12/20/07 Holiday Spreads

Welcome to Vine to Wine this is your host Linda Moran and today is food and wine pairing day. During the holiday party season you do not want to be stressed out creating complicated dishes to serve at your party or to bring with you to friends. Today I am recommending a few easy to whip up spreads, the types of items to best spread them upon, and of course the wines that go with them. Spreads are a naturally simple solution to the "what should I serve" or "what would be easy to transport for cocktail hors d'oeuvres"? One of my favorites is white beans with chevre. You can find the recipe on our website vine to wine dot net. I like this atop rosemary cracker breads. Serve it with red or white wines. You can also create a simple spread using chevre or cream cheese and sour cream combined, with jarred pesto or olives and sundried tomatoes. These also taste great with red and white wines. Some of the best salmon spreads are the simple ones. Purchase a package of smoked salmon - mix it with cream cheese and garnish it with capers. It is great with dry whites and sparkling Brut Rose. If you have the time try one of our family favorites  wrap a wedge of brie cheese in phyllo dough or a thinly rolled out pie crust and bake it in a three hundred fifty degree oven until just golden brown. Set it on your serving plate and over the cheese pour one of those fruit spreads that you buy because they sound so good but you never really know what to do with them. Serve with bubbly and enjoy! So make something simple. And thanks for joining me on today's Vine to Wine.