appetizers

Sausage Bites with Cranberry Mustard Recipe

October 2, 2015appetizers, snacks, grillingSheri SpalloneComment

Cook Time: 15-20 minutes

Difficulty: Easy

Need a quick appetizer? I've got just the thing, sausage bites with our award-winning cranberry mustard!

Perhaps you like mustard with a sweet kick, then our signature Cherchies® Champagne Mustard is just for you! It's sweet and spicy.

Ingredients

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1 lb. of your favorite kielbasa or Italian sausage
Cherchies® Cranberry Mustard or Cherchies® Champagne Mustard or Cherchies® Hot Banana Pepper Mustard

Grill or bake your favorite sausage, slice it into bite size pieces, pop open a jar of Cherchies® Cranberry Mustard, and voila, an instant appetizer!

Come to think of it, call your friends, serve these sausage bites with our Cream Cheese Appetizer, and our Sweet and Savory Brie Recipe, and you have yourself an appetizer party!

Yum

Lemon Dill Dip Recipe

September 9, 2015appetizers, gluten free, snacksSheri Spallone1 Comment

This is one of my favorite dip recipes! It's light and refreshing, and our Cherchies® lemon dill spice makes it irresistibly good. Cherchies® Lem 'n Dill Seasoning is our original and still most popular seasoning. (Did I mention it comes in two sizes?). Obviously, it is fabulous in a dip, but it's also great on chicken, fish, eggs, and vegetables.

Combining equal parts of mayonnaise and sour cream enhances the flavors of the spices in this dip, and I would NOT leave out the mayonnaise. (You could substitute the sour cream with Greek yogurt and use light mayo for a lighter version). I recommend making this dip a few hours or a day ahead as the flavors intensify over time! We also have a no-salt lemon dill seasoning! Try our other seasoning blends instead of the Lem 'n Dill for an array of tasty dips.

Thanks for stopping by:) Comment below if you have tried this tasty dip recipe. Return again for more family-tested recipes, entertaining ideas, and cooking tips using all our favorite Cherchies® gourmet products.

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Ingredients

1/2 cup Mayonnaise
1/2 cup sour cream (you can substitute fat-free Greek yogurt
1-2 Tablespoons (Tbsp) Cherchies® Lem 'n Dill Seasoning (Try our other spices and seasoning blends in lieu of the Lem 'n Dill)

Preparation

Combine all the ingredients in a medium bowl. Chill dip for at least two hours (can be made a day ahead).

For a fun twist on veggies and dip, try arranging the veggies in shot glasses with the dip at the bottom. Vloia...instant cute individual appetizers! I made these cuties for my parent's recent surprise 50th Anniversary party. They were a huge hit!

Maybe your kids would even eat their veggies presented this way;) (Mine did!)

For a Halloween flair, cut up orange peppers to look like Jack o Lanterns, cutting a wide mouth to allow the dip to ooze out. Spooky! Enjoy!

Yum

Candied Pepper Jam Bacon Recipe

September 1, 2015appetizers, snacks, breakfastSheri SpalloneComment

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Sometimes you just need to eat bacon, because I said so! Everything in moderation, right?

I have been wanting to try this for a long time...candied bacon. I was very intrigued by the whole concept, so I researched the ingredients, and found mostly maple syrup (sugar) and/or brown sugar, and sometimes a spice like cayenne. Then I thought pepper jam...hmmm...we have that! So I decided to give it a try. Below, I used our hot pepper jams (sweet, spicy and salty) as well as our Lem'n Raspberry Marmalade (the lemon and the raspberry, combined with the salty bacon was to die for). The result, amazing! Buy our Cherchies® Pepper Jams today, and you'll have them in time to impress your guests for the holiday weekend.

Ingredients

Bacon, sliced in half (you could use entire slice without cutting)
1 Tablespoon (per slice) Cherchies®Cherry Hot Pepper Jam (or Cherchies® Strawberry Hot Pepper Jam, Cherchies® Cranberry Hot Pepper Jam for the holidays, or Cherchies®Lem'n Raspberry Marmalade)

Preparation

Slice desired amounts of bacon and place in jelly roll pan. Spread about 1 Tablespoon of pepper jam on each slice of bacon. Cook at 350 until bacon is cooked to your desired doneness. Serve the bacon on a pretty platter or glass for an appetizer. It's that easy! Enjoy!

Yum

Marinated Cheese Recipe

August 25, 2015appetizersCherchiesComment

Who would have thought to marinate cheese? Certainly not me, a self-professed cheese lover! But a surprising discovery in one of my old cookbooks (Yes, I'm that person who reads cookbooks like novels) led me to this unique recipe.

This appetizer recipe (adapted from the lovely folks at Southern Living) looks complicated, but it is easy and is always the "big cheese" at any party. Instead of pimentos as indicated in the original recipe, I substituted our Pretty Peppers. Oh my, the sweetness of the peppers and the savory ingredients complement the cheese perfectly.

This recipe is perfect for a crowd and is best if made the day before. The presentation with all the colors is delightful!

Comment below and tell us if you made this delicious marinated cheese recipe. Return for more family-tested recipes, entertaining ideas, and cooking tips using all our favorite Cherchies® gourmet products.

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Ingredients

1/2 cup Olive Oil
1/2 cup white wine vinegar
3 Tablespoons (Tbsp) chopped fresh parsley
3 Tablespoons (Tbsp) minced green onions
1 teaspoon (tsp) sugar
3/4 teaspoon (tsp) dried basil
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1 garlic clove, finely minced
3 Tablespoons (Tbsp) Cherchies® Garlic Seasoning
1/3 jar of Cherchies® Pretty Peppers, drained
1 5 1/2 x 2 1-inch block sharp Cheddar cheese (8 oz.), chilled
1 (8oz.) package of cream cheese, chilled

Preparation

Add the first ten ingredients to a resealable container and shake to combine. Set aside.

Slice the block of cream cheese in half vertically and then into 1/4-inch chunks. Do the same with the cheddar cheese. Stack them on their sides as pictured below in a shallow pan.