Page 306 - A Literary Holiday Cookbook

Makes 30 cherry bites

“On the table stood the most exquisite cherries, and Gerda ate as many as she chose, for
she had permission to do so. While she was eating, the old woman combed her hair.”

Cherries feature prominently throughout “The Snow Queen,” so I whipped up these tiny
tarts with a creamy, melted Camembert center and sweet-tart cherry preserves on top. Add
a bit of fresh basil for an herbaceous note, and you’ve got an elegant, easy appetizer for a
crowd ready in minutes!

INGREDIENTS

3 ounces Camembert cheese
30 mini phyllo tart shells

½ –¾ cup cherry preserves

2–3 large basil leaves

INSTRUCTIONS

1 Preheat oven to 325°F. Cut Camembert into 30 pieces, each
approximately ¼ inch wide and 1 inch long. Set aside.

2 On an ungreased baking sheet, evenly space 15 phyllo shells.
Place 1 piece of cheese in each shell and top with 1 teaspoon cherry

preserves. Bake for 15 minutes.

3 Repeat Step 2 with the remaining shells, cheese, and preserves.

4 Stack your basil leaves. Starting at the base of the leaves, roll

them tightly into a tube. Cut the tube width-wise into thin strips.
Sprinkle basil leaf strips over the tarts.

5 Allow to cool on the pan for at least 10 minutes before serving.

Serve warm to melt the shards of ice in the heart of a friend!