winter canapé – sweet potato, bleu cheese, walnut, kale, cranberry gastrique

winter canapé - sweet potato, bleu cheese, walnut, kale, cranberry gastrique

winter canapé – sweet potato, bleu cheese, walnut, kale, cranberry gastrique

winter canapé - sweet potato, bleu cheese, walnut, kale, cranberry gastrique

Here’s a hearty yet elegant hors d’oeuvre to serve at your New Year’s Eve gala. Guests will most likely be imbibing. And this crunchy wintery appetizer pairs perfectly with sparkling… sparkling wine, sparkling water, sparkling lights. With holiday colors and cold-weather flavors, this canapé is sure to be a hit. It certainly was at our year-end party…

winter canapé – sweet potato, bleu cheese, walnut, kale, cranberry gastrique

RECIPE

winter canapé - sweet potato, bleu cheese, walnut, kale, cranberry gastrique
Pierce holes in a sweet potato. Roast in a 400° oven for about an hour until soft. Let cool, then peel off the skin. Cut into large dice, place in a bowl. Season with salt, pepper, nutmeg, and brown sugar. Using a potato masher, mash the potato and add enough olive oil to get a “mashed potato” consistency.

Remove the center rib from tuscan kale leaves. Roll the long strips of kale into a cigar-shape and slice into ribbons. Saute ribbons of kale in olive oil until softened, about five minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

In a medium sauce pan cook 1 c. fresh cranberries with 3/4 c. sugar, 3/4 c. red wine vinegar, and 1/4 c. red wine for about a half hour until the cranberries have burst and the sauce is syrupy.

winter canapé - sweet potato, bleu cheese, walnut, kale, cranberry gastrique
Brush slices of ciabatta or baguette with olive oil and toast until golden brown.

winter canapé - sweet potato, bleu cheese, walnut, kale, cranberry gastrique
Spread a thin layer of warm sweet potato on the toasts. Top with crumbled bleu cheese and chopped walnuts.

Place a mound of the kale over the sweet potato, then finish with 3 or 4 cranberries and their syrup.

winter canapé - sweet potato, bleu cheese, walnut, kale, cranberry gastrique
happy new year!

bonne année à mes amis!

winter canapé - sweet potato, bleu cheese, walnut, kale, cranberry gastrique

bon appétit 2014!

7 thoughts on “winter canapé – sweet potato, bleu cheese, walnut, kale, cranberry gastrique”

  1. Those look absolutely amazing. Give me cheese and berries anytime. This combination of ingredients sounds really yum, and I admit I’m not generally a fan of kale. I think combined with the right flavors, though, I could do it. 🙂 But.. cheese and berries make everything good! Ha.

    Cheers,
    Kate

    Artsy Abroad // http://artsyabroad.blogspot.com

  2. Something different and so appetizing! But cannot for a moment think why I would not want to try these in summery Australia 🙂 ! A very, very happy New Year Lori and thanks you so much for the beauty [and learning] you have offered during the past year!

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