Summer Party Appetizers

Making your own tapenade can be really easy all you need is a few simple ingredients, a food processor and a creative spirit.

Sweet Pepper and Cheese Tapenade appetizers
Ingredients
1 cup cream cheese
1/2 cup of sweet red pepper jelly
Red pepper juliened for garnish
1 french baquette cut into 1/2 inch slices (about 30 slices)
In a food processor mix the cream cheese and pepper jelly until smooth.
Spread the tapenade on each of the bread slices and garnish with one red pepper juliene slice

Red Wine Mushroom Tapenade appetizers on crustini bread
Ingredients
1 tablespoon butter
1/2 teaspoon olive oil
2 cups of mushrooms sliced
2 ounces of red wine
salt pepper to taste
20 crustini rounds

In a frying pan combine butter and olive oil on medium heat with the mushrooms until tender. Add red wine and cook until the wine has completely reduced. Let cool for 10 minutes.
In a food processor pulse the cooled mixture adding a little olive oil to form a chunky paste. Add salt and pepper to taste. Spread onto warm crustini rounds.

Mini Lamb pitas with mint yogurt dip
Ingredients
1 lb ground lamb
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/4 cup spanish onion finely chopped
1/4 teaspoon chopped garlic
1/4 teaspoon chopped rosemary
Salt and Pepper to taste
Combine all ingredients above and form into 4 large square patties. Grill each patty for approximately 6 minutes per side or until desired doneness. Cut each pattie into four smaller squares.

Dip
4 teaspoons Mint sauce
1/2 cup of plain yogurt
Combine mint sauce and plain yogurt

16 Mini pita pockets
Put one small square in each pita pocket and top with dip, garnish with one or two mint leaves