Pearly Bites Recipes

BACON AND PEAR BITES

Steps:

• In a skillet, fry the chopped bacon until crisp then transfer with a slotted spoon to a paper towel lined plate. In the same skillet saute onions, adding a sprinkle of salt and pepper to season. Remove the onions with a slotted spoon, and pile over the bacon.
• Using the same pan, add the butter and let it melt, but not brown. Stir in the pears and saute over medium-high heat to slightly brown, but remove before they become soft, about 5 minutes.
• Transfer the pears to a bowl and add bacon, onions and raisins; set aside.
• With a paper towel, wipe out the pan and add the walnuts. Stir and toss the walnuts to toast them and then remove when they become fragrant. Cool slightly, then chop and add to the bowl with the pear mixture.
• Put the mini filo shells in the cups of 2 mini cupcake pans. Add 1 teaspoon of the bacon mixture to each shell.
• In a saucepan over medium-high heat, add the orange juice, sugar and honey. Bring to a boil then lower the heat and cook until it reduces and becomes slightly thick, about 10 minutes. Pour 1 teaspoon of syrup over each cup and allow it to soak in, then repeat with another teaspoon.
• Refrigerate at least 1 hour or overnight. Serve at room temperature or serve warm by putting the pans in a preheated 250 degree F oven, about 20 minutes. Transfer to a serving platter and serve.

SOFT PRETZEL BITES

Steps:

• Place 1 1/2 cups water, butter, brown sugar, yeast, and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the hook attachment. Mix until well combined. Let sit for about 5 minutes.
• Turn mixer on low speed and add 4 cups flour, 1 cup at a time. Add additional 1/2 cup flour if dough appears sticky. Increase speed to medium and knead until dough is smooth and pulls away from the sides of the bowl, 4 to 5 minutes. Sprinkle in more flour if dough still seems a little tacky.
• Oil a large mixing bowl. Add the ball of dough. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place for about 1 hour.
• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Grease a sheet pan with cooking spray.
• Bring 3 quarts water to a boil in a large saucepan. Slowly add baking soda and return to a boil.
• Meanwhile, remove dough from the bowl, flatten into a disc shape, and cut into 8 wedges. Roll each wedge into a 24-inch rope. Cut each rope into 1-inch pieces.
• Drop batches of dough pieces into the boiling water for about 35 seconds. Remove to the prepared sheet pan. Beat egg with 1 tablespoon water; brush over the tops of each boiled dough piece. Repeat with remaining dough.
• Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, 14 to 16 minutes. Cool slightly before serving.

SAVOURY PARTY BITES

Steps:

• Mango & Prawn skewers 3 limes, 1 tbsp grated ginger, 1 crushed garlic clove, 1 chopped and deseeded red chilli and 1 tbsp chopped coriander. Cut a large mango into 20 chunks. Thread each onto a small skewer with a large cooked prawn (20 prawns will be about 250g/9oz). Marinate the skewers in the lime dressing for 1 hr (makes 20).
• Little caviar jackets Put 20 small new potatoes on a baking tray. Drizzle with olive oil and season. Roast for 25 mins at 200C/180C fan/gas 6, then cool to room temp. Cut a small cross in the top of each one, push open a little and top with 1 tsp crème fraîche and some caviar (makes 20).
• Sticky squash with sesame seeds Peel a large butternut squash. Cut into 20 x 3cm squares, then mix with 1 tbsp each of soy sauce, sesame oil and honey. Arrange the chunks on a large baking tray lined with baking parchment. Sprinkle with 2 tbsp sesame seeds, season and bake for 20-25 mins at 200C/180C fan/ gas 6 until crisp. Put a cocktail stick in each chunk to serve (makes 20).
• Chorizo & chilli mini pizzas Use a pastry cutter to cut out 20 x 6cm circles from a pack of soft Middle Eastern flatbread or wraps. Grate 75g/2.5oz Manchego and chop 75g/2.5oz chorizo and ½ a red chilli. Scatter over the bread bases, then bake at 200C/180C fan/gas 6 for 10 mins (makes 20).
• Goat's cheese on toast Roughly mash 250g/9oz goat's cheese with 2 finely chopped shallots. Toast 5-6 slices of sourdough and stamp out 20 small circles. Spread each circle with some cheese, top with a small blob of chilli jam (you'll need about 3 tbsp) and scatter with chives, snipped from a small packet (makes 20).

FAIRY BITES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Line an 8-inch square baking pan with plastic wrap (or cut parchment to fit) leaving a 1-inch overhang.
• Cream together butter, sugar, and vanilla extract in a bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed, scraping bowl often, until well combined. Reduce speed to low and mix in flour and salt until well combined. Stir in sprinkles.
• Knead mixture 4 to 5 times in the bowl until dough forms a ball. Pat dough evenly into the prepared pan. Use overhang to lift dough from pan. Cut dough into 1/2-inch squares. Gently place squares 1/2 inch apart onto an ungreased baking sheet.
• Bake until bottoms just begin to brown, about 15 minutes.