Sun dried Tomato & Olive Tapenade

With more people becoming more and more aware of the foods they consume sometimes it can begin to feel overwhelming when we are hosting parties or contributing to a potluck.  It can be challenging to take into considerations everyone's eating preferences, dietary restrictions and severe allergies.  The following recipe is not only a crowd pleaser but it is safe for any of your friends practicing the keto, paleo, vegan, vegetarian or just eating healthy lifestyle. ​

The following appetizer is made with some pretty simple ingredients loaded up with flavour, healthy fats and healthful herbs, while remaining low in carbohydrate, free from additives and preservatives and probably the best part it is SUPER simple and quick to make!

Olive and Sun dried Tomato Tapenade
​Ingredients:
1/2 cup Mixed olives
1/4 cup slices sundried tomatoes (can omit if there is a nightshade sensitivity, just add more olives)
1/4 cup fresh basil
1 tsp lemon zest
2 tbsp lemon juice
Directions:

1. Start by getting everything ready, measure out the olives, basil and sun dried tomatoes and zest and juice the lemon. 
2. Get out your food processor, this will be the easiest way to blend everything together.  You can also attempt it in your blender but it might be a little chunkier, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. 
3. Pulse until ingredients form a paste. Scrape down the sides as needed and set aside. 

Now that you have made the Tapenade what should you serve it in?  Well a great keto and paleo friendly option would be in a cucumber boat.  So here is how I went about doing that. 

Take two cucumbers...

Peel them and cut them into 1-2 inch blocks.  Then using a melon baller or super tiny spoon scoop out the seeds.  Be careful to leave a bit at the bottom otherwise you will have more of a tube than a bowl.

Using that same little spoon or melon baller stuff those cucumber cups with your tapenade.  You can do this several hours before your party or get together and not have to worry about juices running or bleeding colour, which helps in reducing your stress levels when it comes to hosting an event. 
​
Et vola! you have a delicious healthy appetizer to wow any crowd while still being respectful of at least a handful of various eating styles and allergies.  Plus it was still super simple and you didn't have to rely on a bag of potato chips to save the day!