The Year in Review - Nibbly Style
Part I

Can you believe it's the last weekend in 2007? This year has flown by and it seems like just yesterday I was celebrating my 1-year anniversary of starting 28 Cooks last January. As I mentioned in my last post, I've had so much to be thankful for this year.

There's nothing I love more than entertaining guests. I've always said that if I were to write a cookbook, I'd do an entertaining one full of recipes that would be perfect for serving at cocktail or tapas parties. I thought I'd take a look back at the year and highlight some of my favorite appetizer and nibbly recipes. Stop back by tomorrow for Part II!

*This is also part of the Best of 2007 round-up hosted by One Hot Stove. Be sure to visit the website for the official round-up and see the best of the food blogging world!

January

January's best nibblies were definitely the glazed nut trio. Although the Lemon Pepper Cashews were my favorite, the Chili Chai Walnuts and the Jasmine Tea and Ginger Glazed Almonds were right up there.



February

Lemon and Green Tea Granola was my favorite recipe of February. I love homemade granola, especially since I can control how much fat and sweetener I add to the recipe. This one is quick, easy, and tasty to boot! And although it isn't a recipe, this was the month of the "Behind the Apron" round-up which was a great opportunity to see the chefs behind some great food blogs.



March

A great recipe for entertaining are the Baked Potato and Cauliflower "Samosas" with Tamarind Mint Chutney. You can make a large batch of these ahead of time, freeze them, and then cook as needed for entertaining. The chutney is also fantastic, either served with these samosas or with anything else.



April

I love recipes that can be used a million different ways, like this Green Chile and Coconut Chutney. It's great served with tortilla chips and would probably make an excellent topper for a few other things. Another great snack food is the Micro-popcorn. I was so enchanted when I discovered that you can make popcorn this way. Although I think it's best with hot sauce, it's fantastic with almost any seasoning you throw in the bag.


May

What started out as a challenge ended in a fantastic recipe. The Plantain and Queso Fresco Puff Pastry Spirals would be perfect to serve at a cocktail party and aren't your normal pig-in-a-blanket. The roasted tomatillo and parsley cream is great served with the spirals, but is absolutely fantastic by itself. It's a great dip for chips or spread on a sandwich or wrap.


June

I'm in love with this Basil Habanero Pesto. I love all things spicy and all things pesto, so the combination of the two is perfect. Although it's not for the faint of heart, it's delicious if you're a lover of spicy foods. Another great nibbly to serve at your next party would be the Warm Cannellini Bean Bruschetta. It's full of flavor and has a great fresh taste. It's guaranteed to be a hit!

Tomorrow I'll be ringing in the New Year at a sushi making party. Although none of us have actually made sushi before, we're all fairly confident in our cooking abilities and are hoping it all comes out well. I'll let you know how it goes. If you are so inclined, leave me a comment with how you'll be spending the holiday.
See you tomorrow with the rest!