Good Conversation with Pesto Goat Cheese Stuffed Mini Peppers
You can’t beat a summer dinner party with good conversation and these Pesto Goat Cheese Stuffed Mini Peppers for a tasty appetizer!
Two of my favorite things about entertaining are seeing our guests relax and unwind around the table, and getting to know each other in a deeper way. This happened this past weekend, when we decided to host a spontaneous dinner party with friends we’ve tried to get together with for a few years (no joke), but it’s never worked out.
Sunday was a magical day! It all came together, out under the patio lights and beautiful southern Oregon night sky, and some beautiful things took place!
There’s just something about the table where, after a meal, we sit and talk and catch up.
Supernatural work.
You know, each dinner party takes on its own flavor, or has a life of its own. Some are more “everyday,” with the rather predictable “eat, chat, catch up, and leave” action. Some are more immature (yes, it’s true, you can have immature guests and the conversation reflects that). And then some are humbling and beautiful, where I believe supernatural work takes place.
Set the table.
Back to our time. My husband and I really do try to be intentional with our dinner invites. (With this spontaneous dinner, I really didn’t have time to think much about the table, which I’ve learned it doesn’t really matter how the table is set. As long as there’s good food and conversation, then that’s the perfect setting.)
Which is why we do what we do– we make the effort of cooking, using our time meaningfully, and bringing people together.
The next morning, this text popped up on my phone.
Thank you guys for another wonderful evening of delicious food and best of all just hanging out. I love your passion for stimulating conversations that challenge our dull minds to wake up and reconsider the duplicity and injustices that occur right under our noses.
Good conversation.
It’s humbling to be a part of a good conversation, something you just know has spiritual value. Humility is one of the most important virtues we can have, a quality of the soul that happens when we’re willing to grow, develop and change.
For our meal we served a melon fruit salad, salmon, a green salad, sourdough bread, Caprese salad, and this yummy, yummy, yummy appetizer. (I’m saving the dessert for another post.)
Pesto Goat Cheese Stuffed Mini Peppers.
You can use any kind of pesto, so I used DeLallo’s Simply Pesto (Hot & Spicy Pepper). But I’ve made a similar recipe in the past with regular pesto on the side.
Slice the peppers in half (keep the stems on, if possible).
Fill the peppers and bake. The garnish of oregano really topped it off with a delicious flavor! A quick snip-snip from our humble garden. :)
This is a great dish to start off a dinner party. I always love having a simple, healthy appetizer to serve to our guests.
It just feels good to know that we’ve been a part of feeding and nourishing others, both their bodies and their souls.
When’s the last time you made an intentional dinner invite, possibly one person or couple, or 2 who you really wanted to get to know in a greater way?
Get the Recipe:
Pesto Goat Cheese Stuffed Mini Peppers
Ingredients
- 1 dozen mini sweet peppers, red, orange, and yellow
- 4 oz semi-soft goat cheese, cream cheese works, too.
- Salt and fresh ground black pepper
- 1/2 cup pesto
- Fresh oregano, finely chopped
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Prepare the peppers by slicing off the “top” (concave) side of the peppers, leaving the stem. Scoop out the seeds and the membrane.
- Combine the softened goat cheese with salt and pepper. Add the pesto. Gently mix together.
- Spoon the herbed goat cheese into the peppers.
- Arrange the peppers on a baking sheet and bake for around 18-20 minutes, until peppers are softened and cheese is hot and bubbly.
- Garnish with fresh oregano.
More delicous summer appetizers: Tuna Stuffed Peppers, Easy Chili Appetizer, Goat Cheese Stuffed Mini Peppers, Apricot Ricotta Honey Basil Bites. ENJOY!
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Hello and welcome to my home and table!
I’m Sandy—lover of food, family, cooking, THE BIG BOARD, travel, and bringing people together. Through great recipes and connection around the table, we become better, stronger, and more courageous people. Feasting on Life is real, and every time we do it, we grow a little more. Read more...
Oh, these looked good on Instagram, but pesto and goat cheese? I am SO making these. :)
Oh yum! These would be the perfect party appetizer, if I don’t eat them all myself. :)
These look so good, Sandy!
Love this, Sandy. I love those conversations where you suddenly know that you’re on holy ground. You continue to inspire me to be brave and invite people in.
oh my…these look amazing…definitely need to pin!
Love the combination of flavours and the idea of intentional conversation. Fab recipe thank you.