5/2/11

Roasted Pepper and Goat Cheese appetizer and Mother's Day Giveaway!



When we stayed at River's Run last fall, Miss Lisa served up these delicious appetizers before dinner one evening.  My boys (including Grant) usually steer clear of anything involving a red pepper. They loved this dish.  I made these last week and loved the soft red pepper, creamy goat cheese, crunchy pine nuts and sweet, soft golden raisins.  One of the best appetizers I have ever eaten.





This would make a perfect appetizer for Mom on Sunday.  To start Mother's Day/Cinco de Mayo week off right, we're having a little giveaway.  Ina Garten's cookbook " How Easy is That?",  a $25 gift certificate to Mrs. Cavanaugh's chocolates (wonderful chocolates, local to Utah, but you can use the certificate as mail order),  and some darling cloth napkins from "Stack'd, by SisterMade" .

















Leave a comment about what you love about your mom, or being a mom.  As always, followers get two entries. I'll announce the winner on Wednesday.  One winner, three gifts.  Keep them for yourself, or share with mom!





Roasted Peppers Stuffed with Goat Cheese
adapted from Bottega Restaurant and Cafe,  Birmingham, AL
print recipe

4 large red or yellow peppers, roasted (see below) peeled, slit open, seeded, and sliced into three inch strips
Sea salt, fresh ground pepper
1/4-1/2 pound mild soft goat cheese
6 basil leaves, 4 leaves chopped, 2 leaves reserved or garnish
1/4 cup pine nuts, toasted
1/4 cup golden raisins
bread crumbs, optional
2 tablespoons olive oil
pinch of cayenne

Roast the peppers using either a barbecue grill, gas cook top or broiler in your oven.  Complete tutorials here.

Position a rack in the upper third of oven and preheat to 475 degrees.
Place the peppers peeled side down on a cutting board and slightly flatten. Sprinkle with sea salt and pepper. Spread with about a tablespoon of goat cheese down the center of each pepper strip. Scatter the cut basil, pine nuts, and golden raisins on top of each pepper. Fold each pepper over to create a package (like a canoe on its side). Press down gently to flatten slightly
Place the peppers on a baking sheet (I prepared the peppers directly on the baking sheet). Sprinkle with breadcrumbs and drizzle with a little olive oil over each one. Sprinkle with cayenne.
Bake for about 10 minutes, until breadcrumbs turn golden and the goat cheese is bubbly.
Using a spatula, arrange the peppers on a small plate and tear the remaining basil leaves over for garnish. Drizzle with a bit more olive oil if desired.

Tips:
-I didn't fold the red peppers over after topping.  They were a little difficult to eat unless you have a plate and fork. If you want to make this into a "finger food" place each cooked pepper onto a toasted baguette and serve as  bruschetta.
-This is an easy make-ahead appetizer. Completely prepare, leave on baking sheet. Before serving, place under broiler for 1 minute, to warm up.

58 comments:

  1. I'm not sure how many men you have that follow your blog but my wife and I refer to it daily. I'm currently a full-time graduate student and my wife stays home with our two small kids. She is amazing and I think she has the harder job staying home with the kids. Thanks to this blog and to my wife after a 12-15 hour day of studying and work, I always come home to an amazing dinner that seems to help me forget the stress of a very busy life. I love my wife, she is the most amazing mother to our children and deserves more then I can ever give her... but this giveaway would be a great start.

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  2. My Mom is a great example!! She raised five kids and loved every minute of it!! Although she had already graduated with a degree she decided that when most of her kids were in high school she would go and persue her dream of being a nurse. a few years later (after much hard work and many long nights) my mom is now a certified RN! Although she was going to school full time and working part time she never neglected her motherly duties of helping us kids with school projects, letting me cry when a boy broke my heart and putting dinner on the table faithfully!! she is a true super hero!!

    side note: as a newly wed I LOVE YOUR BLOG!! It helps me look like a super wife to my husband!! Thanks for helping me look good!!

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  3. My Mom worked all the time she was raising 5 children. She taught all of us what it meant to sacrifice every day and she taught all 5 of us what it means to be a good parent. Those are just some of the lessons I learned in my home that I hope to teach my daughters.

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  4. I am of course a follower. Thanks for this recipe. I am trying this one soon. It's different and so colorful...and I love peppers!

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  5. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  6. My Mom is always there for me when I need her. She is my biggest cheerleader and such a wonderful Grandma!

    What I love about being Mom? EVERYTHING! My kids make me smile every day, not ALL day (ha!), but everyday. :)

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  7. I have now lived more years than my mother did (by only 2 years though). She's been gone 25 years now but I miss her just as much today. Treasure the moments you have with your Mom (and for that matter all of your family -my brother has been gone 20 years. Family is precious). I enjoy your blog and love to add favorite recipes to my binder.

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  8. I love Mother's Day to celebrate my Mom even more! She raised my brother and me as a single mother, worked full-time, and still put wonderful meals on the table every day. She will do anything for her family.

    I am definitely a follower, all of your recipes are so fancy, but easy and delicious!

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  9. My Mom gave me a love of Baking, family, faith, reading and service. She is my biggest fan and reminds me continually that I can do anything. I love you MOM!!

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  10. My mom never cooked anything too fancy, but even after a long day at work, she always had a home cooked meal ready. She raised 4 girls (yes, everyone felt bad for my dad), and now that we are grown with our own families, she's always sure to keep up with what's going on in our lives and her grandchildren's lives. I can only hope to be as good of a mom to my three kids as she is to me and my sisters!

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  11. One of the most endearing things about my mom is that she is always cooking JUST IN CASE someone drops in, so that she will be prepared to serve them up something yummy for lunch or dinner. She lives alone and probably doesn't need to cook as much food as she does, but she is always prepared for that spur of the moment family drop-in. Her kitchen usually smells delicious, no matter the time of day. BTW - One of my very very favorite recipes is Ina Garten's Roasted Red Pepper and Goat Cheese sandwiches and Fresh Pea Soup so I can't wait to try these appetizers!

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  12. oh man, my mother. I don't even know where to being!

    She seriously is one of my best friends.
    Always supportive of me and willing to listen to my crazy ideas about life.
    Giving, very giving. Always willing to help me with anything i need help with. She will listen to my stories and will always give up time to take the time to talk to me about my life.

    I LOVE my mother SO much. Can't wait to go home and spend mother's day to celebrate her!

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  13. My mom was always on my side.

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  14. My mom raised 4 kids on her own. Now that I am a mom of 4 it blows me away how she did it.
    Jaimie

    Kingdom@comcast.net

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  15. I love being a mom! I just wish that I knew with my first what I knew when I'd had the sixth. I'd have been a better mother from the beginning. But I guess that's the point...learn, grow, and improve.

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  16. One of the things I love most about being a mom is it allowed me to be a Grandma! Nine years ago today, I became a Grandma and I'm so grateful!
    My mom is a wonderful grandma...loving and supportive and a good listener.

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  17. I love that it always seems like my mom is waiting for me to call and always has the time to chat.

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  18. For years I teased my mom about having 3 kids in 3 years. 2 months ago, we were blessed with twins in addition to our 2 year old. So now, I have three kids under 2 1/2. What appreciation I have for her now! It is the most selfless job in the world....with no "reward" beyond a little hug or the occasional smile....Love it!

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  19. My mom is amazing! She raised 10 children, taught us good values, to think about other people and is the most perfect example of unselfishness that I know. Now that I'm a mother I appreciate even more EVERYTHING she did for me and my family.

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  20. My mom dropped everything and flew to Utah from Oregon to be with me when my baby passed away last month. It was just another example of always being there for me. Mother's Day will be just a little more tender now.

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  21. My mom always kept her cool...all 5 kids could be acting like complete lunatics (which happened often) and she always kept it together!

    I'm a follower now, too!

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  22. Wow, that does look like an amazing appetizer!

    My mom is always ready and waiting to help me with anything and everything and does so gladly. I don't know where I'd be if I didn't have my mom to rely on. She is a wonderful example to me and I hope I can be as loving as she is when I become a mother someday.

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  23. Also, a loyal follower for nearly 3 years now!

    marijke1989@yahoo.com

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  24. If I had known how much fun having adult children was going to be I might have had more - even with 7 months of morning sickness. My three children are all married and when we get together its so much fun...which takes planning as they all live in different states. We text, call and use skype when we can. I'm a very blessed mom.

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  25. I really love being a mom to 4 crazy boys! They bring so much joy into my life. :)

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  26. I love being a mom of 3, even though one of them is a very fussy 3 month old. ;) My Mom is my best friend. I hope someday my kids say that about me!

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  27. I love being a mom!! My daughter is 2 going on 16, and she makes me laugh every single day. And I have a newborn son that I just can't get enough of!

    I'm always looking for good appetizer recipes - this one sounds amazing!

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  28. My mom taught me not only to love food.....but to share the love!! Fun times.

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  29. My mom's version of Mexican was chili or tacos that tasted Italian. My mom's version of egg foo young was from a recipe off the Rice-A-Roni box. My mom's version of canned-mushroom-soup-Swiss-steak, but she made it with liver, just sucked.

    My mom's baking was pretty good, though. I learned how to do a decent pie dough from her. I've hung out with my mom while she cooks ever since I could remember. And now, I love experimenting on my two sons now, especially when they're cooking alongside me.

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  30. That appetizer looks great!

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  31. I make something very similar, but without the pine nuts and raisins. Delicious!

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  32. I can only hope one day I can be half the wonderful mother my Mom is. She had 10 children and did a fabulous job raising us. I love baking and cooking because of my Mom. She instilled a love for it in me. She made 3 meals a day, everything from scratch. We could feel the love she had for us through her food. Not only is she an incredible mom, she is such an amazing Grandma to 46 grandkids. I love you, Mom!

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  33. I love your blog! Thank you for the MANY meal ideas that I've made for my own family! I enjoy being a follower! Happy Mother's Day!

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  34. i love being a mommy. i love that i am the one they want wiping their tears, i love that they always think i am silly (i know that will change) and i love that they show me my potential daily and they always believe in me.

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  35. My mother is such an amazing women. Not only does she work as a teacher and volunteer for every school activity, but she takes care of our family of four kids. If that wasn't enough, this year she has taken in an additional three children in need of a home (all teenagers). Balancing more responsibility, time, and money has had its hardships for her. Yet, she would not change her life for anything and is always willing to go that extra step for someone else's happieness. She is so amazing and I don't know how she does it. I think that she deserves something beautiful for Mother's Day after being a great mother to seven kids. She has taught me so much in my life and I have grown and am fortunate to have her by my side for support every day.

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  36. What's not to love about my mom? Really and truly, she's the most giving and beautiful woman I know. She's taught me the art of balancing motherhood and work. She's the most amazing grandmother and shows me everyday the beauty of being a mom! I couldn't ask for a better role model or friend.

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  37. My mom does everything. She is all about family and knows everything about all of her kids and grandkids' lives. She throws a party for just about anything! Everyone loves her!

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  38. My mom is Mary Poppins . . . practically perfect in every way. She makes perfect food. No lie. She makes perfect clothes. Really. She has perfect handwriting. I'm serious. She probably makes everyone go crazy because she is so good at everything she does. But she seems to do it all with such grace. She is cheerful. She is kind. I feel so lucky I get to hang on her shirt tail and try to learn a little from her. Happy Mother's Day, Mom!

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  39. I love that my mom is a strong, independent, intelligent woman who taught me to never be afraid to speak my mind and respect myself. She is amazing!

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  40. And, I am a follower.

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  41. I am a follower of all people with good taste...that means you...

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  42. I love being a mom...and I have a wonderful mother who showed me the way. My mom blesses my life daily. She has an amazing gift of compassion, empathy and gab. She is a great cook. I hope to be like her one day.

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  43. I don't think my mother has ever said anything negative about anyone. She is a woman I love, admire and simply adore. My greatest goal is to become more like my mother!

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  44. The best thing about my mom is that she thinks I can do anything, am great at everything I do and the best I can possibly be.

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  45. I love your blog, Si! Thank you for sharing your wonderful talent with us. I want to chime in about my mom. Even though she passed away 10 years ago, not a day goes by that I don't think about her. Sometimes I laugh out loud and sometimes I shed a tear or two. She raised 7 children, cooked great meals, ironed all my dad's shirts, and kept an impeccable home and worked as a waitress for 30 years! She sang, danced, and whistled. We knew it was going to be an extra good day if mom woke up whistling....we knew she was in a happy mood and we all knew it was going to be an extraordinarily great day. I miss everything about her everyday!! Happy Mother's Day to all the great mom's who make their children feel happy, safe, and loved everyday!

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  46. What I love about my Mom=)
    She's the rock of our family, always there when anyone needs her, loving and yet one of the strongest women I have ever met!
    Love ya, Mom!
    Lethea B
    Luvdaylilies at bellsouth dot net

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  47. New Blog follower~Luvdaylilies
    Luvdaylilies at bellsouth dot net

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  48. What I love most about being a mom is hearing my little girls call for me when they wake up and smile when I walk in their room. They don't do that with anyone else....lucky me!

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  49. My mom passed away from cancer when my first child was 7 months old. At that time of my life, I was just starting to understand what a mom does and the real joys and pains of being a mother. I appreciate her now more than I ever have. Nothing has helped me realize all that she did for me than not having her anymore. My mother and mothers everywhere do so much, it is usually done quietly and behind the scenes. Thanks to moms everywhere and especially thanks to my mom!

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  50. Those red peppers look so delicious! I wish I had something to make them for. I love the fun of being a Mom. I love when my kids laugh at me and when we laugh together.

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  51. And of course I love my Mom. She has been gone for 16 years next month. Wow, time flies. She was such a great example to me of loving everyone and laughing as much as possible.

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  52. My mom has (and still is) raising 8 kids-many of whom are stinkers. She deserves some chocolate.

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  53. My mom will always take time to talk to me, I have always been able to go to her for anything, she is the best!

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