Goat Cheese & Pistachio Wrapped Grapes & Happy New Year

Happy New Years Eve! If you're celebrating tonight by hosting some friends or attending a party, you've probably already got your menu planned - I know I do!  But in case you're still looking for a small appetizer to add to the table, I've got the perfect idea for you!

I first saw the idea of wrapping grapes in goat cheese and nuts on a blog and I thought it sounded like the perfect bite-sized party treat.  It basically combines three elements of a typical cheese platter - grapes, cheese, and nuts, into one sweet and tasty bite!

While you only need three ingredients to make these, they are a bit time-consuming (although it will go faster if you can recruit a helper or two)! The results are worth the work though - I loved the combination of the crunchy pistachios with creamy goat cheese and a juicy grape inside. I served these to my family on Christmas Eve and they were definitely a hit, everyone loved them!

And for another easy hors d'oeuvre idea that also uses nuts and goat cheese, try these goat cheese and almond stuffed dates that I made last year during the holidays!

Have a great evening everyone!

Goat Cheese & Pistachio Wrapped Grapes
As seen on various sites, such as Squash Blossom Babies and Sandy a la Mode
Note: I realize you don't really need another recipe for these, but I just wanted to show the amounts that I used below. For more detailed step-by-step pictorial instructions, see the links above

40 small red seedless grapes

1 small log (113g) goat cheese

1/2 cup shelled unsalted pistachios

Wash and dry the grapes.  Take a small piece of goat cheese and squish it flat with your fingers. Wrap it around one end of a grape and press firmly so that the cheese sticks in a thin layer. Continue adding cheese until the whole grape is covered (Note: You want the cheese as thin as possible, but without holes or gaps).

Continue wrapping grapes in goat cheese until the cheese is used up - you should have enough for about 40 small grapes. 

Use a food processor to crush the pistachios into fine crumbs.  Place the crumbs in a shallow bowl.  Roll each goat cheese covered grape in the pistachios and press them in with your fingers so that they stick. 

Keep finished grapes refrigerated until serving time.