Antipasto Skewers

As a caterer I am always looking for new ways of using the same old ingredients. Last summer I got tired of throwing away left over items from antipasto trays. People ask for antipasto trays and there are inevitably items on the tray that they do not eat. They are either too messy, just not desireable or they don't quite know how to tackle them. After one of my customers asked for a skewer menu of small appetizers. They wanted something larger than an amuse-bouche and smaller than a tranditional appetizer. Voila, the antipasto skewer was developed. It solved the problem of selection of ingredients, mess and choice making. It provided a lovely couple of mouth fulls of something that both satisfied and got the appetite going. The parsley in it solved the problem of stong ingredients' impact on the stomach and one's breath. It brought something that had a sense of disorder and caused some confusion into lovely, tasty order. These little morsels are a favourite. I have had people say they were the tastiest they had ever had, that they made them hungry just looking at them. They loved the solution to the mess, the plate, the choice making and the unwieldy ingredients.

 

INGREDIENTS

(base quantities on the number of skewers desired)

Hungarian Salami (one slice per)

Capicola (hot or mild) (one slice per)

Black Olives Pitted,  Green Olives with Pimento, Spiced Green Olives, Sweet Pickles (thick slice) (two from this selection per skewer)

Bocconcini (1.5 cm diameter - marinated in Sun Dried Tomato Salad Dressing for at least an hour- one for every two depending on your construction)

Cheese Tortellini (cooked then drained and marinated in Sun Dried Tomato Salad Dressing for at least 1 hour)

Sun Dried Tomato Salad Dressing

Bunch Parsley

Bamboo Skewers 3 to 4 inches long

 

I skewer them as follows:

Olive or pickle, parsley, meat, tortellini or bocconcini,parsley, meat, olive or cheese

 

May be made a day ahead if securely wrapped.

 

Caution:

Sweet pickles do not stay on the skewer well as a final ingredient.

Extremely tasty, sampling may be required.