December 2016

Holiday appetizers are a glorious thing. Usually a little more upscale than the traditional finger food starters, they're a chance to show off your cooking expertise and culinary skills.

It doesn't take a lot of time to create an impressive selection of hors d'oeuvres, especially when you have Alexian in your kitchen. Read on for some of our favorite pâté-inspired holiday starters.

Crostini Board

A few of your guests may not have tried pâté before. You, as the wonderful host or hostess that you are, are about to rock their world. A crostini board is a wonderful way to introduce first-timers to classic pâté flavor combinations.

We suggest choosing 3-4 types of pâté - a combination of country-style, mousse and vegetable-based - to create a variety of options.

Spread each pâté onto a lightly toasted baguette slice, and add different toppings, according to your tastes:

A few ideas:
● Fresh greens
● Cornichons
● Caramelized mushrooms, onions, or peppers
● A drizzle of honey

Rolled Truffle Balls

We're not sure what the best part of this recipe is - the truffle, the mousse, the poppable, bite-size shape, or the fact that you don't have to turn on your oven to make them. For years, our Truffle Mousse Balls have inspired rave reviews, yet this three-ingredient recipe takes only minutes to make.

Simply roll teaspoon-sized balls of our Truffle Mousse into a mixture of Panko breadcrumbs and thyme, then set them in the fridge until you're ready to serve them.

We suggest making a large batch. The decadence of the truffle makes each bite practically melt in your mouth, keeping you coming back to the plate again and again.

Stuffed Mushrooms

Stuffed mushrooms are a treat, no matter the setting. Usually, you need to make a time-consuming filling, but this year, let us make the filling for you!

After washing your mushrooms and removing the stems, fill with a country-style pâté, like our Wild Forest Mushroom or Campagne. Coat the filling with a generous amount of seasoned breadcrumbs, and roast approximately 15 minutes at 400 degrees F.

Crescent Rolls

Savory, melt-in-your-mouth bites of pastry goodness. These easy-to-make appetizers are the perfect finger food for a large gathering. Check out this blog that our friend, The Reluctant Entertainer, put together for a step-by-step guide to creating these mouth-watering morsels, and more delightful holiday entertaining tips with Alexian Pâté.

Pâté Board

Of course, you can never go wrong with a classic pâté board. The combination of cheese, fruit and pâté is a match made in paradise.

We went over how to create the perfect pâté board in 5-easy steps in a post last month.
Check it out here.