Surf and Turf Crostinis

"Steak?...Did someone say steak?"
Another puppy hour sighting!

Well we survived our first week of school (barely).  Friday came upon us and I wanted to do crostini night on the patio.  These were both new recipes (one I found and the other I just made up)...both were amazing and will definitely see another appearance of them soon with our upcoming guests. They went together very easy, both had incredible flavors and were the perfect end to a very long and much anticipated week.

Lemon-Rosemary Shrimp Crostini (Surf)

Lemon-Rosemary Shrimp Crostinis

Courtesy of The Nibble

Non-stick cooking spray

1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined

1/4 cup olive oil

1 lemon, juiced and zested

2 Tbl. fresh rosemary (1 Tbl optional for garnish), finely chopped

2 garlic cloves, minced

salt and pepper to taste

1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup feta cheese, crumbled

1/4 cup pine nuts, toasted and finely chopped

1/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes (packed in oil), finely chopped

1 long baguette, cut into 24 thin slices

stainless/metal skewers

Spray grill grate of either a gas grill or charcoal grill with non-stick cooking spray.  Heat grill to medium-high heat.

Place shrimp in resealable plastic bag.  In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice and zest, 1 tablespoon rosemary and garlic.  Add salt and pepper to taste.  Pour half of mixture over shrimp and gently toss to coat shrimp.  Set aside for 5-10 minutes.

Add to the remaining oil mixture, the cream cheese, 1/4 cup feta, pine nuts and tomato.  Add salt and pepper to taste.  Cover and set aside.

Spray both sides of baguette slices with non-stick cooking spray.  Place on grill for 1-2 minutes per side or until lightly toasted.  Set aside to cool slightly.

Drain excess liquid from shrimp and place on skewers.  Grill 1-2 minutes per side or until pink and cooked through.  To assemble, spread cheese mixture onto bread slices, then place about 2-3 shrimp on top.  Sprinkle remaining feta and rosemary on top.

Blue Cheese Beef Crostini (Turf)

Blue Cheese Beef Crostinis

1/2 pound london broil or prime rib, cooked and sliced thin

1 wedge Cambozola cheese, softened

1 pint yellow grape/cherry tomatoes, sliced in half

1 avocado, sliced thin

1 baguette, cut into 24 thin slices

olive oil

Heat oven to 450 degrees.  Line large cookie sheet with parchment paper.  Place baguette slices on sheet and brush with olive oil one side that is facing up.  Bake approximately 5 minutes, until just starting to become lightly toasted.

Remove baguette slices from oven and spread Cambozola cheese over each slice.  Add a small piece of sliced beef, avocado slice, then top with 2 slices of the tomato.

One Year Ago: Smoked BBQ Chicken Nachos

Two Years Ago: Flatbread Friday

Cambozola Platter on the Patio and Meal Planning

Another glorious weekend and the weather could not have been better (hard to believe snow is in the forecast later this week...ugh!!)  Having a rare free weekend, I was finally able to get back into the kitchen and cook.  I feel like with the crazy and hectic schedule all of us had these past few weeks, I was just barely making my way through getting meals on the table.

Before any of the weekend's cooking started though, we enjoyed a wonderful platter of Cambozola cheese, Peach-Mango Salsa, toasted Naan bread and a chilled bottle of Butternut Chardonnay on the patio.  Perfect sunset and happy hour appetizer to end our week.

My mission this weekend was very simple...knock out as many breakfast pieces, work lunches that can be reheated and ready-to-go dinner items as I could for us to have a relatively smooth week (as much as our family can in any case).  So, here is a recap of what I accomplished.  I made some oldies but goodies, which are photographed below from previous posts and the recipe link included.  I also tried out some new ones, stay tuned for those.

Banana Blueberry Muffins

Sunrise Bars

Grannie's Lasagna

Also made this weekend (photos and recipes coming soon...)

Lemon Pound Cake with Citrus Glaze

Bacon Breakfast Muffins
Balsamic Braised Steak with Gorgonzola Alfredo Pasta (freezer/crockpot make ahead)
Applesauce BBQ Chicken (freezer/crockpot make ahead)
Beef Tips with Mushrooms and Gravy (freezer/crockpot make ahead)

Reese's Mini Cheesecakes

Have a blessed week!

One Year Ago:  Mixed Berry Pavlova