No-cook appetizers for my spring of amazements

This was an amazing cheese torte. Minty, herby, sweetly-fruity, creamy, pillowy and tangy. I shouldn't be surprised. It's been a spring of amazements.

Years ago, a young child walked into my theatre program. She worked on a play of mine Cast Away in Time. The play actually won some lovely awards, was rewritten continuously (plays are not written but rewritten) and the play turned into Cast Away in Shakespeare's Garden. This child remains - one of the great kids of all times. Months ago I received a call from her. "I would like to direct the first play I was ever in for my Baccalaureate. I have no budget - just a dream. Would you give me the rights" In a nano-second. And that's how she came to direct my Cast Away in Shakespeare's Garden. Her story is on my youth theatre blog.

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I went to her opening - it was the night before my father's Memorial Service. Worlds were colliding. It was a reminder of the sweet amazements in this life. It had been her first play at age 9 - she was so very young when I immersed her into Shakespeare's world. Opening night was Shakespeare's birthday. How fitting. Opening night was also her 16th birthday. How perfect. I sat in the audience filled. Not with the longing emotion that I held for the past month - but the emotion that accompanies growth and fruition.

Hours before the Memorial Service, my daughter ran the 10K "Get in Gear" in Minneapolis. Grandpa was an athlete. He would have approved. It rained - but my daughter didn't care - she trained for months and was going to finish strong - and did.

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After my amazements in L.A. courtesy of Bertolli Foods, I set my sights on creating my own amazements. Shake off the fog. Rejoice in the spring. And held a spring soiree.

The requisite Parmesan, olives, crusty bread and some mighty fine balsamic for dipping. Just assemble - no cooking required.
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Melty-creamy Brie with rosewater-raspberry preserves and a touch of chives. It was a warm weekend - no need to fire up the stove.

The down-to-earth ricotta salata with some might fine, piquant castelvetrano olives.

Cherry tomatoes, de-pulped and stuffed with marinated feta and nicoise olives and marinated fresh mozzarella with kalamata olives.

And some mashed avocado drizzled with lemon, covered with fromage blanc and topped with smoked salmon.

Served in votive candle holders. (All right, I could try to be classy? pretentious? and call them "verrines.") My husband said we would never eat all those appetizers (the "Spring Soiree" was for 7).

But we did - including the most amazing goat cheese torte (recipe coming). And then we had dinner.
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And then came an offer of publication for Cast Away in Shakespeare's Garden. (I finally marketed it.) And smiled in amazement.