If you don't have access to a grater, purchase grated Parmesan cheese in the deli section of your grocery. The cheese must be grated from a block of hard cheese -- I don't recommend the kind from a green package. The Parmesan crisps can be made in advance and stored in an airtight container until served. Add any refrigerated toppings prior to serving.  

Snowbird meals tend to be much simpler, using fewer ingredients and a very limited selection of appliances and gadgets to prepare them. Choose the freshest, highest quality ingredients and find alternate ways to make your favorite recipes. Forget about what you don't have to cook with, instead focus on what you can accomplish with what you do have. - Midlife Snowbird

Ingredients

Exact measurements are not shown due to flexibility with the recipe -- make as many or as few as you like

1/2 to 1 cup Parmesan cheese, grated (or a hard cheese such as Parmigiano-Reggiano)

3 or 4 T. real bacon pieces

3 or 4 T. blue cheese, crumbled

1 - 2 t. fresh rosemary, minced

1/4 t. Kosher salt

Cooking spray

OPTIONAL: Use your own blend of fresh green herbs such as rosemary, basil, thyme, parsley

Suggested Brand: Alouette® Blue cheese crumbles

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Lightly spray baking pan with oil

Use a grater to finely shred the block of hard cheese (or purchase pre-grated block cheese)

Drop one level tablespoon of cheese per crisp onto baking pan, spaced at least 1/2 an inch apart

Bake five minutes or until golden brown

Remove from oven, let cool a few minutes

Remove crisps with spatula onto a flat surface

Sprinkle with bacon bits and blue cheese, minced fresh rosemary, your favorite herb blend or serve plain with kosher salt

Store crisps in an airtight container or refrigerate them if made with perishable toppings

Servings:

Four Parmesan crisps per serving

Recommended Sides:

--Serve warm or at room temperature as an elegant appetizer for any social gathering

--Garnish a salad with Parmesan crisps

Equipment List:

--standard sized baking sheet pan OR

--any flat heat-proof baking sheet or flat dish

--cheese grater or shredder (or purchase pre-shredded cheese)

--measuring tablespoon

--spatula

SNOWBIRD THEME PARTIES

HOME VS. AWAY: APPLIANCES, GADGETS