Recommendation: 'appe' night

When you don’t want to go out, don’t want to stay in and do nothing, are thinking about renting a movie, but can’t decide on what to order for dinner… run to the grocery store and do this:

- pick a fruit, grapes are easiest, but apples or pears are equally as delish and refreshing
- visit the olive bar, put a mixture in a tub, if artichokes or marinated peppers look good, add some of those while you’re at it
- grab a baguette
- go to the deli (be polite & grab a number first), ask for a quarter pound of reduced fat salami (you can’t tell the difference, believe me)
- if you don’t have olive oil at home (then you are weird), get some
- in dairy, pick up a brick of cheese, we like sharp cheddar but we’ve also done smoked cheedar, gouda, brie, or a pre-sliced cheese tray
- grab some veggies – carrots & peppers, so that you don’t feel guilty for eating cheese, salami and carbs
- lastly, swing by the liquor section and get a bottle of wine!

Go home and prep. Pour a glass of wine, wash the veggies, slice the cheese, put everything into little bowls, mix Italian seasoning/red pepper flakes/salt/pepper/balsamic vinegar into a shallow plate of olive oil to dip the bread in, refill the glass of wine, and turn on the movie! Appetizer (“Appe”) night!!!

Other fun additions: mini-pita and hummus, celery, cheese dip, parm/walnut/honey plate (what? You have never heard of this? me either until my father-in-law introduced us. You MUST try. Toast walnuts. Put on plate. While hot, add sliced parm and then drizzle honey over it. Eat with fingers. Or fork. Enjoy).

Highly recommended meal for Friday's after a long week of work. Enjoy!