basil

Tomato Olive Rolls

Tomato Olive Rolls by Wood and Spoon blog. These are scone like pinwheels with basil pesto, green and black olives, mozzarella and asiago cheese, and tomatoes! All of the ingredients are wrapped up in the butter and cream dough and baked until the cheese and crust are golden brown. These are similar to appetizers you can make with crescent rolls! Find the recipe and how to for these Italian mediterranean party snack foods on thewoodandspoon.com

In another life, I’m outdoorsy. I enjoy things like camping and cycling and building fires. Instead of cuddling up under an umbrella at the pool, I’m the girl belly flopping into the ocean, rolling in the sand, and pulling fish from the water with my bare hands.

I’ve been an indoor cat most of my life and, as a result, have indulged primarily in hobbies that are done from the comfort of my air-conditioned home. Baking, sewing, and Netflixing are among some of my favorite activities, a truth that has been largely influenced by my aversion to bugs and boob sweat. Yes, it’s the indoor life for me, forever and always, but there’s just this one little thing that I wish I was good at.

Tomato Olive Rolls by Wood and Spoon blog. These are scone like pinwheels with basil pesto, green and black olives, mozzarella and asiago cheese, and tomatoes! All of the ingredients are wrapped up in the butter and cream dough and baked until the cheese and crust are golden brown. These are similar to appetizers you can make with crescent rolls! Find the recipe and how to for these Italian mediterranean party snack foods on thewoodandspoon.com

On Gardening

I really want to be a gardener. In my dreams I have giant square planters filled with vine-ripened tomatoes and herbs and spicy orange peppers. I tend to rows of blackberry bushes with ease and teach my kiddos how to hunt out the ripest fruit. My flower pots are filled with ferns and pansies and geraniums and they even manage to survive a hot weekend without being fried to a crisp. Unfortunately, these are just dreams, and in the real world of green thumbs and black thumbs, I belong to the latter. This is the reality of outdoor Kate.

The older I get (and the longer I continue to pay for my own groceries) the more I appreciate the value of being able to live off the land. My husband and I have an above-ground garden with a few small produce plants. It’s been a whole month and I have yet to kill anything, although, to be fair, my husband is 100% responsible for any and all work that has been done to it at this point. As far as I’m concerned, I’ll keep our kids (and him) alive if he can remember to weed-eat and water the peppers, okay? Still, I am set on this tiny baby garden of ours producing some killer veggies someday, and when it does, you can bet I’ll be throwing them into all sorts of treats. Like these tomato olive rolls.

Tomato Olive Rolls by Wood and Spoon blog. These are scone like pinwheels with basil pesto, green and black olives, mozzarella and asiago cheese, and tomatoes! All of the ingredients are wrapped up in the butter and cream dough and baked until the cheese and crust are golden brown. These are similar to appetizers you can make with crescent rolls! Find the recipe and how to for these Italian mediterranean party snack foods on thewoodandspoon.com

Tomato Olive Rolls

The inspiration for these tomato olive rolls comes from a bakery treat a friend bought for me a few years ago: a soft yeast dough filled with asiago cheese and briny olives. Tomatoes and herbs added Italian flair and moisture for the filling. Immediately, I set out to make the rolls, and within a few days I landed a recipe I really liked. Although I’m always  fan of yeast doughs, I really wanted another option that wouldn’t require so much waiting time and energy in the kitchen. Enter tomato olive rolls 2.0.

This round of tomato olive rolls comes together with a scone-esqsue dough that is tender and cakey. I got the idea from that cinnamon roll I told y’all about a while ago. I’m pleased to say that it totally works! Let’s talk about how to make them.

Tomato Olive Rolls by Wood and Spoon blog. These are scone like pinwheels with basil pesto, green and black olives, mozzarella and asiago cheese, and tomatoes! All of the ingredients are wrapped up in the butter and cream dough and baked until the cheese and crust are golden brown. These are similar to appetizers you can make with crescent rolls! Find the recipe and how to for these Italian mediterranean party snack foods on thewoodandspoon.com

Making the Rolls

First, for the dough, we start by mixing the dry ingredients. Flour, salt, sugar, and baking powder stir together before ice cold butter cuts in. Next is heavy cream,  added to bring the dough together. We set the whole lot of it aside while we prep the insides.

Finally, for the filling, use finely chopped olives, diced tomatoes, and a blend of asiago and mozzarella cheese. The goods layer on top of the rolled out dough with schmear of basil pesto and a sprinkle of herbs. The whole thing rolls in a tube and slices into flat little pinwheels ready for baking.

Tomato Olive Rolls by Wood and Spoon blog. These are scone like pinwheels with basil pesto, green and black olives, mozzarella and asiago cheese, and tomatoes! All of the ingredients are wrapped up in the butter and cream dough and baked until the cheese and crust are golden brown. These are similar to appetizers you can make with crescent rolls! Find the recipe and how to for these Italian mediterranean party snack foods on thewoodandspoon.com

The tomato olive rolls arrive from the oven with a light golden crust and a tight spiral of cheesy goodness. Allow the pastries to set slightly before serving; keep in mind they are best consumed the day they are made. These tomato olive rolls are perfect summer appetizers for all your outdoorsy (and indoor!) events. Give them a try and let me know what you think! And feel free to add your own variations. Maybe peppers and feta? Perhaps a little pepperoni and fig jam? You decide. Happy Friday and Happy Baking!

If you like these tomato olive rolls you should try:

Tomato Galette with Pesto and Feta

Buttermilk Biscuits with Pepper Bacon, Cheddar, and Egg

Cheddar Cornmeal Chicken Pot Pie

Maple Bacon Scones

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Tomato Olive Rolls

These tomato olive rolls are made with a quick scone-like dough and are filled with asiago and mozzarella cheese, olives, tomatoes, basil pesto, and herbs. Try these summer appetizers today!

  • Author: Kate Wood
  • Prep Time: 15
  • Cook Time: 40
  • Total Time: 55 minutes
  • Yield: 20

Ingredients

For the dough:

  • 21/2 cups (325 gm) all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • 2 teaspoons sugar
  • ¾ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup (113 gm) unsalted butter, cold and cut into chunks
  • ¾ cup (180 gm) heavy whipping cream, cold, plus more for brushing
  • 1 large egg, cold

For the filling:

  • Two tablespoons prepared basil pesto
  • 1/3 cup (70 gm) black olives, diced small
  • 1/3 cup (70 gm) green olives with pimentos, diced small
  • 2/3 cup (135 gm) small diced Roma tomato, seeded (another large variety is fine)
  • 2/3 cup (80 gm) shredded asiago cheese
  • 2/3 cup (80 gm) shredded mozzarella cheese
  • Pepper
  • Baking spray or canola oil spray

Instructions

To prepare the dough:

  1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt. Use a pastry cutter or the back of two forks to cut the butter into the dry ingredients until pea-sized clumps are present throughout and the butter is well integrated. In a separate bowl, whisk the whipping cream and egg. Pour the liquid ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir together until a shaggy dough forms. Dump the mixture out onto the counter and knead together just until a dry dough forms- do not overwork the dough. You can add an additional 1-2 tablespoons of cream if your dough won’t come together at all. Cover the dough with a tea towel while you prep your other ingredients, but don’t let it sit out more than 15 minutes.

To assemble the rolls:

  1. When ready to bake, roll out dough to a 8″x20″ rectangle, about 1/8” thick. Spread basil pesto out evenly over the dough. Sprinkle evenly with olives, tomatoes, and cheese. Finish with pepper, to taste.
  2. Starting with the widest end closest to you, begin to roll the dough somewhat tightly away from you until you reach the end. When finished rolling, pinch to seal the dough seam at the end. Slice the log into ¾” rounds and arrange them on the sheet pan. Bake in the oven until the crust is golden brown, usually about 20 minutes depending on the size of your rolls. Allow to cool slightly before consuming. Rolls are best eaten the day they’re prepared but can be reheated the following day.

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Tomato Galette with Basil Pesto and Feta

Tomato Galette with Pesto and Feta By The Wood and Spoon Blog by Kate Wood. This is a simply, flaky butter pie crust filled with ripe heirloom or Roma tomatoes, basil, pesto, and feta cheese. The whole thing is baked as a rustic galette style tart and is topped with parmesan cheese. This is a delicious way to use summer cherry tomatoes and a simple way to use pie crust. Find the recipe for this fun vegetable dinner or appetizer on thewoodandspoon.com

Summer is sending me all kinds of mixed signals. It’s all frozen cocktails, ice cream cones, and beer-battered fish at one minute. The next minute I’m expected to don a bathing suit. Hop in my daisy dukes. Sport a tank top. Well guess what, Summer? I’m over it. You’ve tempted me with your cream cheese-laden dips and funnel cakes for too long. I’m fighting back with this here tomato galette.

Tomato Galette

Yes, summer shares its bounty of fresh vegetables, ripe berries, and fragrant herbs, but honestly, I’m just not always vibing *salad*. Sometimes, I want to enjoy the summer harvest of noms with a subtle hint of decadence. On a scale of one to milkshakes, I’m not always on a full level 12, but I certainly don’t want to sacrifice flavor and texture satisfaction if I don’t have to. So instead, I look to treats like this tomato galette, a dish that celebrates the season’s juicy ripe tomatoes and fresh basil with a little bit of pie crust and (cough) a whole lot of cheese. Worth it.

Tomato Galette with Pesto and Feta By The Wood and Spoon Blog by Kate Wood. This is a simply, flaky butter pie crust filled with ripe heirloom or Roma tomatoes, basil, pesto, and feta cheese. The whole thing is baked as a rustic galette style tart and is topped with parmesan cheese. This is a delicious way to use summer cherry tomatoes and a simple way to use pie crust. Find the recipe for this fun vegetable dinner or appetizer on thewoodandspoon.comGalettes are fab for a number of reasons, but you probably remember that from the blueberry galette post that I shared with you a few weeks ago. All the taste and pizazz of a traditional pie with half of the work and time. This tomato galette is no exception. A simple, straight forward pie crust recipe, buttery, flaky, and perfectly golden every time, filled with bright red tomatoes, feta and parmesan cheese, and basil pesto. Might as well be a bullseye, right?

Making the Pie Dough

To make the galette, we start by whipping up some pie dough. If you’ve never made your own pie dough from scratch, please let me be the one to encourage you to take the plunge. My all-time favorite pie crust is delightful here, so try it if you don’t already have a  go-to of your own. Alternatively, you could try the buttery cornmeal crust that I shared a few weeks ago. Hedge back on the sugar a bit and I’m sure that the combo of tomatoes and cornmeal would be over the top delish.

Tomato Galette with Pesto and Feta By The Wood and Spoon Blog by Kate Wood. This is a simply, flaky butter pie crust filled with ripe heirloom or Roma tomatoes, basil, pesto, and feta cheese. The whole thing is baked as a rustic galette style tart and is topped with parmesan cheese. This is a delicious way to use summer cherry tomatoes and a simple way to use pie crust. Find the recipe for this fun vegetable dinner or appetizer on thewoodandspoon.com

Prepping the Galette

Once you’ve got some chilled pie dough, all you need is that summer produce. I’ve used a combination of grape tomatoes and Roma tomatoes, but if you have others in your garden, that would work swell too. The idea is to use a few tomatoes that will release their juices throughout the cooking process (the Romas) and a few bite-sized tomatoes that will retain their juiciness within their skins (the grape tomatoes). Slice up those scarlet beauties and sprinkle them with a little salt. The salt will help to draw out extra water from the tomatoes so that we don’t make our crust sad and soggy. No one wants soggy, okay?

Tomato Galette with Pesto and Feta By The Wood and Spoon Blog by Kate Wood. This is a simply, flaky butter pie crust filled with ripe heirloom or Roma tomatoes, basil, pesto, and feta cheese. The whole thing is baked as a rustic galette style tart and is topped with parmesan cheese. This is a delicious way to use summer cherry tomatoes and a simple way to use pie crust. Find the recipe for this fun vegetable dinner or appetizer on thewoodandspoon.com

Assembling the Galette

After the tomatoes have been prepped, we can start assembling our tomato galette. First, roll out your pie dough on a floured surface. Perfection isn’t necessary here, so a rough 12-13″ circle will do. Next, spread a schmear of basil pesto and sprinkle on about half of the feta cheese. Arrange the tomatoes, starting with a layer of the Roma tomatoes and ending with a few handfuls of grape tomatoes. We then finish off the galette with another sprinkle of feta and a bit of pepper, dried herbs, and parmesan. Crimp the edges of the galette just slightly over the tomato filling and then the tomato galette is all ready for the oven.

While it bakes, the tomatoes will render their juices and the pie crust will bake up golden, flaky, and ultra buttery. The final product is a simple yet stunning tomato galette, a true showcase for the best of summer produce, all wrapped up in the delightful packaging that is homemade pastry. Wait one second… I think I can hear a choir of angels singing.

Before summer is up, you just HAVE to make this tomato galette. It’s the perfect thing to bring to a summer cocktail party and it’s the answer to every “What’s for dinner?” question your spouse throws at you. You need this, okay? So just make it, let me know what you think, and don’t give another thought to your bikini top and cut-off denim shorts. Happy summer and happy weekend!

If you like this tomato galette, you should check out:

Blueberry Galette with Cornmeal Crust

Chicken Pot Pie with Cornmeal Cheddar Crust

Cherry Lime Hand Pies

Cranberry Pear Mini-Pop Tarts

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Tomato Galette with Basil Pesto and Feta

Made with a buttery pie crust, this tomato galette is a fresh way to use beautiful tomatoes, fresh basil, and feta cheese. 

  • Author: Kate
  • Prep Time: 25
  • Cook Time: 40
  • Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 Roma tomatoes, sliced 1/8” thick
  • 1 pint grape tomatoes, halved
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon mayonnaise
  • 2 tablespoons prepared basil pesto
  • 1 single pie crust, chilled (see notes)
  • ½ cup crumbled full-fat feta cheese, divided
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tablespoon water
  • 1 teaspoon pepper
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 1 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese
  • Extra fresh basil, for sprinkling on the pie

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Line a large sheet pan with parchment paper or ready a pizza stone.
  2. Line a cutting board or dinner plate with two layers of paper towels. Spread the tomatoes out on the towels and sprinkle with the salt. Place an additional layer of towels on top and set aside.
  3. Meanwhile, prepare the pesto mayo. Combine the prepared pesto and mayonnaise in a bowl and set aside.
  4. Pull your pie crust from the fridge and allow to soften for rolling slightly, if needed. On a floured surface, roll the pie crust out to a rough 12-13” circle. Be sure your circle isn’t larger than your pan. Carefully transfer the pie crust to the prepared baking sheet or pizza stone. See notes.
  5. Spread the pesto mayonnaise on to the pie crust, leaving a 2” border around the outside. Sprinkle ½ of the feta cheese out on to the pesto mayo. Arrange your Roma tomatoes over the mayo and sprinkle the grape tomatoes on top, leaving them cut side up. Sprinkle the remaining feta cheese on top.
  6. Crimp the border edges of the pie crust around the tomato filling. Simply pull up the edges and fold over themselves as if you were wrapping a present. Whisk together the egg and water to create an egg wash for your crust. Use a pastry brush to paint the crust. 
  7. Sprinkle the pepper and Italian seasoning over top of the filling. Sprinkle the parmesan cheese on the crust.
  8. Bake the galette in the preheated oven for about 35-40 minutes, or until the crust is set and golden brown. Allow to cool slightly before slicing. This can be served warm, but is delicious at room temp as well.

Notes

  • See the link in my post or look in my blog archives for my favorite homemade pie crust. You’ll need only half of the recipe, so you can store the other half in the freezer for a later date.
  • To transfer your pie crust to your prepared pan, flour your rolling pin and carefully loosely roll the flattened pie crust back on to your rolling pin. Unroll it on to your baking sheet.

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Honey Basil Margaritas

Honey Basil Margaritas

At the end of April, my mom and I created a summer bucket list- a list of projects and goals we wanted to complete before fall came rolling through. Initially, I was determined to tick each and every item off that list. I’d finish sewing a few quilts, piece together George’s baby photo album, and shed the remaining pregnancy pounds, among a number of other tasks that I was sure I’d finish with ease. 

I was wrong.

Had my summer bucket list included eating an entire ice cream cake by myself, binge watching every episode of “Naked and Afraid” on my DVR, or successfully maintaining a sports bra/t-shirt hybrid of a farmer’s tan, then this summer would have been crowned an all out success. Instead, my biggest success of the summer was keeping two humans alive (three, if you count my husband), and finally sleeping through the night myself without an extra kick in the pants from my good friend, melatonin.    

Honey Basil Margaritas

Honey Basil Margaritas

One silver lining of those summer nights and my struggling bucket list are the cocktails. Ohh, the cocktails.

I have honey basil margaritas to thank for a lot of my summer nights. Made with classic margarita ingredients and the added bonus of a honey simple syrup and fresh basil, these honey basil margaritas are incredibly refreshing and the perfect mix of sweet, sour, and salty. This is a cocktail made for sunset-watching on the beach, summer barbecues, or (if you’re like me) when the witching hour is strong and mama just needs a little something to take the edge off.  

Honey Basil Margaritas

The honey simple syrup is made like any other simple syrup, by boiling equal parts water and sugar (in the form of good quality clover honey) until it’s dissolved. After being chilled, the syrup is muddled with the basil before being shaken to oblivion with the lime, tequila, and orange liquor. You can store your syrup in the fridge for two weeks and I highly recommend shaking it up with some of your other favorite citrus-based cocktails (French 75, anyone?)

Honey Basil Margaritas

I’m sharing this recipe for honey basil margaritas in participation of #DRINKTHESUMMER , a virtual cocktail party being hosted by Sherrie of With Food + Love . Even though summer is short, it is always plenty generous with a bounty of produce that is worthy of celebration, so be sure to check out her post where she will be sharing the names and recipe links of the other bloggers involved. 

If you made a summer bucket list and failed to complete it, don’t fret. Just drink up what’s left of the summer and look forward to all that fall has to offer. 

To see more of #DRINKTHESUMMER , click to the host site here .

 

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Honey Basil Margaritas

Made with fresh basil and a honey simple syrup, these honey basil margaritas are a refreshing, summery take on the Mexican classic.

  • Author: Kate Wood
  • Prep Time: 15
  • Total Time: 15 minutes
  • Yield: 1

Ingredients

For the honey basil margaritas

  • 3/4 ounce honey simple syrup (recipe below)
  • 4 medium sized basil leaves
  • 2 ounces tequila
  • 1/2 ounce orange liquor
  • 1 ounce lime juice

For the honey simple syrup

  • 1/2 cup good quality clover honey
  • 1/2 cup water

Instructions

To prepare the margaritas

  1. In a shaker, muddle the basil leaves with the honey simple syrup. Add the remaining ingredients and fill the shaker with ice. Shake for 30-45 seconds. Pour into a salt-rimmed glass and enjoy!

To prepare the honey simple syrup

  1. Combine the honey and water in a saucepan over medium heat. Stirring occasionally, bring to a boil and then remove from the heat. Allow to cool on the stove or in a heat-safe container in the fridge. Store in the fridge for up to two weeks.

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