Cucumber and Radish Appetizers ~ Two Ways

This passed weekend was our Annual Adult Easter Egg Hunt Party, and the food was always a hit. We did an informal hamburger and hot dog spread, but had a little of the fancy-shmancy stuff too. There was potato salad, slaw and deviled eggs to name a few of the sides, but the appetizers were a hit. Here are the recipes for the Cucumber ~ Radish Bites.

Herbed Cream Cheese Cucumber and Radish Appetizers
(on the long tray)

4 oz cream cheese, softened

2 tablespoons mayonaise
1/2 teaspoon dill weed
2 teaspoons ranch dressing mix
1/2 teaspoon finely grated fresh lemon zest
1/8 teaspoon table salt
Pinch of cayenne, or to taste
1-2 medium pickling cucumber
3 medium radishes
1 teaspoons minced fresh basil

and Kosher salt for sprinkling

Stir together cream cheese, herbs, zest, lemon juice, table salt, and cayenne.
Slice 32 (1/8-inch-thick) rounds from cucumber with a mandolin. Trim bottoms from radishes, then slice into 32 (1/16-inch-thick) rounds with a mandolin. Top each cucumber slice with 1/2 teaspoon herbed cream cheese and top with a radish slice. Sprinkle with coarse sea salt and basil serve immediately.

Pimento Cheese Cucumber and Radish Appetizers
(on the small plate)

1 lb Extra Sharp Cheddar Cheese, grated
1 8oz package Cream Cheese, softened
1 cup diced Pimento
1 cup Mayonnaise
2 tablespoons onion, grated
1 teaspoon garlic powder
Salt and Cayenne Pepper, to taste

Combine all the ingredients, mixing well. Refrigerate 2 to 3 hours for flavors to mix.

Prepare the cucumbers and radishes as in the recipe above, but use my pimento cheese spread instead. (With this recipe, you will have a generous plenty of pimento cheese for sandwiches or as a dip for crackers.)

Shared on Meal Plan Monday 

Lynch Wedding Reception ~ Farm to Table Style

We've had a lot of work and a little drama going on the past several days preparing and working and prepping and cooking and cleaning... and the list goes on! The first drama/horror was a stove that didn't work. The microwave worked long enough for my son to heat up a hot dog Friday afternoon. There was no hot water and the breakers kept tripping! (BTW... try cleaning up with no hot water! LOL) The people that we were doing this for were VERY understanding! You do what you can do and that's ALL you can do! Thank you Rick and Faris!!! 

In the spirit of the recent Farm to Table movement, I wanted to create an event for the bride using a lot of local resources/farms. She told me she really loves using local fresh ingredients and farm products. In the picture below the, the hubby and I are setting up the buffet server that had Cheese Logs on the side that I'm working on. I used a Fromage Blanc from my farm friends Alice and Earle at Middle Sparrow Ranch in Sardis, SC to make those! I also had two more fromage spreads: Rosemary and Black Olive & Honey and Cranberry!

Fromage Spreads from Middle Sparrow Ranch

My beautiful Buffet Server with Ham Biscuits,

Chicken Salad and Cheese Ball/Logs

I put my step-son, Cory, in charge of making my very tasty and elegant Shrimp-n-Grits! We used Stone Ground Grits I ordered from Carolina Plantaion in Darlington, SC, which have a nice and creamy texture. The longer you cook them, the creamer they become! Cooked in chicken broth, they become rich and savory which is perfect for my shrimp and sausage gravy. Thanks Cory! Awesome job! I really lucked out with a two-fer in this dish! I just happened to find some sausage from my farm friend, Russell at Sunny Cedars Farm in Sumter, SC in my freezer, which put this dish over the top!

The bride requested a Taco Bar, which I have never done for a wedding, but I did have fun playing with all the options! We had all the typical Mexican Rice, Charro Beans, Lettuce and Tomato, Guacamole, Sour Cream and Cheese, Cheese, Cheese! I did, however, throw in a TWIST! (Pun intended!) I had Pulled Pork and a couple of toppings from my friend Bobby at Bobbi's Kozy Kitchen. I made her Cilantro Lime Crema and Grilled Pineapple Salsa. These made AWESOME tacos!

We also had three varieties of wings:

Buffalo Wings!

Memphis~Style Sweet Heat Wings!

Teriyaki Wings!

Of course, no party is complete without trays/bowls of gorgeous fruit and the popular vegetable tray complete with yummy ranch dip!

My foodie friend Chef Christopher Hill over at the Bachelor Kitchen, shared his recipe for Bourbon BBQ Sauce because I had a request to sauce the cocktail wieners with a bourbon BBQ sauce! I had to try the sauce on a chicken tender! Yummy!

Because I forgot my camera, and I can't find anyone yet that has pictures of the dessert table or the Coffee Bar, (I will find them and add them soon! I didn't want it to delay the post any longer.) I'm ending with the Spinach Dip, Pimento Cheese Sandwiches (The hubby mixed it up, but my daughter-in-law Jamie made the pretty sandwiches! Thanks Jamie for all your hard work!) and Sausage Quiche! 

A special thanks to my son Elliott who handled the Coffee Bar and much, much more, and to Autumn who handled her first catering job with style and grace! She was right there ready to take on the next task and executed her tasks perfectly! Thanks y'all! Thanks to all y'all! 

...and finally

Congratulations Tricia and Chris!!!

Pimento Cheese

Pretty much everyone in the South has an aunt or grandmother that has a pimento cheese recipe. I combined the ideas from several recipes and came up with this one. I made it for a wedding reception this weekend, and it was a smash hit. I had several people tell me that it was the best they ever had! I love it! Yay! Even the bartender (my step-son took him some sandwiches) said that the pimento cheese is awesome!

1 lb Extra Sharp Cheddar Cheese, grated
1 8oz package Cream Cheese, softened
1 cup diced Pimento
1 cup Mayonnaise
2 tablespoons onion, grated
1 teaspoon garlic powder
Salt and Cayenne Pepper, to taste

Combine all the ingredients, mixing well. Refrigerate 2 to 3 hours for flavors to mix. (Overnight is best.)