Holidays are all about memories of family traditions, carrying forward those traditions or starting your own. Family gatherings mean lots of delicious finger foods. Take a look at the Sun-dried tomato and basil crescent rolls with gruyere. Easy and wow with flavor.
Christmas Eve was spent with just Mom and Dad and myself. After the tortuous task of making sure every dish was clean and in the cupboard after our roast beef dinner, we were finally ready gather around the tree and open presents. My Mom would set out a snack bowl of pickles, olives, celery and radishes while we opened gifts. She always used my Grandmothers’s cut crystal Depression Glass bowl that she saved for special occasions.
This is a sponsored post by Mezzetta products. And speaking of presents and memories, Mezzetta is encouraging you to share your Holiday memories and by doing so, you’ll be entered into the #MezzettaMemories Giveaway, for a chance to win this Mezzetta Gift Basket for the entire 31 days of December! (2014) The basket includes:
100% Italian Estate Grown Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• Golden Greek Peperoncini
• Garlic Stuffed Olives
• Castelvetrano Olives
• Pitted Greek Kalamata Olives
• Roasted Marinated Red & Yellow Sweet Bell Peppers
• Cocktail Onions
• 1 Apron (from House Party contents)
• 1 Metal Olive Spoon (from House Party contents)
• 1 Tote Bag (from House Party contents)
• 1 Ceramic Bowl
Hooray for the Holiday appetizer plate. It’s fresh, exciting and the life of the party. Over the next few weeks you’ll either assemble a few or most certainly find yourself hovering over and nibbling from one. Whether it’s the first thing you eat at a party or the last, that plate full of small bites is never left untouched.
Cheese, olives, pickles and crackers…the options for building one is endless. I like to balance sweet and salty flavors and creamy and crunchy textures. I always include some vinegary excitement. For this platter, I decided to upgrade my party plate and add an easy to prepare hot appetizer for the center attraction.
Sun-dried Tomato and Basil Crescent Rolls with Gruyere. Warm and inviting, savory and cheesy and so simple to prepare. Just open up a tube of purchased crescent rolls, separate and smear each piece with 2 teaspoons of Mezzetta Sun-dried Tomato and Basil Everything Spread and then sprinkle with a tablespoon of grated Gruyere cheese. Pop them in a 350 degree oven until golden in color, about 10 to 15 minutes, and be ready to share the recipe, because everyone will ask.
Sturdy and crispy on the outside, they’re an easy, no fuss finger food. Mezzetta offers several flavors of their Everything Spreads so you can create all kinds of cheesy combinations for this appetizer. The next time I make these I’ll pick up a bottle of their Roasted Red Bell Pepper and Chipotle and add some Monterey Jack cheese. Yum!
Bright and bold Castelvetrano olives are always a delicious and show-stopping addition. And in the background the sharp flavor of Cornichons will spice up any party tastebud.
Don’t be afraid of pickled vegetables, a small bowl of Giardiniera is delicious alongside a creamy sweet cranberry studded white cheese. Choose better crackers. A sturdy plain flavored flat bread is a great platform smearing and holding all those small bites.
Mezzetta makes it a breeze for holiday entertaining. Keep these dazzling jars of pickles, olives, peppers, vegetables, party spreads in your pantry to quickly fill a holiday platter for the season’s entertaining. Thanks to Mezzetta for offering my readers a coupon.
—> CLICK HERE for your Mezzetta Coupon!! <—
In addition, Mezzetta wants you to make new memories with your family by recreating my Olive the other Reindeer Appetizer – or one of your own – by giving you a 50 cent off coupon on your next Mezzetta purchase!
Cindy says
December 3, 2014 at 10:30 amI love your spread, and thanks for the coupon!
Lea Ann Brown says
December 7, 2014 at 5:30 amThanks Cindy!
Larry says
December 3, 2014 at 10:43 amSounds like you have fond memories Lea Ann and I would really enjoy your spread. I’ve always been a fan of Giardiniera and as a kid there was always a jar in the fridge. I would eat it in the following order – pearl onions, cauliflower, celery, peppers, carrots. As an adult I’ve expanded my horizons and now eat a little of everything together.
Lea Ann Brown says
December 7, 2014 at 5:30 amGiardiniera is new to me as an adult. And we love it. Thanks Larry.
John@Kitchen Riffs says
December 3, 2014 at 3:30 pmThis is the party time of the year, so this post is so perfectly timed! Those rolls look delish, and so easy! How can you go wrong? Fun stuff — thanks.
Lea Ann Brown says
December 7, 2014 at 5:30 amThanks John. Easy is a good thing this time of year.
Holly says
December 3, 2014 at 5:12 pmYour platter would be the center of attention for any party and I wish I had read your post earlier today when I was trying to come up with a snack to take to book club tonight. Those sun dried tomato rolls look perfect!
Lea Ann Brown says
December 7, 2014 at 5:31 amThey’re good Holly. Our group of partiers were pleasantly surprised.
Carol at Wild Goose Tea says
December 3, 2014 at 5:16 pmGosh I really like this basil sundried tomato product. Plus yellow peppers are a must for most of my sandwiches. Thanks for turning me on to them. I will look for them—-particularly the tomato/basil mix.
Makes a great and easy appetizer.
Lea Ann Brown says
December 7, 2014 at 5:31 amThanks Carol.
Roz says
December 3, 2014 at 5:38 pmYour rolls must have been amazing Lea Ann! Gruyere? One of the best cheese in the world and guaranteed to take any recipe over the top! Wish we could find Merzetti Castelvetrano olives . . . sold nowhere in this area, which is a total bummer. I go to Whole Foods to get them off their olive bar. My mother swears that Merzetti’s are the best!
Cheers to a wonderful Christmas season!
Roz
Lea Ann Brown says
December 13, 2014 at 6:32 amI’m surprised you can’t find them! Darnit! I like the ones from the Whole Foods bar. Actually I like em all. 🙂
Coffee and Crumpets says
December 3, 2014 at 6:19 pmI love Mezzetta products, I have a jar of their olives i my fridge right now. Ive tried their other stuff too, all great. Love these crescent rolls especially with the filling.
Lea Ann Brown says
December 7, 2014 at 5:32 amI love Mezzetta products also Nazneen. And it was great finding out about some I didn’t know existed. Love their selection.
lisaiscooking says
December 4, 2014 at 8:31 amI always seem to gravitate to the olives on a table of party food. And, I would definitely gravitate to these rolls! The melted cheese inside looks so good.
Lea Ann Brown says
December 7, 2014 at 5:32 amMe too Lisa!
Karen (Back Road Journal) says
December 4, 2014 at 8:45 amI could see serving the crescent rolls with a honey baked Christmas ham. 🙂
Lea Ann Brown says
December 7, 2014 at 5:32 amYUM! and yay for ham season. 🙂
Vickie says
December 4, 2014 at 9:09 amWonderful memories! The relish trays are always so much fun – thanks for some new ideas. Happy Holidays!
Lea Ann Brown says
December 7, 2014 at 5:33 amThanks Vickie – Happy Holidays to you too.
Pat says
December 4, 2014 at 9:27 amI love to hear stories of Christmas memories….this looks delicious. I have a their sun-ripened dried tomato pesto. Nice post, pinned 🙂
Lea Ann Brown says
December 7, 2014 at 5:33 amThanks Pat.
Rocky Mountain Woman says
December 5, 2014 at 8:47 amI’ve got a sun dried tomato recipe on my site today!
I love Mezzetta products and use them a lot…
Lea Ann Brown says
December 7, 2014 at 5:34 amI’m so behind on my blog reading, I’ll have to catch up with your sun-dried tomato dip first.
Jennifer says
December 5, 2014 at 9:19 amI would love to WIN this. Growing up we were really not well off. And lots of people did good things for me.. proved the kindness of strangers thats for sure. My high school teacher bought my prom dress, flowers, tickets, etc because she found out I wasn’t going because we could not afford and not because I didn’t want to. We had groceries show up outside our door randomly. Lots of things. Now that I am not struggling as much (but def still struggle) being a mommy to a three year old son.. I try to teach him from such a young age to do well for others and to give back. Each Christmas we collect things for the animal shelter because we have rescued a pitbull and boxer literally from their deaths and as my son says “they don’t want to be alone and sad.. santa bring them gifts” We also collect and deliver toys to the childrens hospital and invite up to five families to come over for thanksgiving. From survey money online.. I earn.. I buy them Christmas gifts (usually nothing big) but they totally appreciate it.
Lea Ann Brown says
December 7, 2014 at 5:38 amJennifer, thanks so much for your comment. And what wonderful values you’ve passed on to your children.
Deborah @ Delicious Happens says
December 5, 2014 at 7:35 pmGreat party food!!! I’m an only child too and I also have fond memories of childhood Christmas Eves with my parents. Love this festive recipe!!
Lea Ann Brown says
December 7, 2014 at 5:39 amChristmas Day was always reserved for those presents that Santa brought. But Christmas Eve holds all the memories for me.
Susan says
December 9, 2014 at 9:32 amLooks like a beautiful basket of goodies, Lea Ann, and your special memories of Christmas Eve are wonderful. We always opened our gifts on Christmas Eve growing up also.
Lea Ann Brown says
December 10, 2014 at 9:48 amThanks Susan. Always good to hear from you, thanks for stopping in.
Chris says
December 13, 2014 at 7:49 amThis would be the perfect set for a holiday party, nice line up.
Lea Ann Brown says
December 14, 2014 at 1:24 pmThanks Chris.