Caviar Potato Chips

I saw this recipe in the Times ages ago and have been wanting to try it. I had some friends over for my birthday and served this as a festive appetizer. It's delicious. So salty and tasty, and goes perfectly with champagne. It's great for a special occasion. 

You just mix up some creme fraiche with lemon zest and put it on good potato chips and top with salmon roe. Easy peasy. Just be sure to only do it right before you serve them so they don't get soggy.

Dinner Party Hors d'Oeuvres - Chicken Liver Pate and Caramelized Onions, St. Andre Cheese and Fig Butter

We had friends over for dinner last night and I made a nice little appetizer spread. My sister in law, Katie, gave Jamie this slate cheese board which is so fun if you have chalk because you can write out what everything is. I made this delicious chicken liver pate (but with half the butter - still amazing) and wanted to serve it with caramelized and slightly pickled onions, a la Vinegar Hill House. Yum! It was so delicious. Onion recipe below. I also picked up some fig butter from Trader Joe's and paired that with a wedge of St. Andre cheese and served it all with thin crostini. 

Pea Hummus

This is so fresh and bright and such a fun change from regular hummus. I saw this recipe on Cup of Jo and wanted to try it out. I didn't follow the directions exactly, but made it just like I usually make hummus - a little of this and a little of that. It was delicious. Jamie, my pea lover, adored it.

Ingredients:

1 box frozen peas

juice of 1/2 a lime

big handful fresh cilantro, rinced

1 large clove garlic

2 big tsp tahini

1 1/2 tbsp olive oil

a little water

salt and pepper

1/8 tsp cayenne pepper

1/2 tsp cumin

Directions:

Cook the peas until soft and thawed - a couple minutes in a sauce pan with some water. Drain and run under cold water until cool.

Chicken Liver Pâté

Chicken liver pâté sounds kind of fancy and scary, but it's actually super cheap and pretty simple to make. There are  very easy versions, like this, and this one is slightly more complicated. It has a wonderful flavor and texture and is a real treat. Don't eat this every day or you'll get gout. But for special occasions, definitely whip some up to share with friends - as long as those friends like chicken liver pâté. (It is an acquired taste.) I got the recipe from MarthaStewart.com and it's great.

See, $2.19 for more than enough chicken livers.

Ingredients:

15 tablespoons (1 7/8 sticks) unsalted butter

3/4 pound chicken livers, rinsed and drained