parties

Mini Herbed Cheese Ball Recipe

December 31, 2020appetizers, parties, snacksSheri SpalloneComment

Don't let the ball drop this New Year's without trying these classic mini herbed cheese balls with pretzel sticks. Individually portioned and perfect for social distancing, these tasty, colorful morsels are easy to make and pop in your mouth as you pop open the bubbly. These festive cheese balls, featuring Cherchies® Seasoning blends can be made ahead, allowing you more time to ring in the New Year with those you hold dear.

PRINT RECIPE

Did you know? Research shows that serving round foods (which resemble coins, meaning wealth) on New Years' is supposed to bring good luck. After an unprecedented year like 2020, good luck sounds dreamy right now.

Even though your New Year's Eve plans may look different this year, you can still make it a night to remember with these mini savory cheeseballs. They are easy to make, they can be made ahead, and they are an absolute must-have recipe for your New Year's arsenal.

Have a safe and Happy New Year, friends! Thank you for visiting, and please come back again!

Enjoy!

Ingredients:

4 oz. cream cheese, room temperature
4 oz. bleu cheese, room temperature
4 oz. shredded cheddar cheese
1 small onion, grated or finely minced
1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
Cherchies® Lem’n Dill Seasoning, Cherchies Pepper Pizzazz, and Cherchies® Select Grilling Rub & Seasoning Blend (We tested this recipe with these seasoning blends, but feel free to experiment with your favorite and report back to us!)

Preparation
Allow the cream cheese to rest on the counter in the package for about 30 minutes, or until softened to room temperature. (If you are in a rush, try this trick. Place sealed package of cream cheese, sans the box, in a small bowl with warm water. This will allow the cream cheese to soften quicker).
In a medium bowl, mix together the cream cheese, bleu cheese, cheddar cheese, minced onions, and Worcestershire sauce. Refrigerate for 30 minutes (can also be made ahead to chill in refrigerator over night).

When close to serving, evenly distribute the Cherchies® Seasoning Blends on three plates. (This will be used to roll up the mini cheese balls.) With a melon ball scooper, scoop out individual portions of the cheese mixture and roll in the various seasoning blends.

When ready to serve, add a pretzel stick for individual tasty portions. Enjoy!

Yum

Spooky Apple Dip Recipe

October 26, 2020appetizers, desserts, parties, snacksSheri SpalloneComment

Hello friends! Halloween is a knocking. It is the perfect time to whip up this Spooky Apple Dip recipe, featuring cream cheese, mini chocolate chips, Health Bar Bits, homemade caramel sauce**, and the secret ingredient Cherchies® Apple Butter Spread! Of course, the little candy eyes make this dish horrifyingly adorable.

I don't know whether it is the inner child in me or the fact we have children (and their excitement over the years has excited us), but I have always been a sucker for party themes, themed food, theme decorations, etc., and Halloween is no exception. Our children always loved all the festive Halloween foods we would serve at our pre-Halloween celebration with family and friends.

So, if you are looking for a quick and easy spooktacular Halloween treat and love caramel apples, this is the perfect dip to share at your next Halloween gathering. Serve it with sliced apples or even graham crackers, and you are good to go.

**Note: You could easily substitute store-bought caramel sauce if you're in a pinch, but homemade is easy and much better.

Enjoy, and Happy Halloween!

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

Ingredients

1 (8 oz.) block cream cheese, room temperature
1/2 jar Cherchies® Apple Butter Spread
1 cup Homemade Caramel Sauce (you could use store bought but homemade is so much better!)
1 cup mini chocolate chips
1 cup Heath Bar Toffee bits (or your favorite toffee, crushed into small pieces)
Candy “eyes” (We used Wilton candy eyes, we found at our local Michael’s, but they are available online as well.)
Apple slices for dipping

Caramel Sauce Ingredients- Make this before assembling the spooky dip to allow the caramel to cool. For the full directions with pictures, please visit “How To Make Homemade Caramel Sauce” on our blog.

1 cup of brown sugar

6 Tablespoons (Tbsp.) unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
1/2 cup heavy cream or half and half, room temperature
1/2 teaspoon (tsp) sea salt (if want salted caramel, add up to 1 tsp. salt- Kosher salt is fine too)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla (you could substitute your favorite liquor for an extra special adult treat…we won’t tell, but make sure to keep away from the kiddos)

Preparation for Caramel Sauce

The caramelization process happens quickly, so make sure all your ingredients are measured and in place before you begin. Start with a medium-sized stainless steel sauce pan (ceramic would work just fine too). Add the butter pieces to the pan, turn the heat on low, and gently stir the butter with a wooden spoon (you can use a whisk too) until it melts.

Once the butter has melted, add the sugar and continue to stir until the sugar has melted. (Sugar will be HOT! Trust me, and learn from my mistakes, do not be tempted to taste the caramel at any time, until it has cooled! Many sites I researched suggest having a bowl of cold water on hand in case of flying molten sugar. Yikes! Do not be afraid, but be safe.) As you are stirring, scrape the sugar that forms on the side with the spoon or a rubber spatula and incorporate into the mix.

Continue stirring constantly on low until all the sugar has dissolved and you have achieved a rich caramel color and a nutty aroma. Some of the butter may remain on the top. This is okay. It will incorporate once the half and half or cream is added. As the caramel comes to a rolling boil on low, continue rapidly stirring. Add salt and vanilla (or liquor) at this time. If you want salted caramel, then add an additional 1/2 teaspoon (tsp) of salt.

The last part is the cream or half and half. Add the cream slowly and stir stir stir! Again, be careful, this is where the caramel will get angry with you, as it will sputter and possibly throw molten sugar your way. You must prevail. I’m teasing… it really is very easy! Simply continue stirring rapidly until all the ingredients are incorporated. Remove the caramel from the heat and allow to cool. Turn off the stove. The caramel will thicken as it cools.

Preparation for Spooky Apple Dip

Combine the softened cream cheese and the apple butter spread in a medium bowl with a hand-held mixer and mix on medium-low speed until combined. With a spatula, spread the cream cheese mixture into a pie plate or shallow dish.

Once the caramel sauce has cooled and thickened, evenly pour it over the cream cheese mixture. Next, sprinkle the mini chocolate chips over the caramel, followed by the toffee bits.

Carefully place the candy eyes on top and serve with apples for a spooktackular Halloween presentation.

Enjoy and Happy Halloween!

Yum

Halloween Food Ideas You Must Try!

October 30, 2019parties, recipe round upSheri SpalloneComment

Halloween is almost here!

In celebrating the big event, we thought you would enjoy our favorite Halloween food ideas (using Cherchies® products) as well as some of our family’s cherished Halloween decorating ideas!

What are your favorite Halloween foods and traditions? We'd love to hear from you!

Thank you for visiting! Have a safe and Happy Halloween, enjoy these easy spook-takular recipes, and comment below on which recipe you would like to try!

Food Ideas

Layered Spiderweb Taco Dip Recipe- Terrify your guests with this creepy layered taco dip featuring Cherchies® Select Grilling Rub & Seasoning Blend.

Monster Chicken Salad Sandwiches Recipe- Turn boring chicken salad into these “fang-tastic” monsters this Halloween. Add some cheese “fangs” and olive eyes, and you are all set to horrify your guests. This recipe features Cherchies® Champagne Mustard.

Stuffed Pepper Mummy Recipe- These ghoulish stuffed peppers are easy and tasty and make a delightful Halloween appetizer or snack. They are stuffed with a homemade vegetable cream cheese spread, featuring Cherchies® Lem’n Dill and Cherchies® Garlic Seasonings.

Festive Deviled Eggs- featuring Cherchies® Champagne Mustard and Cherchies® Pretty Peppers. Add a couple of drops of blue food coloring, Cherchies® Pretty Peppers, olives, and hot sauce and instantly transform your deviled eggs into spooky eyeballs.

Spooky English Muffin Pizzas- featuring Cherchies® Garlic Seasoning. This is not revolutionary but a great way to entertain little helpers in the kitchen. Our children enjoyed creating these mini English Muffin pizzas a few Halloweens ago, and we enjoy our children helping in the kitchen.

Witches Cheese Brooms With Hot Banana Pepper Mustard- featuring Cherchies® Hot Banana Pepper Mustard. This idea is brilliant, turning an ordinary cheese stick into a broomstick. How fun and easy, right?

Champagne Mummy Hot Dogs- featuring Cherchies® Champagne Mustard or Cherchies® Hot Banana Pepper Mustard- Simply wrap the hot dogs with refrigerated crescent roll dough and add some mustard eyes for this spooky treat!

Spooky Peppers- featuring Cherchies® Lem 'n Dill Dip Recipe and Chardonnay Guacamole Recipe- Cut Peppers to Resemble Jack O Lanterns and fill with dip and guacamole.

Spooky Decorating Ideas- Here are some fun Halloween decorating ideas our family has done over the years…cake pop eyeballs, a re-purposed Halloween costume in the bathroom, manardrin orange pumpkins and pure Halloween fun!

Happy Halloween!

Yum

Recipe Roundup- 30 Quick & Easy Labor Day Recipes

August 31, 2018recipe round up, partiesSheri SpalloneComment

What are your plans for the Labor Day weekend? Whether you are making that last trip to the beach, hanging by the pool, or barbequing, celebrate your day off and end of summer with 30 of our favorite easy recipes.

Labor Day, the first Monday of September means that white clothes are out, sales are in, summer holidays are over, and football season and classes begin. For many of us (but far from all of us), it’s a welcome day off from work or school, ahead of what is likely to be a busier month than the last.-Time Magazine.

Labor Day started as a part of the labor union movement, to recognize the contributions of men and women in the US workforce, but modernly is seen as a chance to celebrate the last weekend of summer. -www.dosomething.org.

Thanks for stopping by:) Comment below and let us know what recipes you will be making this weekend.

Have a safe and happy Labor Day Weekend!

Breakfast