Easy Apps

By Lori Powell

Happy New Year! My gift to you is a quick and easy-to-assemble hors d’oeuvre to put together in minutes, as long as you have a couple of items around in your pantry. It’s as convenient whether you are entertaining just one other person or are having a bunch of friends over.

The following “recipe” is really a non recipe and is truly just some ideas on what to fill readymade, store-bought little phyllo cups with. The boxes of phyllo cups are sold in the freezer section of the supermarket near the phyllo sheets and puff pastry.

I always keep a box or two of these on hand since they can be kept frozen for months and you can use them straight from the box or reheat them in the oven in just minutes. Another bonus is they provide a crispy holder for yummy ingredient combinations and are low in fat and calories.

So here’s to a new year of easy entertaining!

Hot Phyllo Shells 
Serves 4

Fill each of 15 phyllo shells  (1 box) with 1 teaspoon goat cheese, brie, pearl mozzarella (super-tiny balls of mozzarella that come in a tube with water) or taleggio cheese and ½ teaspoon fruit chutney, fig jam, hot pepper jelly or Asian chili jam. Bake in the middle rack of a preheated 400F oven until cheese is melted, about 3 minutes. Sprinkle with freshly ground black pepper and garnish with fresh herbs such as rosemary, chives or basil.

Cold Phyllo Shells
Serves 4

Fill each of 15 phyllo shells with 1 ½ teaspoons taramosalata, (fish roe spread found in jars in the refrigerator section of the supermarket where herring, marinated olives and hummus are sold) or whitefish spread or smoked salmon dip. Top with chopped cucumber and fresh dill.

Special Fork bloggers blog Monday through Friday. For more everyday recipes and ideas on your smartphone, check us out at www.specialfork.com.