Serves 2 as an entrée or 4 as an appetizer

4 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon lemon juice
3 cloves garlic, chopped
½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
1-pound shrimp (25-30 count or larger), peeled and deveined
¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped
salt and pepper to taste
grated parmesan cheese for serving
1 lemon cut into wedges for serving
Optional additions: 1 tablespoon capers and/or 1 tablespoon sundried tomatoes, chopped 
       

1. Place the butter, lemon juice, garlic, and red pepper flakes into a 7-inch round baking pan and place into the basket of your air fryer (include optional capers and sundried tomatoes if using). Cook at 350 degrees for 6 minutes. 
   
   
2. Add the shrimp to the melted butter mixture and toss to coat the shrimp. Place the pan back into the air fryer and cook for 5 minutes. 
   
   
3. Remove the pan from the air fryer and sprinkle with the chopped parsley. Toss and serve in the hot pan with artisan bread for dipping and lemon wedges for squeezing. 

Serving options:
2 cups cooked pasta-toss the cooked pasta with the shrimp and butter mixture.
1 cup cooked rice-serve the shrimp and butter mixture over the rice.
2 cups spiralized zucchini cooked in the air fryer at 350 degrees for 4 minutes. Toss gently with shrimp mixture and serve hot.

Anyone can make these pretty little canapés. Will it help you to think of them as little open-faced sandwiches? That is really what they are. They are little sandwiches prettied up. There are a few tips I want to share to help you enjoy the preparation and the decorating of these tasty treats.

Tips:

1. Bread-I like Pepperidge Farms white or wheat bread-the thinnest they make. In general, I use thinly sliced breads. I stay away from breads that are dry and crumbly, and I don't find those little rye breads very tasty. I do like crackers that don't break apart with the first bite-too crispy is not good.
   
2. To keep your canapés bread or cracker from getting soggy the first layer should be some type of fat. Cream cheese, butter, hard or soft cheese-any high fat, spreadable condiment should be fine (not oil). The fat acts as a barrier between the bread/cracker and a water containing ingredient.
3. Decide if your flavor will come from the spread or the toppings. Canapés are a small bite and the flavor is a big factor. If you want the spread to provide the main flavor, you can season the spread with herbs, spices, citrus, or anything you would like. I like pesto, olive tampanade, and other spreads. If the toppings add the flavor, keep your spread simple, but of good quality. Plain salted butter or cream cheese are excellent choices. 
4. Toppings should be thinly sliced and easy to bite. 
5. Garnishes of herbs and edible flowers should be fresh and dry.
6. Design with color and texture. Think of each canapés as a blank canvas and you are the painter.
7. If preparing ahead of time, store in the refrigerator with a lightly dampened paper towel sitting directly on the canapés. Cover that with plastic wrap loosely wrapped on top or in a covered container. Preparation can be done 2-3 hours ahead.

Ingredients from the photos above:
Cream cheese, radishes, dill flowers, bachelor button petals, chamomile flowers, Thai basil flowers, dill, borage flowers, marigold petals.

Serves 6 as a side dish

4 ounces sugar snap peas
4 ounces snow peas, sliced on the bias
4 ounces frozen petite peas, thawed
2 scallions, about ½ cup chopped-or equal about of chives, chopped
2 cups pea shoots or tendrils-water cress or mixed greens can be substituted
2 Tbs fresh mint, roughly chopped
2 Tbs fresh flat leafed parsley, roughly chopped
5 Tbs cider or red wine vinegar
1 tsp Dijon mustard
1/2 cup olive oil
Kosher salt and Pepper
Ricotta salata or parmesan, shaved
Edible flowers for garnish

1. Heat a saucepan filled halfway with water and 1 tsp kosher salt. Bring to a boil. While the water is coming to a boil, prepare an ice bath with ice and cold water, set aside.
2. When the salted water reaches a boil, add the sugar snap peas and the sliced snow peas. Cook for 3 minutes. Remove the peas from the water with a slotted spoon and immediately place them into the ice bath. Once cold, drain and place on a cotton towel to pat dry-as dry as possible.
3. Prepare the dressing by combining the vinegar, Dijon mustard, and olive oil in a lidded jar. Cover and shake until combined.
4. Place the sugar snap, snow, and thawed peas, into a large bowl with the greens. Add the herbs and enough dressing to lightly coat the salad and gently toss.  Season with salt and pepper to taste.  Serve immediately garnished with cheese and edible flowers.

Check out my Facebook Live cooking demo of this salad with the 3 variations below: https://www.facebook.com/thecreativefeast/videos/561124908113428/
​

Make this salad a meal: Hard boiled eggs or poached eggs with roasted potatoes and roasted radishes.

Appetizer: Dress the salad and place on top of toasted bread smeared with ricotta cheese

Pasta: Add the undressed salad to Pasta Carbonara https://www.thecreativefeast.com/recipeblog/pasta-alla-carbonara

Serves 2-4

1 lb cooked salmon or one 14 ounce can salmon
2 tablespoon mayonnaise
1/3 cup breadcrumbs-unseasoned
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 tablespoon herb, dill, parsley, chopped
1 stalk scallion, chopped
2 tablespoon oil
2 tablespoon butter
Lemon

1. If using fresh cooked salmon, break up the salmon with a fork. If using canned salmon, drain and reserve liquid from salmon. Leave the bones-they are so soft and will not be noticed in the patties.
   
   
2. In a bowl, combine the salmon, mayonnaise, breadcrumbs, egg, and herbs. If mixture is too dry to form into patties, add reserved liquid from salmon.
   
   
3. Form the mixture into salmon cakes using about 1/3 cup for each.

   
   
4. Place the oil and butter into a large sauté pan and heat over medium high heat. When the butter has melted and starts to bubble, place the salmon cakes in and cook until browned. Turn over and brown on the other side. Serve hot, room temperature, or cold. Serve with a wedge of lemon.

Triple Creme Cheese
Aged Gouda
Sopressata Salami
Speck-Italan cured ham
Pickled Quail Eggs
Olives
Seasoned Walnuts
Strawberries
Figs
​

Cherry tomatoes are in season and if your plants are like mine, suddenly masses of cherry tomatoes are ripening all at one time.  I'll make gazpacho, tomato and basil salad, tomato and watermelon salad, tomato and corn sauce, scrambled eggs with sliced cherry tomatoes on the side, and finally...pasta with cherry tomato sauce.

Makes 2-3 cups

 2 Tbs olive oil
1lb. cherry tomatoes(or grape tomatoes)cut in half lengthwise
6 large cloves of garlic, cut into thin slivers
5 large fresh basil leaves, sliced into strips
1 pinch crushed red pepper
4 Tbs unsalted butter, COLD
Kosher or sea salt and freshly ground pepper  

1. In a large sauté pan, heat the oil and the slivered garlic over low heat.  Cook until the garlic begins to brown, about 3 minutes. 
2. Add the crushed red pepper, basil and cherry tomatoes. Raise the heat to medium high. Sauté gently until the tomatoes begin to breakdown give up their juices, about 5- 8 minutes.  If a wetter sauce is desired, add ½ cup water.
3. To finish the sauce turn of the heat and slowly stir in the cold butter 1 tablespoon at a time.  Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Serve over pasta, rice, shirataki noodles, or lightly cooked zucchini spirals. 

Additions:
Add fresh corn. Cut the corn off the cob and add to the kernels to the tomatoes after they have cooked for 4 minutes. 
Cooked shrimp, chicken, pork, or sirloin.