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Cool cream cheese is whipped with a homemade Gremolata then topped over a variety of TRISCUIT crackers for an easy, effortless hors d’oeuvre.
I wrote recently about ‘simplicity,’ and how it can be a virtue unto itself – and that the culinary industry is no exception. For example, I recently interviewed Michael Symon, and that’s one of his key messages, and the theme behind his recent book Five in Five which we featured here on Living the Gourmet.
Strangely, keeping things ‘merely simple’ can be a challenge, making it no wonder that Plato remarked that brevity and simplicity is within the realm of excellence. Indeed, a large chunk of the food industry is devoted to teaching people how to do ‘simple things’ in short amounts of time, and usually on a budget. These are often little things like impressing one’s guests as effortlessly as possible, or putting together a quick but delicious meal on a weeknight, or even just time-savers for the summer months.
For example, let’s say it’s a summer afternoon, you’re expecting company and you’ve been planning to sit them out on your deck. However, as fate would have it, the weather does not comply. Instead of ‘mere rain,’ which the roof of your porch can turn into a graceful spell out in the elements, the day is struck with something that not even your porch can abide – blistering sun and smothering humidity. Here in New York that combination is especially unenjoyable, and on such days it’s best to simply surrender and move the company indoors. Of course, that makes the entertaining part of that equation a bit less ‘effortless.’
That is precisely the predicament in which I found myself the other day. Needless to say, I needed to make some last minute adjustments to what I would be serving, which is where today’s recipe comes in.
To start, I would need an easy appetizer that I could prepare on the spot without the use of the grill, and with what I had available on hand. Fortunately, I had some TRISCUIT Original Crackers on hand as well as the new TRISCUIT Mediterranean Olive Crackers from the Artisanal variety, both of which I had picked up at Walmart a few days earlier. I decided they would pair nicely with a Fresh Cream Cheese Gremolata. Simple, delicious, and sure to impress.
Since I was going to make a Gremolata for the original appetizer I had been planning to prepare anyway, I had all of the ingredients on hand, which included fresh lemon juice, lemon zest, garlic, Parmesan cheese, and Italian parsley – all the standards. I then combined those with a cup of cream cheese as shown below, mixed in salt, pepper, nutmeg and milk as needed, and I was done.
After that, I topped each cracker as shown below, garnished with parsley, and I had a perfect summer appetizer that would pair perfectly with my bay window and the rain.
8 minPrep Time
8 minTotal Time
Save RecipeIngredients
- 8 oz. cream cheese
- 2 cloves of garlic
- Zest of 1 lemon
- 2 tbs. fresh lemon juice
- Handful of fresh Italian parsley
- 1 inch piece of parmesan cheese
- Dash freshly grated nutmeg
- 1½ tbs. milk
- ½ tsp. salt
- ½ tsp. black pepper
- TRISCUIT Original Crackers
- TRISCUIT Mediterranean Olive Crackers
Instructions
- Combine all of the ingredients for the Gremalata in a food processor and process until a creamy consistency is achieved. Note: add the 1 1/2 tbs. of milk to the processor as needed to achieve the creaminess desired.
- Place the Cream Cheese Gremalata in a piping bag and pipe over your desired flavor of TRISCUIT crackers.
- Sprinkle with parsley for added garnish.
What are some of your favorite summer appetizers? We would love to hear from you.
Don’t forget to find TRUSCUIT on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest. Also, for more recipe inspiration, check out other delicious ideas here.
Pick up your favorite TRISCUIT crackers today at Walmart and choose from TRISCUIT Reduced Fat Crackers, TRISCUIT Hint of Salt Crackers, and TRISCUIT Cracked Pepper & Olive Crackers. While you are there, be sure to check out the new flavors from the Artisanal line which include TRISCUIT Smoked Gouda Crackers and TRISCUIT Sriracha Crackers.
Enjoy with Love!
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