Caprese Salad Canapes

Caprese Salad Canapes

These are almost embarrassingly easy to make, and they are absolutely delicious.

You will need:

• A handful of 4" fancy toothpicks, 30 or 40 (or you can make shorter ones; they'll go further)
• 2 10-oz. plastic packages of grape tomatoes
• 1 good-sized bunch of fresh basil
• 1   8-oz. package of Bel Gioiosa Mozzarella "Pearls"   ["wet" type mozzarella separated into tiny pieces and smooshed into a sealed package -- you will be amazed -- this package is the size of a tennis ball, but when you open it, you will have enough to make a tray like this and have some left over.] 
• Good olive oil (optional)

Easy as anything you'll ever make.  Just alternate tomato, cheese, basil, tomato, cheese, basil until you have used everything up.  Fold each basil leaf over with the glossy side out before skewering on picks.  Makes about 35 or 40.   If you want to, you can chop a few basil leaves, put them in about 1/4 cup of olive oil, and put it in a small container in the center of the platter for dipping.  (I don't recommend drizzling these with the oil; you are going to have a mess.)

This is a good project to do with kids, because it looks great, is very easy, and will give them a genuine sense of accomplishment.  It's also a great task to share with someone you haven't seen in a long time -- my daughter and I put these together when she was here on an all too rare visit from Virginia with her husband, and it was so nice to talk and spend a little time together.

Anyway, serves about 15 guests.  Obviously, quantities can be increased as needed.  Enjoy!