455494 Tue Oct 30 08:02:51 -0700 2007 11 31 Home Cooking 0 3079368 I am having some freinds over to see our new house. It will be later in the evening, so dinner will be done. I have a 1998 Clos Du Val Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon I plan on opening and I am looking for some appetizers / snacks to serve with the wine. I have a nice recipe for lamb meatballs with mint in a tomato sauce I was thinking about. I was thinking about picking up a nice cheese like an aged gouda or cheddar. Any other ideas or critiques of what I thought of so far? Thanks. Tue Oct 30 08:02:51 -0700 2007 14810 JonH 1 3079694 I heard recently that gougeres with black pepper go beautifully with a nice red wine. Tue Oct 30 09:41:24 -0700 2007 3079368 12487 krissywats 2 3079864 I will admit I am a terrible baker so this scares me a bit. Are gougeres easy to make? Any other ideas? Tue Oct 30 10:23:17 -0700 2007 3079694 14810 JonH 3 3079888 Gougeres are really really easy to make, I am a terrible baker too Tue Oct 30 10:28:17 -0700 2007 3079864 15291 ErikaK 4 3080085 I printed out this recipe from Epicurious: http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/11379 Anyone have a better one or suggestions to make this recipe better? I was going to sub ground black pepper for the dill. Tue Oct 30 11:20:52 -0700 2007 3079888 14810 JonH 5 3082665 You don't need to use a mixer - just stir the eggs in by hand one at a time (unless you want to use the mixer). Also, a pastry bag is a super easy way to get them uniform and pretty. Otherwise I think the recipe looks great. Here's another recipe just for comparison: http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,1977,FOOD_9936_75392,00.html They are super easy and you don't have to be a 'baker' to make these have 'wow' factor. Good luck! Wed Oct 31 08:43:17 -0700 2007 3080085 12487 krissywats 6 3082671 I've never used a mixer to make mine - just beat in the eggs one at a time as Krissy says. It will look like a gloppy mess until each egg gets incorporated. Wed Oct 31 08:44:44 -0700 2007 3082665 10985 MMRuth 1 3080987 Any other suggestions? So far I am leaning towards lamb meatballs and the gougeres, but I could easily be swayed if someone have another idea. Bonus points for things that can be made ahead of time. Tue Oct 30 15:59:33 -0700 2007 3079368 14810 JonH 2 3082697 Ok - so I did a little research (I don't know a lot about wine) and found out that beef (that I knew), strong cheese, chocolate, pasta with a red sauce are recommended with a cabernet. Chocolate is out for an app, pasta is difficult, and beef is probably too heavy (especially since you're already doing lamb). So I started looking for strong cheese apps. I have a recipe for roquefort and walnut balls, marinated halloumi, a bacon-y, slightly spicy cheeseball, and a savory cheesecake made with strong cheese-y flavors. All are equally lovely. Let me know if you have a preference and I'll post the recipe. Wed Oct 31 08:51:22 -0700 2007 3080987 12487 krissywats 1 3082751 I am not such a fan of lamb and cabernet. I think steak, however, is an ideal pairing with the Clos Du Val. Perhaps a simple grilled steak, sliced and served on garlic toast points with a dollop of stilton creme and chopped chives? Wed Oct 31 09:06:40 -0700 2007 3079368 68363 JungMann 1 3082811 Chocolate! I think mini brownies or creamy truffles would be fine to add to your app/snack table. Or make something savory like chocolate dipped potato chips or pretzels. P Wed Oct 31 09:29:07 -0700 2007 3079368 15687 PamelaD 2 3083818 Chocolate can sometimes be dicey with wine, as I recently found out. But when it's balanced out with a savory element, as in Vosges's salty chocolate bar, it is heaven. Utter heaven with cabernet. Wed Oct 31 13:38:51 -0700 2007 3082811 68363 JungMann