Girls Night Out: Tomato and Avocado with Boursin Appetizer
July 02, 2010
My friend, Kiel, just recently moved to Jacksonville, Florida, and she sent me some recipes from her “Girls Night Out” dinner. She and 10 of her friends get together every Tuesday night and alternate at their different houses trying new, fun and creative recipes. One night, they made Panini sandwiches and homemade tomato soup. Recently, they had an abundance of healthy, fresh salads. She sent me some of the recipes from her latest dinner. This Tomato-Avocado Appetizer with Boursin is such a breeze and tastes delish! It is so perfect for a crowd, especially during the summertime (such as this weekend for July 4th) celebrations. Thanks Kiel and your wonderful friends for sharing your recipes with me.
Tomato-Avocado and Boursin Appetizer
Prep:
20 minutes
Yield:
10 to 12 servings
Ingredients
1/3 cup olive oil
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tablespoon honey
21/2 cups tomatoes, thinly sliced (about 4 medium)
1/2 (5.2-ounce) container Boursin cheese with garlic and herbs
2 cups avocados, pitted and thinly sliced (about 3 small)
Freshly chopped basil leaves (optional)
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tablespoon honey
21/2 cups tomatoes, thinly sliced (about 4 medium)
1/2 (5.2-ounce) container Boursin cheese with garlic and herbs
2 cups avocados, pitted and thinly sliced (about 3 small)
Freshly chopped basil leaves (optional)
Preparation
1. In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, balsamic vinegar, Dijon, garlic and honey; set aside.
2. Place half of tomatoes slices on a large serving platter. Spread each slice with 2 teaspoons cheese. Top with 1 avocado slice and another tomato slice. Top with basil leaves. Continue assembling with remaining ingredients. Drizzle with balsamic vinegar mixture and top with additional chopped basil
Tip: feel free to substitute fresh Mozzarella for Boursin cheese
2. Place half of tomatoes slices on a large serving platter. Spread each slice with 2 teaspoons cheese. Top with 1 avocado slice and another tomato slice. Top with basil leaves. Continue assembling with remaining ingredients. Drizzle with balsamic vinegar mixture and top with additional chopped basil
Tip: feel free to substitute fresh Mozzarella for Boursin cheese
7 Responses to “Girls Night Out: Tomato and Avocado with Boursin Appetizer”
marla (family fresh cooking) says:
July, 03 2010at 07:42 am
Now that is my kind of appetizer....not fried, breaded or filled with stuff that will get me too full for dinner. I would put a few of those tomatoes on top of a salad with some bite sized pieces of chicken or fish & have a field day! That girl's night looks like a blast. xo
Alison Lewis says:
July, 10 2010at 05:21 pm
Niki, let me know how it comes out!
Kassady says:
July, 05 2010at 02:45 pm
How fun! I can't wait to try it. I know anythign Keil comes up with and you approve, must be amazing! :)
Kiel Gross says:
July, 02 2010at 07:35 pm
A great start to an amazing dinner and girls night at Liza's...so easy and so delicious!
Niki says:
July, 10 2010at 05:15 pm
Cute pics and recipe sounds good! I agree with Kassady-anything Kiel comes up with is bound to be good! Allison, I am actually about to make the corn-edamame salad.
Heather says:
July, 06 2010at 06:40 pm
Are there other names for hangar steak? Is that the same as london broil?
Jon Lewis says:
July, 02 2010at 12:48 pm
Now that's a cookout!!
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EVO Conference and My First Time in Park City
June 28, 2010
Last week I had the luckiest and most wonderful opportunity to attend EVO, a conference focusing on the evolution of Women in Social Media in Park City, Utah. It was beyond my expecations, and to be honest, I wasn’t sure what to expect as this was my first “blog” conference. I usually attend the yearly IACP (International Association of Culinary Professionals) conference, and this conference was even more unique in many ways. Read below for some of my favorite highlights.
THE TOP 10 THINGS I lOVED ABOUT EVO (in no particular order) :
1. Making so many new friends
2. Learning so many new things from so many talented people and new great blogs to follow.
3. Seeing beautiful scenery set in the most beautiful part of the country. I could almost move there..
4. Staying at the Canyons Resort: Great huge hotel room, great views, great staff, comfortable beds. I highly recommend it!
5. The Food seminar located at Alpine House: Wonderful food and goodies, cooking demos, speakers and mouth-watering Watermelon-Mint Punch
6. Laughing and crying listening to so many wonderful speakers’ stories, specifically the “Make a Wish Foundation” speakers
7. Meeting Jill, Founder of “Mom it Forward” and Rachel, Founder of “Today’s Mama”. The most incredibly organized and talented women I have ever met.
8. Closing party at Park City Resort (although I had to leave early and miss it ugghh!)
9. Listening to the Producer and Creative Directors from Oprah.
10. Meeting the wonderful sponsors and learning about new businesses and products (great meeting Park City Mountain Resort, City Deals, Think Thin, The Giving Tees, Nu Skin to name a few)
7 Responses to “EVO Conference and My First Time in Park City”
niri says:
June, 28 2010at 10:37 pm
I REALLY had a tough time choosing between food and photography workshop (I chose the latter). Awesome recap/
Krista Parry says:
June, 28 2010at 10:59 pm
It was such a pleasure meeting you at EVO conference. I am so sad that you missed the Closing Party (but glad it made your top 10 :-))
I will definitely be in touch.
Krista Parry
Park City Mountain Resort
Annie Y says:
July, 01 2010at 01:37 am
I'm glad you had a great time.
Now that I read this post, I'm starving from looking at the pictures!
Hopefully I'll see you there next year as I am planning on attending!
Alison Lewis says:
June, 29 2010at 07:46 am
Thanks Niri and Krista for the comments!
Rachael says:
June, 29 2010at 09:55 am
So glad I talked you into coming! ;) Beautiful pics! I wish I wasn't running around so crazy so much and could have chatted more - but it was great to meet you IRL!
Jon Lewis says:
June, 29 2010at 03:02 pm
Take it from me, you can learn a lot at the EVO conference. Alison has taught me a ton since she returned.
DJ Waldow says:
June, 29 2010at 10:09 pm
Alison - Wonderful to meet you at Evo '10. I love that your husband and I were already connected on Twitter. Let me know when you meet up with Mack Collier. LOVE that guy. Looking forward to the next time our paths cross.
DJ Waldow
@djwaldow
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Park City and Social Media at its Best at “Evo Conference 10″
June 20, 2010
I have had a super busy month. Busy is good, but it’s almost unbelievable. It’s the heart of summer, and I am working at home with 3 kids going in 3 different directions. Besides my normal recipe development work projects, my cookie event at Pepper Place farmer’s market last week, 4 television segments this past thursday for NBC 13 “Daytime Alabama”, monthly work for the Birmingham magazine, and a new huge holiday recipe project for an international client, I can’t believe I am finding time for this blog post. In light of all this, I am fortunate enough to have the opportunity to go to Park City, Utah for Evo 10, a conference featuring women in social media. It’s been called “a summer camp for bloggers” taking place in a beautiful setting. Forgive me for no recipe today, but I have a fabulous one coming tomorrow.
2 Responses to “Park City and Social Media at its Best at “Evo Conference 10″”
Krista Parry says:
June, 21 2010at 05:00 pm
I am really looking forward to meeting you. Park City is absolutely gorgeous and you will have the time of your life on the Alpine Slide/Coaster at Park City Mountain Resort.
See you Thursday!
Krista Parry
Alison Lewis says:
June, 28 2010at 03:12 pm
It was great meeting you! Please keep in touch and thanks for the comment!!
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This Saturday: Pepper Place Farmers Market and Gluten-Free Cookies
June 10, 2010
Come see me this Saturday, June 12th at Pepper Place Farmers Market and my Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Chocolate Chips Cookies. It’s a great way to spend saturday morning purchasing the best of the best in fresh produce, flowers and other great items. I went last weekend, and I purchased the most delicious and fresh blackberries, squash, tomatoes and peaches. Hope to see some local friends there.
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Iron Chef in Training: My Cooking Class with Lillian
October 29, 2009
Yesterday, I had so much fun with Lillian! I was asked to do a private one-on-one cooking class for Lillian, an incredibly talented second grader for one of her birthday presents. She has a passion for cooking, and wow was she fabulous! I tailored the class specifically for her, and we made an array of healthy snacks, desserts and she even decorated these awesome cupcakes for Halloween. We set up the food for a photo-shoot, just like I do on the set with national food magazines, such as Southern Living. We prop-styled, food styled and critiqued the photos. If you’re interested in this type of class for your child, parent-child, groups of four, college age, newlyweds or yourself, contact me for more information.
3 Responses to “Iron Chef in Training: My Cooking Class with Lillian”
Carol Scroggins says:
October, 30 2009at 06:48 pm
Allison, wonderful job with Lillian B., my neighbor's sweet grand daughter. Good idea for children, or for us adults! Will keep this in mind.
Donna Askenazi says:
November, 04 2009at 03:59 pm
Love getting your emails weekly. Recipes are easy, family-friendly and most of them are low fat and healthy. Always happy when you incorporate your kids in them and nthat inspires me to cook more with my kids. Love the updated website and all it's colors.
Danyle Taylor says:
August, 03 2010at 10:03 pm
Hello Mrs. Allison, I am 15 years old and me and my mom have been going through alot for a while and we are not as close as we us to be, I want to take up a mother daughter cooking class with her so that can make us close again. I live in Detroit, MI and I was wondering if you can give me any ideas on that or where i can go to take a cooking class with her? thankyou :-)