easy cheese/antipasto spread with white bean pâté

this is probably, but not guaranteed, the last post from my cousins dinner several weekends ago.. since it was an italian night i went with a cheese/antipasto platter as my appetizer.. it was so simple yet elegant... everyone loved it.. below are some of my tips... presentation is the key..

 

pick out different and fun cheeses... i got 5 or 6.. traditional like cheddar and goat.. but added some fun stuff too whatever looked good.. you will want to add olives.. marinated peppers, artichoke hearts and mozzarella.. {i got my olives, peppers and artichoke hearts from the olive bar at whole foods}

 

add other elements.. maybe some sliced prosciutto, salami and pepperoni.

you want something "sweet" also to go with it like apples, pears, spicy n' sweet nuts.. throw in some different kinds of crackers.. maybe some crusty peasant bread.. i made a white bean pâté.. {recipe below} for serving i used different cutting boards.. white platters  and bowls.. and a tree trunk platter i recently picked up..

 

 

my cousin suzy decoratively rolled the meat and placed it on the different cutting boards.. it was fun.. simple.. elegant.. and of course delicious!!

 

 

brandade á la soissonaise {white bean pâté}

 

prep time: 15 minutes



servings: 8-10

 

ingredients:

 

1 {15 oz} can of cannellini beans, drained and rinsed {or another white bean if you prefer}

6 cloves roasted garlic {i used the garlic from my easy garlic confit}

1/3 cup olive oil plus more for drizzling { i used garlic olive oil from the garlic confit}

salt and pepper

the juice and zest from one small lemon

crushed red pepper {for garnish, which is not in the picture above but it on the dish for serving}

 

place beans, garlic, lemon juice and zest in your food processor bowl.. pulse until the mixture is pureed, about 1 minute.. add 1/3 cup olive oil thru the opening of the processor slowly while the food processor is running.. transfer the bean puree to a small serving bowl.. cover and keep in the fridge until ready to serve.. when about to serve drizzle with olive and sprinkle with crushed red pepper..

 

enjoy and get cook'n!!