[1] Savory mini cheesecake hors d’oeuvre with an Italian cracker (taralli) base, cream cheese or goat cheese filling, and a topping of Mortadella. The recipe is below (photo © Veroni).

[2] Mortadella (photo © DeLallo).

[3] Taralli, used for the base of the cheesecake, is a popular snacking cracker (photo © Evegniy Alekseyev | Pexels).

[4] Look for taralli at any shop that carries imported Italian foods, or find them online (photo © Gabriela Taylor | CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 License).

[5] For a tangier cheesecake, use goat cheese instead of the more mild cream cheese (photo © Murray’s Cheese).

How about a special appetizer that goes so very nicely with a glass of Champagne on Valentine’s Day? We recommend these savory mini cheesecakes.

They’re topped with pink-hued mortadella, although you could substitute prosciutto, serrano ham, and even add some salmon roe (caviar) for a surf-and-turf.
 
 
WHAT IS MORTADELLA? 

Originating in Bologna, Italy, mortadella (photo #2) is a large Italian sausage made of finely ground, heat-cured pork, which incorporates at least 15% small cubes of pork fat (principally jowl fat, the hard fat from the neck of the pig), plus sliced pistachio nuts.

It is delicately flavored with spices, including whole or ground black pepper, myrtle berries, nutmeg, coriander, pistachios, and/or olives. While it is a sausage, it falls under the category of cold cuts, sandwich meats sliced thin and served cold.

> Check out the different cuts of pork and pork products.
 
 
WHAT ARE TARALLI? 

Also called tarallini, taralli are the traditional, ring-shaped biscuits of the Puglia region of Southern Italy (photos #3 and #4). Every town in Puglia offers its own version.

They are first boiled, then baked, so that they crunch like a pretzel—but they taste like a wine cracker. You can find them in flavors such as black pepper, fennel, rosemary, and Mediterranean blend (onions, oregano, tomato), and as a more recent touch, as you can see in photo #3, poppyseeds.

Use taralli as a snack cracker, for dipping (its natural sweetness would go well with honey mustard), or serve it with hard or soft cheeses. Taralli also make delicious croutons for soups or salads.

 
RECIPE: SAVORY MINI CHEESECAKES TOPPED WITH
MORTADELLA 

Serve these as hors d’oeuvre or plated as an appetizer with a side of mesclun salad. With its intense fragrance and taste, mortadella is a wonderful topper.

Thanks to Veroni for the recipe.
 
Ingredients For 4 Servings

For The Base

 
For The Filling

 
For The Toppings

 
Preparation

1. MIX the crushed taralli and melted butter in a bowl; stir to combine. Place the mixture in 4 small round-shaped molds or cupcake molds and put them in the fridge. In another bowl…

2. MIX the soft cheese with lemon juice, freshly chopped marjoram, nutmeg, salt, and pepper. Add the cream cheese mixture on top of the taralli base.

3. PLACE the mini tarts in the fridge until they are ready to serve. Then decorate them with sliced ​​mortadella and chopped pistachios.
 
 

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*Marjoram substitutes: fresh basil, herbes de Provence, dried oregano, fresh sage, fresh summer savory, or fresh thyme.
 
 
 
 

CHECK OUT WHAT’S HAPPENING ON OUR HOME PAGE, THENIBBLE.COM.

A special treat for Valentine’s Day: heart-shaped mini latkes, just write to enjoy with caviar and crème fraîche.

Linda’s Heart Shaped Gourmet Latkes are currently available out-of-state through California Caviar (they are sold at retail and delivery in California).

Linda’s ships the rest of the line (not heart-shape) out of state through Goldbelly.

Head to California Caviar, and pick up some red caviar as well:

 
 
 
> The different types of caviar and roe.

> The history of latkes.
 
 

CHECK OUT WHAT’S HAPPENING ON OUR HOME PAGE, THENIBBLE.COM.

[1] Heart-shape latkes (photo © Linda’s Gourmet Latkes).

[2] Salmon roe on classic blini with crème fraîche (photo © Petrossian).

[1] Espressio: a box of chocolates with your personalized video. Here, the Chef’s Collection (both photos © M Cacao).

[2] A box of caramels.

We haven’t tasted the chocolate, but we love this idea from M Cacao: the Espressio(sm) chocolate video box.

The Expressio is a custom chocolate video box. It’s the first-ever box of chocolate with your own personalized video embedded in the lid.

Just upload a personal video or images for a slideshow, and you’ve created an unforgettable (and delicious) gift! The box with your video is a keeper when the chocolate is gone.

Espressio is available in fouur chocolate assortments:

 
At this year’s official backstage GRAMMY® Gift Lounge on February 5th, presenters and performers get a chance to record their own personalized message—in a box of chocolates—just in time for Valentine’s Day.

Head here to get your own box(es) of Expressio.
 
 
ABOUT M CACAO CHOCOLATE 

Developed by forward-thinking chocolatiers, M Cacao creates handcrafted chocolates and unique gifts for the culinarily curious.

Combining classic French pastry techniques with the modern artistic approach of a robotics engineer, M Cacao celebrates the world with expertly crafted flavors and textures, turning high-quality chocolate into an experience.
 
 
> The history of chocolate.

> The different types of chocolate: a glossary.

How about a Bloody Mary party for Valentine’s Day? Check out the articles and recipes below

The Balsamic Bloody Mary is a new take on flavoring the popular drink, which is one of the Top 10 cocktails nationwide.

The recipe is from Carandini, one of the oldest noble families in Modena. They’ve been making vinegar since 1641, and the recipe that uses its finest vinegar, Emilio Balsamic Vinegar of Modena PGI*, a premium, high-density vinegar that spikes boozy creations with bracing acidity.

The balsamic adds a rich depth of flavor to the Bloody Mary.

National Bloody Mary Day is January 1st.

> Bloody Mary history.

> There are 16+ more Bloody Mary recipes below.

> The history and different types of balsamic vinegar.
 
 
CARANDINI’S BALSAMIC BLOODY MARY 
 
Ingredients Per Drink

 
Preparation

Combine all ingredients. Stir to blend thoroughly and serve over ice.
 
 
25+ MORE BLOODY MARY RECIPES

 
 
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*PGI stands for Protected Geographical Indication, a designation for products that are closely linked to a certain geographical area. With a PGI designation, at least one of the stages of production, processing, or preparation must take place in the specific area before the mark can be used on a product. In the case of balsamic vinegar, production must take place in or around Modena, Italy.

†In photo #1, the Balsamic Bloody Mary uses a garnish of cherry tomatoes and sundried tomatoes. But there are so many garnish options. Check out these and these.

[1] Balsamic Bloody Mary (photos #1 and #2 © Carandini).

[2] Cardandini Emilio balsamic vinegar is available nationwide and on Amazon.

[3] Bloody Mary oyster shooters. Here’s the recipe (photo attributed to Chowhound).

[4] Bacon Bloody Mary, with bacon-infused vodka, garnished with a black pepper rim, a caperberry, and a slice of bacon (photo © Bacon Bourbon USA).

[1] Vegetarian taquitos filled with black beans, brown rice, collards, corn, and pumpkin purée (photos #1 and #2 © Success Rice | Family Features).

[2] Rice is ready in just 10 minutes.

[3] Black beans add protein to this vegetarian recipe (photo © Bush’s Beans).

[4] Pumpkin purée creates a nutritious sauce for the following (photo © Libby’s | Nestlé).

Long before Taco Tuesday, there was Meatless Monday. While the latter may seem to be a 21st-century idea, it actually first appeared during World War I (when it was called Meatless Tuesday). Here’s the history of Meatless Monday.

Almost every health, nutrition, and sustainability expert advises: Eat a primarily plant-based diet. It’s better for you and the planet.

We at THE NIBBLE would like to observe that it’s not just about meat. Cheese and other dairy products, including animal milk and milk-based products, like yogurt, cheese, cottage cheese, and ice cream, contribute the same greenhouse gases that meat does.

Yes, you could eat fish; in fact, substituting more seafood for meat is another important resolution.

But if you really want to help Planet Earth, we propose changing Meatless Monday to Vegan Monday.

Regardless of your motivation, opting for meatless or vegan meals regularly provides plenty of benefits that extend from the health of you and your loved ones to your wallet and the environment.

Whether you’re a vegetarian, vegan, considering making some lifestyle changes or just want to give an on-trend meal prep strategy a try, going meatless can help reduce your intake of red and processed meats, decrease greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change and save money on substitute ingredients like grains, vegetables, fruits and legumes that are often cheaper than meat.
 
 
RECIPE: BAKED VEGETARIAN TAQUITOS 

This recipe saves time with Success Boil-In-Bag Brown Rice (which is whole grain). Ready in just 10 minutes without measuring or the mess, boil-in-bag grains make mealtimes quick and easy.

Success Rice is available in basmati, brown, jasmine, and white rice, plus quinoa and two white rice blends: one with peas, carrots, and red bell peppers; one with black beans, corn, and bell peppers.

Find more meatless meal inspiration at SuccessRice.com.

Prep time is 15 minutes, and cook time is 20 minutes.

Check out more Meatless Monday recipes below.
 
Ingredients For 4 Servings

You can substitute vegan sour cream and cheese for any of the dairy products.

 
Preparation

1. PREPARE the rice according to package directions; add the collard greens and corn to the water during the last 5 minutes.

2. PREHEAT the oven to 450°F. Drain the rice and vegetables; transfer to a saucepan. Stir in the black beans, pumpkin purée, and taco seasoning.

3. SPOON 1/3 cup of the rice mixture into the center of one tortilla; sprinkle with 2 tablespoons of Monterey Jack cheese.

4. ROLL up tightly. Place the seam side down on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining tortillas, filling, and cheese.

5. BRUSH the taquitos with olive oil; sprinkle with the remaining cheese. Bake for 10-15 minutes, or until the tortillas are crisp and the cheese is melted.

6. GARNISH the taquitos with fresh cilantro. Serve with sour cream, salsa, and guacamole for dipping.

Some cuisines have a preponderance of vegetarian and vegan dishes, owing to a high incidence of lactose intolerance in the general population. Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Thai recipes for starters, offer tofu or another soy-based protein.

Here are some of our favorite NIBBLE vegetarian and vegan dishes.

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*Taco Seasoning Recipe: Combine 1 teaspoon black pepper, 1 tablespoon chili powder, 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano, 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder, 1-1/2 teaspoons ground cumin, 1/4 teaspoon onion powder, 1/2 teaspoon paprika, 1 teaspoon salt. Store in an airtight container.