Fridge Door Canapes

One of my all-time favorite things to eat for dinner is a nibble-and-pick platter. It feels like you’re sitting down to fancy canapés, but really, it’s a just an excuse to work your way through the last, lingering condiments in the back of the fridge.

Okay, okay, I see you rummaging around, working up a nibble-and-pick from the floating world inside your fridge door. Here are a few suggestions if you want to make an open-face platter worthy of company. Consider a few sound investments:

•     1 jar of really good grainy mustard
•     some exceptional salami
•     1 jar of tapenade
•     2 cheeses (one mild, one strong as hell)
•     1 jar of chutney or fig jam
•     cornichons (wee pickles)
•     crusty baguette

Note:  if you are going to skimp, skimp on the stuff in jars. Don’t buy gloomy processed cheese or subpar salami. Trust me. Buy small amounts, but spring for a really good stilton or a really nice Parm. Then go Acme on the jam. Trader Joe’s is a great source of inexpensive pickly things.

Here are some soulful combinations for open-faced canapés:

•     Parm, minced sundried tomatoes in oil, a spiced pecan
•     Stilton and fig jam (or plum jam or chutney)
•     Aged cheddar, grainy mustard, and pickled red onions (or caramelized onions)
•     Fresh goat cheese, tapenade or roasted red peppers, and capers
•     Grainy mustard, salami, sliced cornichons
•     Soft cheese, parsley, fresh anchovies