side dishes

Crispy Dilly Zucchini Fritters Recipe

August 8, 2023appetizers, gluten free, leftovers, side dishes, snacksSheri SpalloneComment

Prep Time: 15 Minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Difficulty: Easy

Serves: 4

If you have been reading our blog (thank you), you will know that I often refer to our children as leftover haters and take pride in transforming last night's dinner into tonight's masterpiece. It is a great way to waste less and save money. I also love trying new recipes and surprising my family with new culinary creations to keep things fresh in our meal rotation. Today’s recipe: Crispy Dilly Zucchini Fritters featuring Cherchies® Lem ‘N Dill Seasoning.

Now that hubby and I are empty nesters, with the youngest two currently in college, I discovered that my biggest culinary challenge is my hubby, and changing his palate (who is, by far, the pickiest in our family) is my new mission. Our family has a one-bite rule. They do not have to like what we prepare but must try it, and the same goes for picky husbands. Challenge accepted;)

Let's talk zucchini, not necessarily my hubby's favorite but a colossal canvas for my mission. Our garden has abundantly provided us with a plethora of zucchini this summer, and aside from stir-fries, sauteeing, zucchini bread (more on that in another post), or even giving to neighbors, I needed a new recipe for zucchini fast, and this tasty zucchini fritter recipe is the perfect experiment for a picky non-veggie loving hubby.

The result, HE LOVED IT, as did our college students, who are home for the Summer. They even went for seconds! And the next day…hubby went looking for more leftover fritters for a snack but unfortunately came up short (our children had gobbled them up).

This easy recipe, featuring Cherchies® Lem ‘N Dill Seasoning Blend, comes together in minutes. It is crispy on the outside and flavorful and moist in the middle. The hardest part about this recipe is squeezing the water out of the zucchini. The more water you squeeze out of the zucchini, the better the fritters will turn out. I have yet to try this recipe in our air fryer but report back if you do.

So, if you have more zucchini than you know what to do with and are looking for a tasty vegetable recipe, consider making these crispy dilly zucchini fritters, but grab some for yourself, as they will disappear right before your eyes! Family and picky hubby approved.

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

Ingredients:

2 medium zucchini (or one large zucchini)
2 teaspoons (tsp.) salt
4 scallions, diced
1/4 cup parsley, chopped
1 1/2 Tablespoons (Tbsp.) Cherchies® Lem'n Dill Seasoning
1 large egg, beaten (might need more depending on zucchini)
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/3 cup cornmeal
1 Tablespoon (Tbsp) cornstarch
1 Tablespoon (Tbsp) baking powder
Canola or olive oil for frying
Sour cream or **special sauce (optional) for dipping
Extra diced scallions or chives to garnish (optional)

**Special Sauce Ingredients: (optional)

Mix equal parts of mayonnaise and Cherchies® Hot Banana Pepper Mustard in a bowl.

Preparation
Grate zucchini into a colander with a box grater in the sink, or use a food processor with a shredding attachment. Toss the zucchini with two teaspoons of salt. Let the shredded zucchini sit in a colander over a large bowl for 10 minutes. The salt will draw out the moisture from the zucchini.

After 10 minutes, put the grated zucchini in a clean kitchen towel, and squeeze out as much liquid as possible. The more liquid squeezed out, the crispier the fritters will be.

Add the drained zucchini, scallions, parsley, Cherchies® Lem'n Dill Seasoning, egg, cheese, cornmeal, cornstarch, and baking powder to a large bowl. Mix to combine. (To make this dairy-free, omit Parmesan cheese or substitute with vegan parmesan cheese).

Add a thin layer of oil to a pan, and over medium heat, add spoonfuls of the zucchini mixture. Flatten with a spatula and pan-fry until golden brown (3-5 minutes per side). Once the fritters are cooked, remove them from the pan and drain them on a paper towel-lined plate.

Serve with sour cream or **special sauce, garnished with scallions or chives for dipping.

Yum

Lemon Dill Bread Recipe

June 23, 2022snacks, side dishesSheri SpalloneComment

Prep Time: 10 Minutes
Cook Time: 8-12 Minutes
Difficulty: Easy

You will wonder how you ever served crescent rolls any other way when you serve these savory rolls, laced with lemon, butter, and dill.

Add a twist to your favorite crescent rolls. For this recipe, we used refrigerated crescent rolls, butter, parmesan cheese, and Cherchies® Lem’n Dill Seasoning. Our college students raved about this recipe and we are confident your family will too!

Thanks for stopping by:) Comment below if you have made this delicious recipe. 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

1/4 cup butter
1 teaspoon (tsp) Cherchies® Lem'n Dill Seasoning (or Cherchies® Lem’n Dill Seasoning NO_SALT)
2 teaspoons (tsp) parmesan cheese, grated
1 pkg. refrigerated crescent rolls

Preparation
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees (350 degrees for a non-stick baking sheet).

Unroll the dough and separate it into 8 triangles. Melt butter and add Cherchies® Lem'n Dill Seasoning and parmesan cheese. Blend thoroughly.

Baste each triangle from the crescent roll package with the mixture before rolling and baking. Roll up triangles, beginning with the wide end, and place them on an ungreased cookie sheet or parchment paper.

For presentation, I like to dab the outside of the rolls with a little butter mixture. This is optional. Bake for 8-12 minutes or until golden brown. Enjoy!

Yum

Picked Red Onion Recipe

May 17, 2022side dishesSheri SpalloneComment

If you want to add a pop of zing and an extra dimension of flavor and crunch to your sandwiches, Southwestern dishes, burgers, etc., you need to make these tangy-sweet pickled red onions. Beware, once you make them, you'll wonder why you never made them before, and you'll obsess about keeping a jar on hand in the refrigerator at all times:). Well, maybe not obsess:).

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Homemade pickled onions are incredibly delicious and easy to make. They brighten up any dish with a tangy pop of flavor, require a handful of ingredients, and take minutes to prepare. If you haven't tried them, your tastebuds are missing out. The main ingredients for pickled onions are usually vinegar, water, and salt. There are fancier recipes on the internet, sometimes with fresh herbs, garlic, fruit, peppercorns, etc.; however, our version features red onions, Cherchies® Garlic Seasoning, apple cider vinegar, and red wine vinegar (* homemade-see notes).

As I've often mentioned in other blog posts, our children (now college students) are often guinea pigs and our best food critics for new recipes that I create. Over the years, it has been wonderful watching their palates mature with them trying different foods, including pickled red onions. When our daughter and son came home for the weekend recently for a visit, their favorite Taco Night was on the menu. It was the perfect time to introduce pickled red onions as one of the taco toppings, and I was pleasantly surprised at their reactions. They gave the pickled red onions a thumbs up!

Still not convinced? Here are 19 mouth-watering examples of why you should make pickled onions today to have on hand when the moment strikes to add a burst of tanginess to your dishes. Your tastebuds will thank you.

As a topping for tacos
In sandwiches and wraps
As a fixing for bagel and lox boards
As a topping for pizza
In burgers
On top of avocado toast
In mayo-based fillings (eg. deviled eggs, salads)
In salads
As a topping for hotdogs or sausage
As a topping on stews or chili
In dips- rich dips like spinach artichoke
Use the vinegar as a marinade when finished with the pickled onions.
As a martini instead of Gimlet
In coleslaw
As a compliment to Indian food- it pairs nicely with the heat in their dishes
As a topping for baked potatoes w/ sour cream, and/or butter
As an accompaniment to charcuterie, especially pate
In beans- a pot of pintos or black beans with sour cream, cornbread, and pickled onions
Add to scrambled eggs.
In BBQ sandwiches

If you haven’t tried pickled onions, then you are missing out. They are incredibly delicious and easy to make, and they bring a new depth of flavor and texture to your favorite dishes. Are you ready to give this recipe a try?

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Ingredients

1 large red onion, thinly sliced into half-moons
1 cup apple cider vinegar
1/2 cup red wine vinegar (* we used homemade red wine vinegar- optional)
1/4 cup sugar or honey
1 teaspoon (tsp.) Cherchies® Garlic Seasoning (or Cherchies® Garlic ‘n Herbs No-Salt Seasoning)
1/8 teaspoon (tsp.) ground allspice
A pinch of red pepper flakes or a few peppercorns

Ingredients for Homemade Red Wine Vinegar

equal parts of apple cider vinegar and leftover red wine. (best if made a few days to a week ahead)

Preparation

Remove the outer layer of the onion. Slice the onion at half beginning with the root side of the onion. Using a mandoline or sharp knife, thinly slice the onion into half-moon slices. Set aside.

Add to a medium saucepan, the apple cider vinegar, red wine vinegar, sugar, Cherchies Garlic Seasoning, allspice, and red pepper flakes. Turn the saucepan on low and cook for a few minutes (stirring occasionally) until the sugar or honey has dissolved. Turn the pan off.

Add the onions to the pan and allow the mixture to cool.

Remove the onions from the saucepan with tongs and add them to a clean mason jar (or jar with a lid). Pour the remaining liquid in the pan into the mason jar. Cover the jar with a lid or plastic wrap, refrigerate, and enjoy.

Yum

The Best Cowboy Caviar Recipe

June 1, 2021appetizers, snacks, side dishes, leftovers, gluten freeSheri SpalloneComment

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Serves a crowd

Difficulty: Easy

Hello friends. How are you doing? We all are finally beginning to return to some sense of normalcy, and more of us are seeing family and friends, entertaining, and it feels nice. I have been wanting to post this delicious Cowboy Caviar dip recipe for some time, but it seemed unbefitting writing about entertaining and parties when most of us were hunkering down at home. Times are changing.

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This tasty dip (featuring Cherchies® Chardonnay Lime & Cilantro) is extremely easy to make, and it will surely become your favorite go-to dip for summer entertaining, for game day, or just about any occasion. It is fabulous as a quick dip, but versatile enough to use as a topping for tacos, over grilled fish or chicken as a nice punch of freshness, and so much more!

I first learned of Cowboy Caviar (or Texas Caviar) Recipe many years ago from The Rachel Ray Show (thank you, Rachael). The intriguing part about this dip is that it uses frozen corn, so by the time your guests arrive, this corn has been defrosted and the dip is chilled to perfection and ready to serve with your favorite chips. The Cherchies® Chardonnay Lime & Cilantro Seasoning Blend takes the flavors in this dish over the top. This recipe feeds a crowd, so depending on the size of your gathering, you can add more beans, tomatoes, and corn. Just adjust the vinegar and oil accordingly.

So the next time you are looking for a new, easy, flavorful dip recipe to serve your guests this summer, look no further and make this tasty black bean and corn dip. Your guests will love it and may even ask you for the recipe.

Thank you for visiting and please come back and visit. Please comment below if you made this recipe. We love hearing from you!

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups frozen corn
1 15 oz. can black beans, rinsed
1 15 oz. can petite diced tomatoes, drained and rinsed (can substitute fresh chopped tomatoes)
1 small red onion, finely diced (can substitute diced green onions (white and green part)
1/2 cup olive oil
1/2 cup white vinegar (or a combination of white and red vinegar)
2 Tablespoons (Tbsp.) Cherchies® Chardonnay Lime & Cilantro Seasoning (more to taste)
1/2 teaspoon (tsp.) ground black pepper
2 Tablespoons (Tbsp.) fresh cilantro, coarsely chopped

Preparation

Combine all ingredients in a medium-sized bowl. Can be made a day ahead and chilled in the refrigerator. (*This recipe is better if made the day before, as it allows the flavors to marry and intensify). If need in a hurry, leave on the counter an hour before guests arrive to defrost the corn).