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Cooking Tip: How To Make French Bread Pizzas

cooking tipsSheri SpalloneComment

Cooking Tip:  How To Make French Bread Pizzas

Cook Time:  10 minutes  Difficulty:  Easy.

I love quick and easy recipes, and French Bread Pizzas are not only perfect for those busy nights, but they're also an excellent means for hiding leftovers...such as veggies:). If you have been following our blog (thank you), you will know that I am notorious for turning last night's leftovers into tonight's masterpiece...mainly out of necessity from picky kiddos.

We go through a lot of food!  With a family of five (one 21 year old boy, a 15 year old boy, a 12 year old girl AND their friends and my hubby and me), French Bread pizzas are a perfect way to stretch the buck and clear out the refrigerator at the same time;)

The pizza combinations are endless and every time I make them, the leftovers completely disappear.  My family, didn't even know what hit them:) "Mom, these are awesome!"  A moment of silence please...

Occasionally, I will place a bunch of toppings out and allow my family to create their own masterpieces for make-your-own pizza night.  It's a great way to get them involved in the kitchen and to catch up.  (However, when they make their own pizzas, guess what's leftover??  Veggies;)  The pizzas I created are listed below, Chicken Parmesan Pizza, Chicken Cordon Bleu Pizza, and Chicken Taco Pizza.  I'll post the recipes of all our concoctions in a future blog post.

How to Make French Bread Pizzas-  Here's how it's done...Have fun!

  • Start with a loaf of French Bread (or any kind of bread for that matter).  Cut the bread in half lengthwise.  (I usually cut in half lengthwise, then cut those halves in half).
  • Spread on your favorite sauce.  So many options...spaghetti sauce, salsa, olive oil and garlic, alfredo sauce, pesto, whatever you have in your pantry or leftover in your refrigerator.  Below we've featured spaghetti sauce Champagne Mustard, and salsa as the bases.
  • Next, add the toppings by using leftovers such as meat, vegetables, beans...the sky's the limit friends.  Below, we used leftover grilled chicken three ways, Chicken Parmesan Pizza,  Chicken Cordon Bleu Pizza, and Chicken Taco Pizza (Ingredients listed below).
  • When you are satisfied with your creation, add the seasonings and cheese. The Chicken Parmesan Pizza had a combination of shredded Parmesan and Mozzarella Cheese sprinkled with Cherchies® Garlic Seasoning, whereas the Chicken Cordon Bleu Pizza had Swiss cheese as the cheese of choice, also sprinkled with Cherchies® Garlic Seasoning, and finally, a shredded Mexican Blend and Mozzarella cheese were used for the Chicken Taco Pizza.  Easy Peasy!
  • Drizzle a little olive oil over the entire pizza and bake at 350 degrees until the cheese is gooey and melted.  Check out the ingredients for the three pizzas mentioned earlier.  Enjoy!

Chicken Parmesan French Bread Pizza-  Spread the bread halves with spaghetti sauce.  Sprinkle with cooked chicken, chopped basil, Cherchies® Garlic Seasoning, and a mixture of shredded Parmesan and Mozzarella cheeses.  Sprinkle with oregano and drizzle with olive oil.  Bake at 350 degrees until melty.

Chicken Cordon Bleu Pizza - Spread the bread halves with Cherchies® Champagne Mustard then spaghetti sauce.  Add chicken, ham chunks, swiss cheese and mozzarella.  Sprinkle with Cherchies® Garlic Seasoning and a little bit of dried Thyme. Drizzle with olive oil.  Bake at 350 degrees until melty.

Chicken Taco Pizza - Spread the bread halves with salsa seasoning.  Add chicken, black beans, Terrapin Ridge Farms Chipotle Aioli Sauce, and a blend of Mexican cheese blend and mozzarella.  Drizzle with olive oil.  Bake at 350 degrees until melty.

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Cooking Tip: How To Revive Wilted Lettuce

cooking tipsSheri SpalloneComment
Cooking Tip- How To Revive Wilted Lettuce

Cooking Tip- How To Revive Wilted Lettuce

Poor sad wilted lettuce, it didn't ask for this!  I hate wasting food, don't you?  I picked up a glorious head of lettuce two days ago, forgot about it, and when I returned to fulfill my salad quest, the lettuce looked at me and begged, "Please make me pretty again."  

My friends, not all is lost (except for the fact my lettuce is talking to me...that's creepy;)  There is a simple solution to reviving most greens on a "stalk", such as lettuce, kale, celery, broccoli, swiss chard, etc.  Water!

Simply place your wilted greens in a large bowl, add water, ice, and allow the lettuce to chill in the refrigerator for a couple of hours.  I've read that some add lemon juice, but I don't feel that is necessary.  This system has always worked for me, and "if it's not broke, don't fix it", right?

After a couple of hours, remove your lettuce from the bowl, lay it out on paper towels, and gently roll up the paper towel with the lettuce.  Place the lettuce in a resealable bag and place back in the refrigerator.  Your lettuce should remain "pretty" for a couple more days.  *Note: This method does not work well for those boxed mixed greens.

So now you have the tools to revive your wilted greens when they start talking to you.  Ha!

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Cooking Tip: How To Make Homemade Cream of Mushroom Soup

glaze marinade & sauce, cooking tipsSheri Spallone2 Comments
Cooking Tip: How To Make Homemade Cream of Mushroom Soup Recipe

Cooking Tip: How To Make Homemade Cream of Mushroom Soup Recipe

Cook Time:  20 minutes  

Difficulty:  Easy

I have a tough time using something out of a can, especially when I can make it from scratch and control the ingredients.   Take for example Cream of Mushroom soup, a constant in most casseroles.

With two family members sensitive to gluten and certain ingredients in canned soups, I was on a quest to make this homemade version.

This homemade version of the store bought canned cream of mushroom soup is delicious and so very easy.  You may never go back to the store bought version again.  It's that good!  (Sorry Campbell's). 

This recipe is equivalent to 2 cans of store bought cream of mushroom soup and will last in the refrigerator for a week.  This recipe would also be good for "Cream of Anything Soup" (asparagus, chicken...).  That will be a future blog.

Ingredients

  • 1 package of baby bella mushrooms, rinsed and coarsely chopped
  • 2 Tablespoons (Tbsp) butter
  • 1 shallot, finely minced
  • 1/2 teaspoon (tsp) Cherchies® Garlic Seasoning
  • 1/2 teaspoon (tsp) Thyme
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 1 Tablespoon (Tbsp) butter
  • 2 Tablespoon (Tbsp) flour (we tested this recipe with Bob's Mill GF All-Purpose Baking mix)
  • 1/4 cup Sherry (optional) 
  • 1/4 teaspoon Truffle Oil (optional)
  • 3/4 cup homemade chicken broth (If don't use Sherry, increase chicken broth to 1 cup)
  • 1/2 cup half & half (can substitute light whipping cream)

Preparation

Turn skillet on medium and melt 2 Tablespoons of butter.   Place chopped mushrooms in pan and cook mushrooms for about 5 minutes.  Add minced shallots and cook until shallots are translucent (about another 5 minutes).  Remove mushrooms and shallots from pan and place in a bowl or on a plate.  Set aside.

Add 1 Tablespoon butter and flour to pan and stir for a couple of minutes.  Add Sherry and chicken stock (I always have homemade chicken stock in the freezer) and stir.  Mixture will begin to thicken.  Add Garlic Seasoning, pepper, Thyme, and stir.  *At this point I added Truffle oil ...well, because I had it on hand, but this is completely optional.  I just love the extra richness it adds to any mushroom dish.

Add mushroom and shallot mixture back to pan as well as half and half and continue to cook on low, stirring occasionally, until soup is thick and creamy (about 10 minutes).  

Cool completely and place in a large mason jar if not using immediately.  There you have it, homemade cream of mushroom soup!  Enjoy!

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Cooking Tip: How To Cook Asparagus

cooking tipsSheri SpalloneComment
Asparagus.jpg

Asparagus is an antioxidant powerhouse packed with vitamins and fiber—and it’s one of the easiest vegetables to prepare.

No matter which method you choose, start by washing and trimming the asparagus. Season before serving, and for extra flavor try a squeeze of lemon with Cherchies® Garlic Seasoning or Garlic ’n Herbs No-Salt Seasoning. Finish with a sprinkle of Parmesan if you’d like.

For a lighter option, skip the butter and drizzle with a quick vinaigrette made with Cherchies Champagne Mustard, white vinegar, and olive oil.

5 easy ways to cook asparagus

Roasted (Our favorite)
Place washed, trimmed asparagus in a baking pan. Drizzle with olive oil, lemon juice, and your favorite Cherchies Garlic Seasoning. Roast for 10–15 minutes at 350, or until browned and tender.

Sautéed
Sauté over high heat for about 10 minutes, tossing occasionally. Cook in a bit of butter or oil and season to taste. This method helps asparagus keep its bright green color.

Steamed
Place asparagus in a steamer basket over boiling water and cook 4–8 minutes, or until tender. If you’re using it for salads or stir-fries, transfer to an ice-water bath for a few minutes to stop the cooking. Season to taste.

Microwave
Add about 2 tablespoons of water to a microwave-safe bowl or plate. Microwave asparagus 2–3 minutes. If using for salads or stir-fries, add to an ice-water bath to stop the cooking. Season to taste.

Grilled
Toss asparagus with a small amount of oil and place on a hot grill. For easier flipping, skewer several stalks together. Grill about 10 minutes (turning to brown evenly), or until tender. Season to taste.

How to trim asparagus: Bend each spear near the bottom until it naturally snaps at the tender point, or line up the spears and cut off the woody ends with a knife so they’re all an even length.

So, what’s your favorite way to cook asparagus? Comment below—we’d love to hear your tips and recipes!

Thank you for visiting! Come back again for more family-tested recipes, entertaining ideas, and cooking tips using all our favorite Cherchies® gourmet products.

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