Spanish Tapas: Crostini and Olive Skewers

If you are having people over for drinks and snacks, these two Spanish inspired snacks are super easy and tasty to prepare.

Olive Skewers:

This simple appetizer demonstrates how small quantities of high quality ingredients are important. See examples above.

If you are making 10 skewers, you would need:

- small package of bocconcini (small works best) or other cheese (you can cube it yourself)

- 2-3 different varieties of olives without pitts, i.e black olives, green olives stuffed with garlic, and sicilian olives

- jar of roasted red pepper

- jar of sundried tomatoes

- skewers (wooden)

Method:

Lay out 10 skewers that are about 8 inches long
Start by adding one ball of bocconcini, then add a green olive (I liked the ones stuffed with garlic), add a sundried tomato, add a black olive, and add a roasted red pepper
Keep chilled and then leave out at room temperature for 60 minutes
You can also experiment and add other ingredients: feta stuffed hot peppers, pepperoncini peppers, cloves of garlic, and pickles.

Crostini with Mozzerella and Chorizo:

Bread, chorizo, and cheese are commonly found on menus in Spain. 

Chop a baguette in half an inch slices and place on a baking sheet.
Top with sliced mozzerella cheese, spanish style chorizo, and pesto if you want.
Bake at about 400F for 8-10 minutes (until cheese melts)