Apple Brie Bites

I recently went to the wedding of two friends from our little church in Peterborough. It was a simple sunflower-themed affair that was attended by many in the church family as well as the entire blended family of Jim and Sue, the bride and groom.

Sue had the wedding reception catered by a woman who runs a small local restaurant. This lady has such a nice touch with small bites! She had two very long tables laid heavy with all manner of hors d'oeuvres, cheese platters, and sweet treats. With a sparkling punch, the small plates provided just the right 'wedding party' feel to the afternoon. These small apple and brie bites were one of the offerings.



They are so easy to make and assemble. They can be prepared beforehand and left until one wants to serve them. Then, they get 15-20 minutes in a 350 degree F oven and oh, my! Cool just a bit and knosh ! So tasty!

All you need is a small wheel of Brie cheese, mini-phyllo pastry shells, and enough apple compote to spoon just a small amount over top two small cubes of the cheese. I think finely chopped walnuts would be a nice thing to sprinkle atop, also, but that would be an embellishment ( nice, but unnecessary).

It's Father's Day, so I am making these for a treat for SB ... he is relaxing in his workshop and puttering at putting together a new gas grill for the terrace. Summertime is here and he has the need to grill some burgers and hotdogs!

Happy Father's Day and Happy Summer !

Apple Brie Bites

Makes 15 small bites ... for more multiply measurement accordingly

Ingredients:

1 package phyllo mini-pastry cups - 15 count

1 small wheel Brie cheese , three slices that are about 1/2 inch wide cut from the wheel

1 large apple, peeled, cored, and cut into 1/2 inch cubes

1 wedge  lemon, squeezed of its juice

about 1/3 c. sugar

1 large pat butter

a generous pinch each of cinnamon and cardamom

1 tsp. cornstarch dissolved in 2 tbsp. water

Optional: 3 tbsp. finely chopped walnuts for topping

Making the Bites:

1. Place the prepared apple, lemon juice, butter, spices and sugar in a small saucepan and bring to a boil stirring to dissolve the sugar. Stir in enough of the cornstarch slurry to thicken the juices. When the apples are semi-tender, turn the heat off under the pan and set the pan aside to cool.

2. Place the phyllo cups on a baking sheet. Cut the Brie cheese into 1/2-inch cubes and place two cubes in each cup.

3. Spoon enough cooled apple compote into the cups to top them off. set the bites aside until 15 minutes before you wish to serve them.

4. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and place the bites in the center of the oven for about 15 minutes.

5. When the Brie has melted, remove and let the bites sit for a couple minutes. Place them on a pretty platter and pass them around while they are warm and gooey with a cold glass of white wine.

6. Enjoy!