Today were talking sweet and salty, little bites of perfection!  How can you ever go wrong with layers of crispy grain free parmesan chips, prosciutto, sweet pears all drizzled with rich balsamic glaze?! Sweet and salty bites are forever my favorite combination. Since I am not much of a sweet person, to be honest I would rather eat steak or a slice of raw cheese than brownies, I love creating little bites that satisfy all flavors.

Some of my favorite snacks are a slice of fruit wrapped in prosciutto, like my blistered prosciutto wrapped dates, or parmesan chips which is basically just baked parmesan.  So I decided to put it all together in the perfect sweet, savory and salty bite for a fun little appetizer idea that I know you will love!   I make this sweet treat all the time and finally wanted to share it with you.

These tasty little appetizers are so simple to make yet quite gourmet and beautiful in presentation, so its perfect for a New Years party or just everyday life, because you probably have all the ingredients on hand.  The combination will satisfy everyone, and I promise people will never even know they are grain free.  Sweet pears, salty ham and buttery hazelnuts and anything drizzled in balsamic glaze is just scrumptious!

Parmesan chips are so simple to make and something I love to keep on hand for quick snacks throughout the week.  Make sure you use a good quality, aged parmesan and finely shred it as this will help the chips hold their form.  Many pre-shreded parmesan cheeses at the store contain added ingredients like preservatives, powders and even saw dust, so just choose real parmesan and shred it at home in a food processor.

I hope this favorite recipe of mine inspires you that healthy eating can be fun, simple and quite gourmet! Cheers to a happy New Years!

Grain Free Parmesan Chips with Prosciutto, Pear and Balsamic Glaze

A sweet and salty small bite with a rich flavor to satisfy everyone.  Crispy Parmesan chips make this appetizer grain and gluten free.

Ingredients

• 4-8 oz aged parmesan, finely shredded
• 12 slices prosciutto
• 1 pear, thinly sliced
• 2 tbsp balsamic glaze
• 2 tbsp hazelnuts, chopped

Directions

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.  Line a baking sheet with unbleached parchment paper.  Drop small handfuls of parmesan cheese onto baking sheet, smoothing into thin, small circles.
• Bake for 8-12 minutes or until cheese begins to turn golden brown.  Leave on the baking sheet to cool completely.
• Place the chips on a serving dish and layer with prosciutto, a few slices of pears.  Drizzle with balsamic glaze and chopped hazlenuts.