Time For Tapas

Tonite I decided to throw together a tray of tapas as a surprise instead of a regular dinner.  While Dan worked on his computer I got several things together, and then we had a bit of a feast, right there on the bed while we watched tv.  We do dinners like that once in a while and it's always great.

Today I put together several different items.  First, I put out a couple different types of olives.  I then stuffed peppadew peppers with a mixture of cream cheese, ricotta, and fresh basil.  I made patatas bravas (crispy seasoned potatoes) and made a quick seasoned aioli to go with them.  Dan loves deviled eggs so I made a few of those, with a simple mix of Spanish seasonings. 

When we do this type of tapas meal we always have a selection of cheeses.  Tonite we had havarti, a cheddar seasoned with habanero, some aged pecorino romano, and cubes of feta that I marinated in a mixture of red wine vinegar, olive oil, and seasonings.  I seasoned honey with crushed red pepper because I had heard that it goes well with the pecorino.  Very true - the spicy honey was delicious with the pecorino romano.  I know those cheeses aren't Spanish - but it's the idea of the style of the meal that's Spanish, not all the food has to be.  It's all good!

I also threw together a pitcher of sangria with the miscellaneous fruits and fruit juices we had in the house.  I used orange, pineapple, and lime juice, a touch of sugar, a few splashes of spiced rum, and plenty of Rose wine, along with sliced peaches, limes, and apples, and a bit of tonic water for fizz.  Despite being put together on a whim with makeshift ingredients, it accidentally turned out to be the best sangria I ever made.  It was a pleasant surprise.

So, I piled everything on a tray and told Dan to step away from the computer.  He was surprised and pleased with the feast.  His favorite thing was the marinated feta; mine happened to be the pecorino with the spiced honey. 

If you want to do a tapas meal like this, there are plenty of great tapas recipes, but you don't have to do an ounce of cooking if you don't want to.  You can pick up olives, cheeses, nuts, even seasoned potatoes and sauces, all at the store.  Throw in a little bread and a glass of wine and you are all set.  You can never go wrong with tapas!

Happy eating!