Monday, October 3, 2011

"Appetizers"- Grapes coated with Cheese and Nuts

'Navaratri' 2011 celebrations are going on all over.....and we celebrated 'Bhondla' last week here in Columbus! 'Bhondla' is a Maharashtrian 'All Girls' celebration where in......girls and women get together all dressed up in nice clothes.They hold hands and go around in circles singing songs.Some of these songs are hilarious ...praising their 'maher'(mothers side) and talking about how bad their 'in-laws' side is!!!
After the songs ....it's yummy food time!!! Each women brings in some snack/ food item which she won't disclose.Everyone else has to make guesses ....what the dish could be! So...everyone tries to make things that are hard to guess...

Yes...you guessed it.....mine was really very hard to Guess!!!! I made these yummy sweet and sour and nutty grapes.....coated with Cream and blue cheese...
"P' had made similar ones for 'K's birthday with Goat cheese and walnuts .
Ingredients:

1) About 50 Red/ green seedless grapes washed and dried with paper towel
2) 8 oz Cream cheese
3) 1-2 tbsp Blue cheese( If you like....)
4) 2tbsp milk
5) 1 tbsp sugar
5) Finely chopped Pistachios and almonds
6) Grated sweetened coconut flakes
Method:
1) Mix together cream cheese and blue cheese with electric mixer. Add the milk and beat again.
2) Coat the grape with cream mixture with your hands and place on a cookie sheet lined with parchment /wax paper
3) Sprinkle sugar on the cheese coated grapes
4)Roll the grapes into chopped almonds/ pistachios/ sweet coconut and place on the wax paper

5) Chill for few hours before serving.Can be made a day or two in advance.

Serve the chilled, sweet and sour- cheese and nuts coated grapes and 'wow' your guests!!