Cherchies Blog

side dishes

The Best Darn Garlic Bread Recipe

side dishesSheri SpalloneComment

Cook Time: About 10 minutes
Difficulty: Easy

There's just something to be said about garlic bread...the smell, the crunch, the taste...the comfort.  It is perfect for sopping up sauces, soups or serving as a side to any dish.  This garlic bread recipe is a winner, hands down and is definitely deserving of the title, Best Darn Garlic Bread Recipe!

print recipe

What is the secret ingredient in our Best Darn Garlic Bread Recipe? It is Cherchies® Garlic Seasoning Blend, one of our oldest, most requested seasoning blends since 1980, and my all-purpose seasoning for most of my dishes, especially Garlic Bread!  Here is what our friends from across the country have said about Cherchies® Garlic Seasoning...

"I have been in love with this seasoning since 2012. I discovered the garlic Seasoning at the Pecan Store in Alabama. Other than eggs, I only use this seasoning with pepper... It makes beans, vegetables, and soups delicious. There is no greater garlic combination of flavoring".  LaRonda from Missouri

"My sister in law & I were " turned on" to this spice about 22 years ago...we use it in a ton of our cooking. It always must be in our kitchen and when company pops in - it is our dip of choice. It goes on meat, potatoes & veggies". LOVE CHERCHIES. Marianne from Connecticut

Awww, we love you too!  Thank you!

This recipe is super easy!  For this recipe, I used Ciabatta rolls in lieu of Italian bread because I love the nooks and crannies and wanted to experiment.  I often change the bread, sometimes I substitute the butter for Olive oil, and sometimes depending on my mood may add cheese to the garlic bread, but I always use Cherchies® Garlic Seasoning, a staple in our kitchen and one that should be in yours too.  

Try it and let us know what you think!  Thank you for stopping by:)

Ingredients 

  • 1 Ciabatta rolls, sliced in half (feel free to use your favorite Italian bread or baguette)
  • Room-temperature butter (about 1 1/2 Tbsp. per slice, but who's measuring, go on and slather)
  • Cherchies® Garlic Seasoning Blend or try our Cherchies® No-Salt Garlic'n Herbs Seasoning Blend

Preparation  

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Slice the rolls or bread in half lengthwise and place on a baking sheet. Spread butter over the bread and sprinkle with a generous amount of Cherchies® Garlic Seasoning (maybe 1 Tablespoon or so, once again not measuring).  I would evenly coat the bread with a light dusting of Cherchies® Garlic Seasoning.  You can always add more when you go to taste the garlic bread.

Bake in the oven for about 10 minutes or until bread is lightly golden brown.  You want that nice crunch when you first bite into the garlic bread as well as the soft buttery garlicky bread inside.  Remove the tray from the oven and cut the rolls in half or the bread into 2-inch slices and serve immediately.  Enjoy!

The Best Darn Garlic Bread Recipe

Yum

Southwest Stuffed Sweet Potato Recipe

entrees, leftovers, lunch, side dishesSheri SpalloneComment

Southwest Stuffed Sweet Potato Recipe

Cook Time: 15 Minutes

Difficulty:  Easy

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. My favorite part about Thanksgiving and the holidays is spending precious moments with family and friends, but my second favorite?  The leftovers!

PRINT RECIPE

Leftovers are kind of my thing!  For years, I have prided myself on transforming last night's dinner into tonight's masterpiece, a skill that most likely developed from having picky eaters at the dinner table and not wanting to waste food.

For this recipe, I used leftover Thanksgiving turkey and sweet potatoes, our NEW Cherchies® Black Bean & Corn Salsa, cheese, a sprinkle of this and a dollop of that and voila, a fabulous stuffed sweet potato emerged, bursting with sweet and tangy Southwestern goodness. 

This recipe is the "bomb" (Sorry, dating myself), it's healthy, it's full of flavor, it's the perfect quick and easy meal, and It's a recipe you need to add to your favorites now!  Serve these potatoes with our Homemade Applesauce and a salad for a complete meal!  

What's your favorite use of Thanksgiving leftovers?  We would love to hear from you!

Ingredients  

Preparation  

Chop the cooked turkey or chicken and set aside.  Rinse, wash, and pat dry the sweet potatoes.  Keeping the skin on, prick each potato several times with a fork.  Wrap each potato in a paper towel and Microwave until potatoes are soft to the touch.  You may certainly bake the potatoes in a 350 degree oven until the potatoes are soft to the touch (usually about a half hour), but I cheated and used the microwave:)

Once the potatoes are soft, it's time to assemble.   With a sharp knife, cut a slit into each potato and gently pry open.  Use a fork to loosen some of the sweet potato.   Sprinkle each potato with about 1/4 teaspoon (tsp) of Cherchies® Chardonnay Lime & Cilantro Seasoning Blend.

Turn the oven onto Broil.   Place 1/2 cup of the turkey or chicken in each potato and mix slightly.  Next add 1/4 cup of Cherchies® Black Bean & Corn Salsa to the potato, then sprinkle 1/4 cup of cheese over the potato.  Sprinkle an additional Cherchies® Chardonnay Lime & Cilantro Seasoning Blend over each potato.  

Place the potatoes on a baking sheet and broil on high until the cheese has melted (about 10 minutes).   And here you go, easy, cheesy, healthy, robust, Southwest Stuffed Sweet Potatoes!  Enjoy!

Yum

Champagne Beet and Goat Cheese Salad Recipe

salads, side dishesSheri SpalloneComment
Champane Beet and Goat Cheese Salad Recipe

Champane Beet and Goat Cheese Salad Recipe

Cook Time: 1 hour

Difficulty: Easy

If you had told me years ago I'd be eating beets, I would have looked at you like you were crazy...seriously crazy!  It's true, tastes do change and I absolutely love roasted beets now.  I especially love them in a salad with tangy goat cheese, candied pecans, and drizzled with a Champagne Tarragon Vinaigrette.  Oh my!

PRINT RECIPE

My curiosity was peaked a few years ago when my hubby and I were out to dinner.  There had been a lot of talk about beets and the health benefits, so I put on my big girl pants and decided to try this garnet vegetable everyone was raving about.  Both my hubby and I were hooked!  

This salad has some serious flavor!  With savory beets, creamy goat cheese, sweet candied pecans, and a tangy vinaigrette, this recipe is a must for your salad recipe cache!   

Ingredients  

  • 1 bunch of red beets, washed and peeled
  • 1 bunch of yellow beets, washed and peeled
  • 1 Tablespoon (Tbsp) olive oil
  • 1 Tablespoon (Tbsp) Cherchies® Garlic seasoning
  • 1/2 teaspoon (tsp) ground pepper
  • 1 small log of goat cheese
  • 1 Tablespoon (Tbsp) Cherchies® Champagne Mustard
  • 2 Tablespoons (Tbsp) white vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon (tsp) Tarragon

Candied Pecans Ingredients (optional)

  • 1 lb. pecans (I used chopped pecans for this recipe)
  • 1 Tablespoon water
  • 1 teaspoon (tsp) salt 
  • 1 egg white
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon (tsp) cinnamon

Preparation

Preheat oven to 300 degrees.  

Wash and peel the beets and cut off the ends of the beets.  Cut beets into fourths and place on a baking sheet.  For presentation sake, I prefer to keep the gold beets separate from the red beets during cooking. Drizzle the beets with olive oil and sprinkle with Cherchies® Garlic Seasoning and pepper.  

With your hands, mix the beets so that they are coated in oil and the seasoning. You may want to use gloves if you don't want your fingers to turn pink.  Place beets in the oven and roast them until they are fork tender, about an hour.

In a small bowl, mix the Champagne Mustard, vinegar, and Tarragon.  Set aside.  

I like to cook the candied pecans at the same time as the beets, since they take about the same time.   In a small bowl, beat the egg white and water with a fork until frothy but not stiff.  

Add the pecans to a medium bowl. Pour the beaten egg white over the pecans and stir to make sure nuts are completely covered.  Sift the dry ingredients over the nuts and stir to coat evenly.  

Line a baking sheet with waxed or parchment paper and lightly spray with cooking spray.  Bake at 300 degrees for an hour, stirring the pecans every 15 minutes.  Allow the pecans to cool.

Once the beets and pecans are cooked, it's time to assemble the salad.  Coarsely chop the beets and arrange on a plate.  Sprinkle the goat cheese and the candied pecans over the beets.  Drizzle the Champagne Tarragon Vinaigrette over the salad.  Voila!  Champagne Beet and Goat Cheese Salad! Enjoy!

Yum

Aunt Esther's Potato Salad Recipe

side dishes, saladsCherchiesComment

This flavorful potato salad is perfect for picnics, barbecue's, and outdoor parties. 

Ingredients

PRINT RECIPE
  • 5 lbs. potatoes 

  • 1 cucumber, diced 

  • 1 medium onion, diced 

  • 1/2 cup vinegar 

  • 1/2 cup oil 

  • 1 tsp. salt 

  • 1/2 tsp. pepper 

  • 1 cup mayonnaise 

  • 1 cup sour cream 

  • 2 tsp. Cherchies® Lem'n Dill Seasoning

Preparation

Peel and boil potatoes and drain well. Chop into large pieces. Mix 1/4 cup vinegar, oil salt and pepper and pour over potatoes.

Blend mayonnaise, sour cream, the remaining 1/4 cup vinegar and Cherchies® Lem'n Dill Seasoning. Pour over cucumber and onion. Add this mixture to potato mixture and toss well to serve.

Serves 20 to 25.

Enjoy!

Yum