Blackberry Monkey Bread Muffin Recipe

Blackberry Monkey Bread Muffin Recipe

I love berries, and I love sweet rolls, so the thought of combining the two made my knees quiver. Ok, maybe not quiver, but you get the gist. My family also loves sweet rolls, but I save making them from scratch for the holidays as they are a labor of love, and I wanted something quick this time!

I recently ran across my monkey bread recipe, which used refrigerated biscuits, and it dawned on me, monkey bread muffins (quick, easy, and elegant)! I wanted to jazz them up even more, so my daughter and I tested them with our Blackberry preserves. Talk about tantalizing your tastebuds! The muffins were incredibly decadent and buttery with a hint of cinnamon and blackberry sweetness, pure perfection. I do not know why I didn't think of these gems sooner. They were a massive hit with our family. My advice? Make sure to grab some for yourself because these tasty morsels will not last long, and they will disappear right before your eyes:)

Comment below and let us know if you have tried this recipe. Thank you for visiting. Please come back again.

Ingredients

• 1 package of Refrigerated biscuits (we used Pillsbury Grands Biscuits)

• 1/2 cup sugar

• 2 Tablespoons (Tbsp) Cinnamon

• 1 stick butter, melted

• Cherchies® Seedless Blackberry Preserves (about 1 Tablespoon (Tbsp) per muffin or try this recipe with our other preserves.

• Zest of one lemon, divided

• Lemon Cream Cheese Icing (below)

Lemon Cream Cheese Icing

• 4 oz. room temperature, cream cheese

• lemon zest

• Juice of one lemon

• 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

• 1 teaspoon vanilla

Preparation

Add the sugar and cinnamon to a resealable plastic bag and shake the bag.  Open the biscuits and cut biscuits into sixths with kitchen shears or a sharp knife.  (This is a great family activity).

Lightly grease muffin pan with cooking spray or place muffin liners into trays.  Place four biscuits into each muffin tin, and pour melted butter over the biscuits.  Drizzle about 1 Tablespoon of Cherchies® Seedless Blackberry Preserves over biscuits.  Sprinkle biscuits with half of the lemon zest.

Bake muffins at 350 degrees for about 15-20 minutes, or until golden brown.  While muffins are baking, prepare the icing by mixing together the cream cheese, powdered sugar, lemon zest, lemon juice, and vanilla.

Remove muffins from oven and cool about 6-9 minutes before serving.  Drizzle with icing and serve warm.  Ohhhh my goodness...Enjoy!

Garlic Krispies Recipe

Garlic Krispies Recipe

A lovely snack or appetizer with a surprising crunch.  Serve alone or with your favorite cheese plate, but beware...set some aside for yourself...they will get devoured!

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter, room temperature

• 2 cups grated sharp cheddar cheese

• 1 Tablespoon (Tbsp)  Cherchies® Garlic Seasoning

• 2 cups flour

• 2 cups Rice Krispies cereal

• cayenne pepper

• Parchment paper

Preparation

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

In a large bowl, combine butter, cheese, and Garlic Seasoning.  Add flour and stir with a fork to blend. Stir in Rice Krispies cereal.

Form dough into 3/4 inch balls and flatten with a fork on a baking sheet, lined with parchment paper. Sprinkle lightly with cayene pepper.

Bake for 10-12 minutes.  

Garlic Krispies Recipe

Serve at room temperature.  Enjoy!

Cooking Tip: How to Soften Brown Sugar

Cooking Tip: How to Soften Brown Sugar

Don't you hate it when you go to reach for the brown sugar and it's a hard lumpy blob?  Perhaps you have teen "angels" (eh hum) who like to leave the brown sugar open after using it?  

Have no fear, that glorious brown sugar can be restored to its former beauty, by this simple trick, bread! That's right, add a slice of bread to your bag or container of brown sugar, and within a day or so, your brown sugar is once again new.  Take that "teenangels".

If you need your brown sugar sooner, put the brown sugar in a bowl and place the bowl in the microwave with a damp paper towel over top.  Microwave for 25 seconds. 

Perfect Pesto Recipe

Perfect Pesto Recipe

The right sauce is the key to transforming a dish from average to extraordinaire.  With Summer in full swing, having an easy, no-cook sauce at your disposal means less cooking indoors and more time to enjoy Summer's finest.  When fresh herbs and produce are abundant, pesto is the "besto". 

"A well-made pesto is a thing of beauty: Fresh, green, cheesy, and nutty, this no-cook sauce has it all and goes with just about everything."- Bon Appetit https://www.bonappetit.com/test-kitchen/common-mistakes/article/pesto-commo… Introducing our perfect pesto recipe, featuring Cherchies® Basil Pizzazz Blend and Cherchies®Garlic Seasoning Blend.

What is Traditional Pesto?
Although the essential ingredients of traditional pesto (Pesto alla Genovese) are basil, garlic, pine nuts, hard, salty aged cheese (Parmigiano, Pecorino Romano, etc.), olive oil, and a bit of salt to taste, pesto lends itself to creativity with whatever herbs (mint, parsley, cilantro, etc.), nuts (any kind), etc. you have on hand (Different regions of Italy use whatever herbs they have on hand, sometimes even a mixture).  This is where our version deviates from the classic with the addition of two seasoning blends, Cherchies® Basil Pizzazz and Cherchies® Garlic Seasoning.  Our version takes this pesto recipe over the top.

How to Make Pesto?
To save time, we also deviated from traditional pesto making (crushing the ingredients with a mortar and pestle) and mixed the ingredients in a food processor instead.   The result?  A vibrant emerald green sauce, full of flavor, aroma, and texture, is the perfect sauce for almost anything.  

What to do With Pesto?
Although the recipe possibilities are endless, some of our favorite uses for pesto are as follows:

• Mix it in with pasta (of course) for a quick and easy meal.

• Add it to fresh tomatoes and mozzarella to create an easy classic Caprese Salad.

• Spread it on fresh ciabatta, and add tomatoes and Mozzarella for a delightful Caprese Sandwich.

• Add to flavor soups or sauces.

• Add to meatballs or burgers for an outstanding flavor burst.

• Turn it into a quick and easy dip when added to sour cream (or Greek yogurt) and mayonnaise.

• Mix it in with softened butter for a tasty compound butter.

• Use it as a sauce for pizza instead of pizza sauce.

So many more ideas!

So, when you have an abundance of Basil in your garden from your CSA share or your neighbor, make our perfect pesto. It’s quick and easy and is the perfect sauce for almost anything. What’s your favorite use for pesto?

Thanks for stopping by:) Comment below if you have tried this recipe or have some to add. Come back again for more family-tested recipes, entertaining ideas, and cooking tips using all our favorite Cherchies® gourmet products.

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Ingredients

• 2 cups fresh Basil leaves

• 1 clove garlic

• 1 Tablespoon (Tbsp) Cherchies® Garlic Seasoning (or Cherchies Garlic 'n Herbs No Salt Seasoning)- more to taste

• 1 teaspoon (tsp) Cherchies® Basil Pizzazz

• 1 cup spinach

• 3 Tablespoons (Tbsp) walnuts (or pine nuts), lightly toasted

• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

• pepper (to taste)

• 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil

Preparation

In a food processor (or blender), combine the basil, garlic, Cherchies® Garlic Seasoning, Cherchies® Basil Pizzazz, spinach, and pine nuts.  Process until finely chopped.  While the food processor is running, slowly drizzle the olive oil until the mixture is a smooth, thick paste.  Add pepper to taste.

Once the pesto is to desired consistency, remove from processor and scrape contents with a spatula into a medium bowl.  Stir in parmesan cheese by hand and enjoy on sandwiches, pasta, etc.   Refrigerate in an airtight container.

*Note:  Pesto is best served immediately, as it tends to brown if not used right away.  My trick, add spinach!  Sneaky, huh?  The spinach in the recipe allows the pesto to remain green for some time in the refrigerator.  The result is perfectly green pesto.  Enjoy!

*Note: I have also heard that adding a thin layer of olive oil on top of your newly jarred pesto or covering tightly with plastic wrap (close to the pesto) is another way to prevent your pesto from turning brown.

Perfect Pesto Recipe