Munchdown! It's almost time for the Super Bowl folks and that means parties, which means food!

To help with your football party planning, I've listed 20 of our favorite quick and easy Cherchies® recipes to make your party is extra "super".

Now go, have yourself a game day party...even if you don't like football (What???...just kidding... I won't hold it against you, if you won't hold it against me that I like football...or The Eagles...sorry guys, maybe next year;)

Appetizers

Marinated Cheese Recipe- A make ahead must! The Garlic 'n Herbs Seasoning and our Pretty Peppers "score" big in this recipe.
Muffuletta Cream Cheese Roll-Up Recipe- The flavors of the classic New Orleans "Muffuletta" in a bite-sized appetizer.
Cheesy Havarti-Dill Pull Apart Bread- Soft, crunchy artisan bread, melty Havarti cheese, drippy butter and Lemon dill spice...oh my!
Lemon Dill Dip Recipe- What would a party be without dips? This dip is so refreshing and our Cherchies® lemon dill spice makes this dip irresistibly good.
Sweet and Sour Spread Recipe- Sweet pineapple combined with the zing of horseradish and gourmet mustard makes this a delicious appetizer that won't be on the table for long.
Artichoke and Cheese Squares- Score points for flavor.
Mexican Martino Cheesecake Recipe- This recipe is a touchdown (sorry, couldn't help myself), and feeds a large crowd. A savory cheesecake with peppers and Vidalia Onion Peach Salsa. Yumm!
Oh Sooo Simple Salsa Recipe- Last minute get-together? No problem! Our Salsa Seasoning with Lime will turn any can of tomatoes into a delicious salsa! For an added bonus, add Velveeta Cheese to your newly made salsa, and microwave until melted... instant queso!
Candied Pepper Jam Bacon- Bacon and football just seem perfect together for some reason, but then again bacon goes with everything;)

Main Meal/Heartier Appetizers

Ham and Mustard Biscuit Recipe- It doesn't get much easier than biscuit sliders with ham, cheese, and mustard. Or have a slider spread with different fillings (meatballs,pulled pork...).
Bake Chicken Tenders with Cranberry Mustard Dipping Sauce- A sweet and tangy compliment to the chicken.
Double Decker Tacos- Have a taco bar!
Yes, soup for you! (Seinfeld flashback)- With over 20 soups, we have just the one to warm you and your family. Plus, most of our soups can be made in a crockpot (except for the quick cooking soups!)
Melt in Your Mouth Pulled Pork- 5 Ingredients, including our Select Grilling Rub and Seasoning Blend.
Grilled Herb Chicken Legs- Fire up the grill, and add olive oil and your favorite Cherchies® seasoning blend
Honey and Lime Grilled Shrimp- Lime, Cilantro, and honey will make your taste buds sing!
Festive Deviled Eggs- Always a crowd favorite, any occasion.

Desserts

Blackberry or Lemon Raspberry Monkey Bread Muffins- These little cuties are so quick and easy and will be a hit at your next party. Make them both!
Lemon Raspberry Fruit Pizza Recipe- Serious fruit flavor! Perfect for a crowd.
Apple Butter Crisp- warm apples with a delightful crunchy topping.

Have a super party folks!

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Cooking Tip: How To Create an Easy Cheese Plate

November 19, 2015cooking tips, partiesSheri SpalloneComment

Entertaining should be easy, not difficult. It's all about quality time with family and friends, not the time spent in the kitchen. With the busy holiday season on our doorstep, time is of the essence, and a quick and easy go-to appetizer is a necessity.

Our go-to appetizer is a charcuterie platter, (aka a cheese plate or antipasto platter). It takes very little effort to create a fabulous charcuterie platter, but the presentation speaks volumes.

Cheese and fruit are a given for cheese platters, and when we are entertaining, we often open up jars of our products (Our award-winning mustards, Hot Pepper Jams, Butter Spreads, Preserves), and pair them with good quality cheeses. Our guests love to create and share their own concoctions (You'll find out shortly how to create your own). Plus, it's also a great conversation starter.

There really is no exact recipe for a cheese plate, as it lends to individual creativity, so below we've given our recommendations for the perfect cheese/antipasto platter: Let's build it together! Here are the tools needed for a fabulous cheese/antipasto display:

Vehicle (Thank you Martha Stewart)- A pretty cutting board, tray, or platter is the perfect "vehicle" for creating a cheese board. If you have a large gathering, a piece of furniture works well to "stage" your appetizers. Check out my in-laws 50th Anniversary party this summer (thank you Charlie from Yellow Springs Inn for your innovation and inspiration). We re-created a smaller version later for friends on Labor Day. They loved it!

Pretty Containers

The world is your oyster when it comes to containers:) Gather up your "pretties" (bowls, martini glasses, crystal, votive holders, tea cups, etc. ) for your display, anything that will hold the loose items such as olives, nuts, crackers, bread sticks, etc.

We used our "pretties" to hold olives, mini toasts, bread sticks, and of course CONDIMENTS! We used one each of our Mustards, Hot Pepper Jams, Butter Spreads, and Preserves.

Labeling

Chalkboard anything is all the rage for labeling, and the possibilities are endless. Here, we used picture frame napkins rings (you could substitute mini picture frames) that we had lying around, and then added black construction paper to the frames to create "faux" chalkboards.

Cheese

You had me at cheese! Invest in some good quality cheeses, like aged cheddar, blue, brie, or whatever combinations you decide upon. Depending on your gathering size (under 10 people), Martha Stewart (thank you again Martha...you rock!) suggests selecting three different cheeses, all of varying textures, with a mild cheese as one of the options.

Fruit and/or Fruit Preserves

There's usually something sweet on a Cheese Plate, such as fruit (fresh or dried grapes, apples, apricots, berries, cranberries, etc.), and we've gone a step further to include fruit AND our Preserves, Hot Pepper Jams, Butter Spreads, and Mustards as an accompaniment to the cheese. This is where the fun begins! The flavors are amazing! Stay tuned!

Bread

So technically, you could just pick up a slice of cheese and top it with a piece of fruit and be done. Or, you could grab a slice of a baguette or a cracker (make sure to get good crackers ...Water Crackers tend to be a favorite...we used mini toast crostinis we found at our local Wegman's), and start creating, combining cheeses with fruit, pepper jams, mustards, preserves, meats, oh my!. Your taste buds will thank you!

Try these options to start (the possibilities are endless!):

Cherchies® Blackberry Preserves paired with Blue Cheese
Cherchies® Hot Pepper Jams paired with a good sharp Cheddar
Cherchies® Apple Butter Spread and Brie with a slice of apple on top
Cherchies® Champagne Mustard (or Cranberry Mustard) and cheddar, with a few Champagne grapes on top (cute little grapes, normally found at specialty stores)

Miscellaneous Items

Usually, cheese plates have some sort of meat, such as sausage, salami, etc. In addition to salami, we decided to amp up our cheese board even more and add Pepperoncini Peppers and olives, but you could also add nuts.

Cheese platters are not only an easy and elegant option for entertaining, but the combinations of ingredients are also infinite. We love to add our personal touch and pair cheese with fruits, olives, meats, preserves, mustards, pepper jams, etc. You will find tons of themed charcuterie options on the internet for the creative side of you (see below). We'd love to hear your favorite combinations!

The best part of a charcuterie/cheese platter is that you'll have more time on your hands for what's important...spending quality time with your family and friends! Happy easy and elegant entertaining this holiday season!

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Easy and Elegant Entertaining Menus

October 14, 2015parties, recipe round upSheri SpalloneComment

I have loved theme parties as long as I can remember. When I was working in Corporate America, I planned all the corporate hospitality events in my division.

When I became a mom, I was all about the themed birthday parties.

As my kiddos grew, I volunteered to "help" at my children's school's Teacher Appreciation Luncheon. I ended up chairing the event for 9 years.

Themes to me, always seem to make planning easier, from the invitations, and the decorations, to the food. It just seems to flow. Who doesn't like a plan?

Consider me your personal event planner. I thought you might enjoy a few themed Cherchies® menus to make your entertaining easy and elegant.

(I'll do a blog in the future with some creative themed parties, complete with invitations and decorations). Happy Entertaining!

Ladies Luncheon

Gameday

Romantic Dinner for Two

Brunch

Mexican Fiesta

Backyard Grilling

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Top 10 Ten Recipes for a Successful BBQ + Bonus

August 27, 2015parties, recipe round upSheri SpalloneComment

Top 10 Recipes for a Successful Backyard BBQ

It is officially summer…my favorite season! Have you ever noticed people seem happier when the weather is warmer and that summer is the favorite season for most? Now you know:) Flip flops, warm sunshine, flowers, swimming, the beach, and the smells of barbeques wafting through the air... Summer is alive and vibrant!

Summer is also a time to slow down, kick back, relax and spend quality time with family and friends. Simply put, summer screams easy entertaining!

Whether it is a summer BBQ, a potluck, a bonfire, time at the beach, or a birthday celebration, we have rounded up 10 of our favorite easy recipes to ensure a successful summer gathering, allowing more time for you to enjoy the bounties of summer and quality time with those you love.

As always, thank you for stopping by! Come back and visit us often!

Happy Summer!

APPETIZERS

Pepper Jam Cream Cheese Recipe- Two ingredients, our sweet and spicy Pepper Jams and Cream Cheese. (Three if you count the crackers;). Keep jars in your pantry for those last minute potlucks!
Marinated Cheese Recipe- This recipe can be made ahead and is a sure hit at parties. You may want to get a plate for yourself because they will disappear quickly! The sweetness of the Pretty Peppers and the savory ingredients are a nice compliment to the cheese.
Baked Coconut Shrimp With Spicy Apricot Sauce- It's so simple to make and these tasty morsels disappears right before your eyes. Our Chardonnay Lime & Cilantro Seasoning, Select Grilling Rub & Seasoning Blend, and spicy apricot sauce will your taste buds to a whole new level. Plus they are baked, not fried!

SIDES/SALADS

Best Darn Coleslaw Recipe featuring Cherchies® Award-winning Champagne Mustard. There is a reason this coleslaw is deemed the best!
Pepper Jam Grilled Pineapple Recipe- Grilling pineapple brings out the sweet juices of the pineapple. Add our pepper jams, and you have a sweet and spicy party in your mouth!
Caprese Salad Recipe- Your next go-to summer salad recipe featuring Cherchies® Basil Pizzazz Seasoning. Embrace all of summer’s glorious bounty…fresh tomatoes and basil. Extremely simple to make!

Strawberry Spinach Salad- A delightful salad using all our your summer bounty with our Champagne Vinaigrette Recipe.

ENTREES

Sassy Grilled Chicken Skewers- My go-to quick summer recipe with three ingredients, chicken, olive oil, and Cherchies® Select Grilling Rub and Seasoning.
Strawberry Hot Pepper Kabobs- Hot Pepper Jam and Champagne mustard, an award-winning taste!
Pizzazzed Steak Recipe- Steaks or burgers sprinkled with our Cherchies® Pepper Pizzaz will make your taste buds sing. Three ingredients!

Blackberry Champagne Salmon Recipe- Ok, I'm giving you a bonus recipe because this is sooo good.

DESSERTS

Apple Butter A' La Mode Recipe- Ok, here's another bonus:) No barbecue would be complete without dessert! Apple Butter, Cherry Butter, or Strawberry Butter over ice cream with chocolate...yum!

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