Frankly speaking (pun intended), I love extra help in the kitchen (especially during the holidays or get-togethers), and these simple and easy cocktail wieners are a definite must for your next gathering. Place the ingredients in a slow cooker, turn the slow cooker on low, and walk away! In a couple of hours, your kitchen helper (slow cooker) has cooked these nuggets in time for guests to arrive, leaving more time for you to do what makes you happy. Amen!

Over the years, I have made several variations of this recipe, but the Apple Butter BBQ Smokies Recipe is one of my favorites! With a combination of three ingredients, salty wieners, sweet Cherchies® Apple Butter Spread, and tangy BBQ sauce, this simple appetizer will surely be a "wiener" (pun intended again) at your next gathering:) Plus, with your handy dandy kitchen helper cooking, you can do something for yourself!

Thank you for stopping by! Please visit again for more tasty recipes, helpful cooking tips, and entertaining ideas!

Ingredients

2 packages cocktail wieners (Smokies)
1/2 cup Cherchies® Apple Butter Spread (or Cherchies Cherry Butter Spread would work nicely too)
1/2 cup of your favorite BBQ sauce

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Preparation

Place the cocktail weiners in the crockpot.

*Note- Do not let the mysterious frozen blocks below puzzle you, I usually purchase cocktail wieners on sale, and place them in the freezer for future events.

Next, add Cherchies® Apple Butter and BBQ sauce...

Turn on your slow cooker and walk away! Now go, do something you enjoy for the next hour and a half, then return and voila! Serve them with cute little picks and let the festivities begin! Enjoy!

Yum

Sweet & Savory Ham and Cheese Pinwheel Recipe

November 30, 2017appetizers, leftovers, snacks, entreesSheri SpalloneComment

These savory morsels are perfect for those busy days as an after-school snack, a make-ahead appetizer, a game day treat, or a different twist to your usual dinner routine. Easy, peasy!

We embellished on our stromboli recipe from our blog and came up with these sweet and savory pinwheels to share with you. Instead of pizza dough, we substituted refrigerated crescent roll dough and added Cherchies® Apple Butter Spread as a glaze to these tasty tidbits, with a pop of texture from the poppy seeds.

The result was a deliciously sweet and savory, flaky pinwheel tinged with tangy mustard, salty ham, and glazed with fruity apple butter. A must-have recipe for holidays, game day, or any celebration. Make sure to grab some for yourself, because these morsels will disappear before your eyes! Serve them with our Homemade Applesauce and our Cranberry Spinach Salad for a complete meal!

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Enjoy!

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Ingredients

1 package refrigerated crescent rolls
1-2 Tablespoons (Tbsp) Cherchies® Champagne Mustard, Cherchies® Hot Banana Pepper Mustard, or Cherchies® Cranberry Mustard
4-5 slices deli ham or leftover holiday ham, sliced thin
4-5 slices Swiss or Provolone cheese
2-3 Tablespoons (Tbsp) Cherchies® Apple Butter Spread
1 Tablespoon (Tbsp) poppy seeds

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. On a floured surface or on parchment paper, roll out the crescent roll dough into the shape of a rectangle. (If using traditional crescent roll dough, press the triangle seams together to form a rectangle. There are now long sheets of crescent dough on the market, either of which is fine). Spread the dough with the mustard of your choice.

Next, layer the dough with the cheese, followed by the ham. Starting with the long side of the dough, carefully and tightly roll up the dough and place the dough seam side down. Refrigerate the rolled up dough for about 15 minutes to allow for easier cutting.

Once the dough has chilled, remove the rolled dough from the refrigerator and carefully slice into 1 inch segments and place on a parchment papered baking sheet.

Lightly brush the pinwheels with the Apple Butter Spread and then sprinkle the pinwheels with the poppy seeds.

Bake in the oven for about 15 minutes, or until golden brown.

Enjoy!

Yum

Recipe Roundup- 15 Easy Appetizer Recipes (Plus Bonus)

November 9, 2017appetizers, parties, recipe round upSheri SpalloneComment

Believe it or not, the holidays are knocking on our door, which means entertaining and family gatherings are soon to come! Have no fear, we have got you covered! Whether you are the courteous hostess or the gracious guest, our 15 favorite quick and easy appetizers are elegant enough for any occasion.

1. Fig and Herbed Brie Cups Recipe- Sweet and savory in one mini morsel, featuring Brie cheese, Thyme, and Cherchies® Fig Preserves.

2. Pretty Pepper Hummus Recipe- Sweet peppers and homemade deliciousness; featuring Cherchies® Pretty Peppers or for more of a kick, Cherchies® Pretty Hot Peppers.

3. Sausage Bites With Cranberry Mustard- Sweet and savory and oh sooo easy, featuring Cherchies® Cranberry Mustard.

Sausage Bites With Cranberry Mustard Recipe

4. Hot Pecan Spread Recipe- Perfect enough for a crowd! We dare you to try just one bite! This recipe features Cherchies® Garlic Seasoning and Cherchies® Pretty Peppers.

5. Seared Citrus Cilantro Scallops Recipe- Impress your guests with these elegant savory gems, featuring Cherchies® Chardonnay Lime & Cilantro Seasoning Blend.

6. Tomato Basil Cups Recipe- Bacon, tomatoes and Swiss Cheese, all bundled up with Cherchies® Basil Pizzazz.

7. Tuna Pinwheel Recipe- Buttery, savory, melt-in-your mouth tuna bites, featuring Cherchies® Champagne Mustard or Cherchies® Hot Banana Pepper Mustard.

8. Cherry Hot Pepper Bruschetta Recipe- Cherries, blue cheese, and Cherchies® Cherry Hot Pepper Jam all piled atop a lovely toasted baguette. Substitute cranberries and Cherchies® Cranberry Hot Pepper Jam for the holidays.

9. Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts Recipe- Salty bacon, crunchy water chestnuts, and tangy sweet Cherchies® Cranberry Mustard. Tasty!

10. Herbed Dip Recipe- Whether it's a refreshing dill or garlic, or a spicier cajun or mexican flair, our seasoning blends make a tasty dip for all seasons! Serve vegetables and dip in shot glasses for a festive party display.

11. Pretty Crab Cake Recipe- Make this recipe, except roll the crab cakes into miniature cakes and serve with Peach Salsa Dipping Sauce. The products featured are Cherchies® Pretty Peppers, Cherchies® Vidalia Onion Peach Salsa, and Cherchies® Chardonnay Lime & Cilantro Seasoning Blend.

12. Cheesy Hot Pepper Jam Thumbprints Recipe- Cheesy, savory, sweet appetizer bites. Prepare an assortment of thumbprints with our Hot Pepper Jams or sweet preserves. Festive, easy, and fun!

13. Pepper Jam Cream Cheese Appetizer- Unexpected company? No problem! Keep your pantry stocked with Cherchies® Hot Pepper Jams or preserves and serve over cream cheese for an amazingly quick appetizer!

Pepper Jam Cream Cheese Appetizer Recipe

14. Cocktail Meatballs Recipe- Place meatballs, Cherchies® Cranberry Preserves or Cherchies® Cranberry Hot Pepper Jam and chili sauce into a crock pot, turn it on low and walk away! Meatballs will be ready when guests arrive!

15. Marinated Cheese Recipe- Always the "big cheese" at any party, but grab some for yourself, because this appetizer will disappear before your eyes! This recipe features Cherchies® Pretty OR Pretty Hot Peppers and Cherchies® Garlic Seasoning.

16. BONUS! I couldn't decide on just 15, because my favorite go-to recipe of all time for last minute guests...A CHEESE PLATE! Purchase some nice cheeses, crackers, meats, olives, dried fruit, etc., and pair them with different Cherchies® Hot Pepper Jams, Cherchies® Preserves, or Cherchies® Mustards. Allow your guests to come up with different combinations for a flavor explosion. The perfect conversation starter!

So, with a little planning and shopping, you will have easy peasy appetizers on hand for any celebration that pops up this holiday season! Enjoy!

Yum

Stuffed Pepper Mummy Recipe

October 10, 2017parties, appetizers, leftovers, snacksSheri SpalloneComment

So, it's October, which means Fall. Contrary to the typical conjured images of brilliant garnet, amber, and gold leaves, where the crisp air commands sweaters and bonfires, such is not the case in Pennsylvania. It is 80 degrees and green! I do not mind holding onto the tropical weather a bit longer, but at the same time, it is hard to think about Halloween when it feels like summer!

Do you like Halloween? I don't know whether it is the inner child in me or the fact we have children, and their excitement over the years has excited us, but I have always been a sucker for party themes, themed food, theme decorations, etc., and Halloween is no exception.

These stuffed mummy peppers are so stinking cute and the epitome of Halloween, spooky and fun (even if it is 80 degrees where you live)! They are quick and tasty, a fabulous use for leftover peppers, and are a delightful Halloween appetizer or snack. The filling possibilities are endless, but our favorite is our Vegetable Cream Cheese Spread, which is chock full of fresh vegetables and herbs. You could also use chili or our Tomato Basil Cups filling to stuff the peppers. And talk about quality time in the kitchen! Assembling the mummies is an ideal project for spending time with the kiddos, regardless of age. Our children are teenagers now, but they still enjoy helping in the kitchen, especially when food is fun! Priceless!

Serve these mummies with our Festive Deviled Eyeballs, Witches Cheese Brooms, Spooky Jack-o-Lanterns, and Spooky English Muffin Pizzas for a very eerie Halloween feast!

*Note: for those with a spicier palate, instead of mini peppers, you could always substitute jalapeno peppers.

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Thank you for stopping by! Happy early Halloween!

Ingredients

1 bag mini peppers (usually found in most grocery stores or bulk discount grocery stores, costco, Bj's, etc.), sliced in half, seeds removed
Veggie Cream Cheese Spread Recipe orTomato Basil Cup filling recipe
1 can refrigerated crescent roll dough, cut into thin strips (we used Pillsbury's newest product, crescent sheets. You could easily use crescent rolls and pinch the seams together before cutting).
Googly candy eyeballs (Wilton, I found these at my local party store)

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Wash and cut peppers in half. Remove seeds.

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and lay out pepper halves. Fill each pepper with cheese mixture (see above). Set aside. On a lightly floured surface, with a sharp knife, cut the crescent rolls into thin strips (about 1/2 inch). Carefully wrap the peppers, criss crossing the dough to resemble a mummy.

Bake at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes, or until dough is golden brown. Remove from oven and allow to cool for five minutes. Add googly candy eyes for that last minute spookiness. (Important- do not be tempted to put the eyes on before baking, as they will disappear, literally, they will melt! Not that I've done that...ahem;) Serve and enjoy!

* Note: These pepper mummies could easily be made ahead and frozen before baking.