Cherchies Blog

lunch

Champagne Blackberry Grilled Ham and Cheese Recipe

lunch, entreesSheri SpalloneComment

Champagne Blackberry Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Cooking Time: 8 minutes  

Difficulty: Easy

AAhh, grilled cheese sandwiches are the perfect comfort food. How can you go wrong with bread, butter, and cheese? Life doesn't get much better than gooey, melty, cheesy sandwiches, especially on a cold, snowy weekend. How about gooey, melty, cheesy sandwiches with salty ham, tangy Champagne Mustard, sweet Blackberry Preserves, and brie cheese? Yes, please! 

Our family spent most of the weekend digging out and snow-blowing almost 30" of snow, courtesy of The Jonas Blizzard. It was "all hands on deck," except for Mom, as I volunteered for lunch duty. It's a shame we only had enough shovels for our teenagers. :) Lunch duty is essential. 

To reward my hard-working blizzard bunnies, I made their meal of choice: grilled ham and cheese sandwiches, but with a twist. It's always a gamble to introduce a new dish to my family, but my family is used to it. Still, our family has a "one bite rule" (they have to try it, but they don't have to like it), so I seized the moment and added Cherchies® Champagne Mustard and Cherchies® Blackberry Preserves to their grilled ham and cheese sandwiches...and waited...

"Mom, these are so good!" Music to my ears! (Whew!) 

Are you a grilled cheese sandwich fan looking for a new recipe to tantalize your tastebuds? Then try this recipe, featuring a salty-sweet combination of ham, brie cheese, Cherchies® Blackberry Preserves, and Cherchies® Champagne Mustard. You will not be disappointed.

What are your favorite Cherchies® grilled cheese combinations? Comment below. And if you send us your recipe, we'll post it on our blog:) That would be fun, as would an entire blog post on grilled cheese recipes. Yum!

Thanks for stopping by. :) Come back again for more family-tested recipes, entertaining ideas, and cooking tips using our favorite Cherchies® gourmet products.

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Ingredients (per sandwich)

Preparation

Butter the outside of each slice of bread.  Add Cherchies® Champagne Mustard to one slice of bread and Cherchies® Blackberry Preserves to the other.  Add brie cheese and ham.  Grill open-faced for a couple of minutes to crisp up each slice of bread.  Then combine halves to allow the cheese to melt.

Enjoy this melty, cheesy comforting sandwich!  Your taste buds will sing!

Yum

Double Decker Taco Recipe

entrees, lunchSheri SpalloneComment
Double Decker Tacos Recipe

Double Decker Tacos Recipe

Of all the meals in our family's recipe repertoire, tacos (any kind) seem to make their presence on the table weekly. They are the perfect easy meal anytime for any celebration, and they are just plain fun. Who doesn't like fun? But double the fun? I'm in!

These mouth-watering double-decker tacos are delicious, with a soft shell on the outside and a hard shell on the inside and all the tasty fixings nicely tucked inside, similar to Taco Bell's Gordita Crunch. Our children picked up on this idea a long time ago because, according to them, "the tacos don't break apart all over the place." I like the idea because of the crunch inside a soft, warm tortilla. It just adds a unique texture to tacos.

But, the secret to the outstanding flavor of these double-decker tacos is meat (or seafood) seasoned with our Cherchies® Select Grilling Rub & Seasoning Blend, an all-purpose seasoning blend perfect for grilling but versatile enough on ribs, in dips, chilis, pulled pork, casseroles, and especially tacos.  

So, the next time you're in the mood for tacos, "double wow" your family, friends, etc., grab a bottle of Cherchies® Select Grilling Rub and Seasoning Blend, and make these fun; flavorful double-decker tacos! You will not be disappointed. They are perfect for Taco Night, Cinco de Mayo, graduation parties, weddings, or any gathering where tacos are the star.  

Comment below and let us know how they turned out! Thank you for visiting! Come back and visit for new tasty recipes.

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Ingredients

  • 1 pound of ground meat (we used ground chicken for this picture)

  • 1 Tablespoon (Tbsp) Cherchies® Garlic Seasoning

  • 1/2 teaspoon (tsp) pepper

  • 1 small onion chopped

  • 1 cup beef broth (you can use chicken or vegetable broth)

  • 3 1/2 Tablespoons (Tbsp) Cherchies® Select Grilling Rub and Seasoning Blend (more or less to taste)

  • 1 teaspoon (tsp) cornstarch

  • hard taco shells (can use soft...or both...what?)

  • Salsa or Pico de gallo (we used store-bought fresh salsa)

  • 2 Tablespoons (Tbsp) Chopped cilantro mixed with 1 cup chopped lettuce (more depending on if needed)

  • Shredded Cheddar Cheese

  • Chardonnay Guacamole Recipe (optional)

  • Lime n' Cha Sauce (below)

Lime n' Cha Sauce

  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise

  • 1 teaspoon (tsp.) Sriracha Chili Sauce (or your favorite chili sauce)

  • Juice from 1/2 a lime

  • 1 Tablespoon

Preparation

In a large skillet, add oil, onions, Garlic Seasoning, pepper, and saute onions in oil until translucent.  

Add ground meat, cornstarch, Cherchies® Select Grilling Rub & Seasoning, and beef broth and cook until meat is cooked through and no longer pink.  Once meat is cooked through and sauce has thickened, it's time to build the tacos:)

To hard or soft tacos, add the seasoned meat and your favorite toppings.  For these tacos we layered meat, pico de gallo or salsa (my hubby prefers our Cherchies® Vidalia Onion Peach Salsa on top), lettuce, cheese, and Lime 'n Cha sauce (below) on top.

Now for double the fun...wait for it...spread a soft corn or flour tortilla with refried beans and wrap the taco!  

So you decide, fun or double the fun?  Ole:)

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Black and White Bean Chili Recipe

entrees, lunchSheri SpalloneComment

Black and White Bean Chili Recipe

Cook Time:  40 minutes  

Difficulty:  Easy

Originally posted in 2016.

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After an unseasonably warm December here in Pennsylvania (70 degrees on Christmas Eve), it is finally Winter (downright freezing!!). That means comfort food and chili (made with one of our favorite seasoning blends, Cherchies® Select Grilling Rub and Seasoning Blend) are at the top of our family's list.

Everyone has their favorite chili recipe, but this easy, tasty recipe steals the show because it features our all-purpose seasoning blend, Cherchies® Select Grilling Rub and Seasoning Blend, and items commonly found in your pantry. If you have never tried our grilling rub, you are missing out. It is perfect for grilling, as the label indicates, and it is versatile enough for roasting meats and flavoring dips, casseroles, Mexican dishes, ribs, pulled pork, and chili! The possibilities are endless with this fabulous multi-purpose seasoning.

This recipe feeds a crowd, but you can always half it (unless you have hungry teens like us, who always want second and third helpings. It is amazing how much young adults can eat). If you are short on time and need extra help in the kitchen, you can also make this recipe in your slow cooker by adding all the ingredients to your slow cooker, turning it on, and walking away for a few hours. It's that simple. You would need to stir occasionally, but the rest is a breeze.

Whether it's cold weather comfort, game day celebrations, casual get-togethers, or whenever the mood strikes, this chili recipe will not disappoint. So, why not make the best chili tonight? Grab some Cherchies® Select Grilling Rub and Seasoning Blend, a few ingredients from your pantry, and let's get cooking.

Ingredients

  • *1 Tablespoon (Tbsp) bacon fat or olive oil (*If have leftover bacon grease)

  • 3 lbs. ground meat (turkey, chicken, or beef is fine)

  • 1 medium onion, chopped

  • 1 cup beef broth (we use 1 cup of water with 1 Tablespoon (Tbsp) Minor's Beef base)

  • 3 Tablespoons (Tbsp) Cherchies® Select Grilling Rub and Seasoning Blend (more to taste- ground poultry may need more)

  • 1 Tablespoon (Tbsp) Cherchies® Garlic Seasoning

  • 1/2 teaspoon (tsp) ground pepper

  • 1 can (6 oz.) tomato paste

  • 1 can (28 oz.) diced tomatoes, undrained

  • 2 cans (15 oz.) black beans, drained

  • 2 cans (15 oz.) white beans, drained

  • 1/2 teaspoon liquid smoke

  • Shredded sharp cheddar cheese (optional garnish)

  • Sour cream (or non-fat greek yogurt as an optional garnish)

  • Sliced green onions (optional garnish)

  • Hot sauce (optional garnish)

Preparation

Chop onions and saute in a large dutch oven in olive oil or bacon fat until onions are soft and translucent.(you could cook onions with one strip of a strip of bacon.  I happened to have reserved bacon drippings in the refrigerator and used that)   Add Cherchies® Garlic Seasoning and Pepper. 

Add meat, Cherchies® Select Grilling Rub and Seasoning, liquid smoke, tomato paste, beef broth and cook until meat is cooked and no longer pink.

Add the beans and the entire can of tomatoes to the pot.  Stir and simmer until beans are soft.

Serve with your favorite chili toppings...cheese, sour cream, hot sauce, green onions, etc., you decide! Enjoy!

Yum

Champagne Chicken Cordon Bleu Recipe

entrees, lunch, leftoversSheri Spallone2 Comments
Champagne Chicken Cordon Bleu Recipe

Champagne Chicken Cordon Bleu Recipe

Cook Time:  About 30 minutes  

Difficulty:  Easy

Are you looking for a new chicken recipe that will dazzle your family and guests? Consider our Champagne Chicken Cordon Bleu, a classic chicken dish consisting of chicken, ham, and swiss cheese, but Cherchies® style, with champagne mustard, of course! 

Cordon Bleu is fancy for "Blue Ribbon" or award-winning-(dictionary.com), so it is only fitting to use our award-winning Champagne Mustard in this tasty recipe. It is the pièce de résistance of this dish, hands down.

This deliciously rich recipe is family-approved yet perfect enough for guests or a romantic dinner for two! Serve our Champagne Chicken Cordon Bleu with our Cranberry Orange Salad for a complete meal. Bon Appetit!

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Ingredients

Sauce Ingredients

  • 2 Tablespoons (Tbsp) butter

  • 2 Tablespoons (Tbsp) flour

  • 1 Tablespoons (Tbsp) Cherchies® Champagne Mustard

  • 1/4 cup white wine (or could substitute chicken broth)

  • 1 cup milk (preferably warmed)

  • 3 Tablespoons (Tbsp) grated parmesan cheese

  • Salt and pepper

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Place Rice Krispies cereal in a resealable plastic bag. Gently roll over bag with a rolling pin, crushing the cereal.  Set aside.  

Slice chicken breasts in half lengthwise, but not completely through chicken.  This will create a pocket to stuff the chicken.  Sprinkle both sides of chicken with Cherchies® Garlic Seasoning and pepper and place on a baking pan or jelly roll pan.

Brush the opened chicken breasts with Cherchies® Champagne Mustard, and place ham slices (here we used ham from the deli, but leftover holiday ham is also perfect) and swiss cheese over the chicken breasts.

Fold chicken breasts in half and cut chicken bundles in half horizontally (if have large chicken breasts).  

Spread mayonnaise over chicken breast pockets, then sprinkle Cherchies® Select Grilling Rub and Seasoning over the chicken.  Generously coat the chicken breast pockets with crushed cereal mixture.

Spray coated chicken breasts with cooking spray and bake in the oven until the chicken is cooked completely, the crust is golden brown, and the cheese is melty (about 30 minutes).

While chicken is cooking, prepare the sauce.  In a medium skillet, turn the stove on low and melt the butter.  Combine melted butter with the flour, whisking constantly and cook (otherwise known as a roux) for a couple minutes to remove the raw flour taste. Add Champagne Mustard (or Cherchies® Hot Banana Pepper Mustard) and white wine, and stir until smooth.   Mixture should be thick. 

Slowly whisk warmed milk into roux, add parmesan cheese and continue to cook for a few minutes on low .  Season with salt and pepper to taste.  Turn off stove and remove pan from burner.  

To serve, arrange chicken on plates and top with the cheese sauce.  Serve with crusty bread and our Cranberry Spinach Salad for a complete meal.  Enjoy!




Yum