4 January 2009

Marinated Caprese on a Stick

As we welcome in 2009 many of us will be attempting to maintain our healthy life styles. I indulged in my share of holiday sweets. On New Years Day I was invited to a friends for dinner and opted to bring this appetizer. I personally appreciated its healthy and refreshing taste over all the heavy foods of winter. It also looks very appealing as well!!! It was a big hit with the younger sushi eating crowd which is always a bonus!!!
I love to be "hip" and "current" mom.

**Marinated Caprese on a Stick**

1 pint grape tomatoes
24 small leaves fresh basil
1 container of bocconcini
1 package 6 to 8-inch skewers

Marinade

1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
finely grated zest of 1 lemon
1- 1/2 T fresh lemon juice
1 T dried thyme leaves or basil
2 garlic cloves, minced
kosher salt and freshly ground pepper

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In a large bowl, whisk 1/4 cup of the olive oil with the lemon zest, lemon juice, thyme, garlic and a generous pinch each of salt and pepper. Spoon 1- 1/2 tablespoons of the mixture into a medium bowl, add the tomatoes and boccocini and turn to coat.

Let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes.

Skewer grape tomato, basil leaf and bocconcini ball and repeat until you have 12 skewers.

NOTE: Little Burnt Toast also enjoys drizzling balsamic vinegar on these as well. Best Blogger Tips

42 comments:

  1. Just the kind of thing I'm craving after all the festive excess. Lovely fresh flavours!

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  2. Delicious and refreshing!

    Cheers,

    Rosa

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  3. Thats my type of appetizer.

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  4. This is the kind of food Im craving right now!!

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  5. This is one of my favorite appetizers!

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  6. Happy New Year , Val. Thanks for the lovely poem you left on my blog.

    These caprese on a stick is such a great idea! A great way to be able to serve this caprese as finger food at parties.

    I hope the start of 2009 has been great for you.

    x nora

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  7. So listen...I'm thinking I could TOTALLY go for these! This looks fantastic!

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  8. Beautiful, healthy and how delicious! :)
    Happy New Year!!!

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  9. That always makes me think of summer! Love it!

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  10. mmmm, we make these all the time for snacks. Now I want one!

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  11. Yummy. I love fresh mozzarella. I love caprese salad.

    I also find myself thinking this would be great with a slice of proscuitto or two. I guess I'm forgetting how to get on board with the healthy thing! ;-)

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  12. Cherry tomatoes are about the only decent tomato in the winter so I could sink my teeth into this.

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  13. This for sharing this. I like to go back to healthy eating in January as well.

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  14. This looks like prefect barbecue food. Light and refreshing.

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  15. This is one of my favorite no-fuss appetizer recipes. It's so easy and delicious!

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  16. I make these too and call them vegetarian souvlaki! I always suspected you were a "cool mom"!

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  17. Val your making me think of summer and the beautiful tomatoes it brings, this looks so good!

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  18. Oooh, yeah, I'd be happy to have a stick or two of these! That's such a great photo, and did you do something fancy with the ends of those skewers? I have all the ingredients, except the skewers. That marinade is calling out to me .... :-)

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  19. Looks tasty and light! I must google now for bocconcini - it is not something heard of in India:)

    Wish you a very Happy and Prosperous New Year!!

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  20. Salad on a stick is one of my favorite things to much on. This looks delicious.

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  21. It looks like a perfect appetizer although I have never tried bocconcini before.

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  22. i think your skewers would definitely classify as hip and current. although i love my mom dearly and sometimes more than life itself, those are two things she'll probably never be. :)

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  23. Happy New Year Val!

    We were eating these like they were going out of fashion at New Year. Hope 2009 is a good one for you.

    All the best
    David

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  24. The perfect antidote for the season's over indulgences.
    Very tasty fare indeed!

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  25. In Australia is at least 30 degrees celsius. So this is a good refreshing thing to add to our bbq on weekend.
    I already print the receipt.
    Thanks

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  26. A happy New year to you too, Val! I hope you have a fantastic year in and out the kitchen. Thanks for all your inspiration in 2008 and I cannot wait for all your interesting recipes in 2009.

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  27. I know exactly how you are feeling. I'm sure EVERYONE at the party appreciated your healthy and delicious appetizer. Happy New Year!

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  28. I love those little bamboo skewers. Very chic. And what a nice way to ring in the new year, with a healthy bite-sized caprese! Very nice.

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  29. Happy New Years. This are lovely appetizers.

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  30. This is always a great recipe. We have a very similar one on our site. Happy new year!

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  31. V,
    Leave it to you to make a tomato sing! Beautiful!

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  32. That is the perfect appetizer!

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  33. What an appealing presentation!
    Happy New Year!

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  34. AMEN to healthier eating. I'm craving lighter fare and salads are just the ticket. I'm loving this caprese appetizer - so easy, so pretty and so tasty.

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  35. just what we need after all the heavy eating we had... happy new year!!! :)

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  36. Looks delicious! I could so make a meal of just this!

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  37. Just right for now, just hip & rocking like you Val! It's a refreshing beginning to the year!

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  38. Love these! Fufilling, yet light and refreshing. And they're so versatile too ... made a batch with bocconcini, prosciutto and melon s couple times and they went like hotcakes.
    The balsamic goes perfectly here.

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  39. Very appetizing start of a meal and also very simple to put together:)

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  40. yummy, Valli, and I would probably go for the balsamic version as well. Happy New Year!

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  41. Now that is the way to do a healthy and tasty appetizer!

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  42. This is a go0to appetizer when I don't feel like being too creative. I never get tired of it and it is so eye appealing.

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Welcome to my home. Thank you for choosing to stay a while and for sharing our lives through food. I appreciate all your support, comments, suggestions, and daily encouragement.

Val

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