Beef Bites

Another menu item from our ornament exchange party was some beef bites. I used the London broil beef round that Larry smoked and turned it into some beef bites on crostioni.

I coated my baguette rounds with olive oil on both sides and baked them at 400*F or 200*C for about 25-30 minutes, flipping them over at about the half way point to get them golden brown and crispy. I used regular olive oil and a hint of red chili oil too.

I made these the day before the party then stored them in a sealed plastic bag until I was ready to use them.

I had a vision of what I wanted to make, but not being a cheese eater, I wasn’t sure what the best cheese option was. So I asked the cheese expert at my local store, and she recommended the Port Salut. I followed her advice, and these were a huge success.

I sliced the beef into thin slices. I put a small spread of either sour cherry spread or whole grain mustard on the crostini, added a little Port Salut soft cheese, topped them with the beef and then an additional spread of sauce on top. Then I added a tiny sprig of fresh thyme for decoration.

These were a HUGE hit and disappeared very quickly. And as you can see, they were elegant, but were super easy to make. They are perfect for any party or setting where you want to add some delicious nibblies. As much as I like to fancy things up, simple is often the best choice. Things don’t have to be fancy to taste good. But they do have to look fancy and pretty. Make people think you slaved away to prepare them. Keep it your little secret that you didn’t. 🙂

Have a great day and make everyday great. Stay safe and stay well. Happy Holidays. ‘Til next time.