Champagne and Apple Endive Recipe

These little cuties are divine! This recipe is easy and elegant, plus it uses my favorite mustard in the world, Cherchies Champagne Mustard!!

The crispness of the endive, combined with the tart apples and robust Roquefort cheese, comes together as a flavor explosion in your mouth. 

I usually make these gems around the holidays, but they could also be the perfect snack or salad by the pool or for a girl's night (or day) out. When I made these recently, I invited my girlfriend to my house for lunch to help me style them for their "glamour shot." We styled, and we ate! (and had a glass of wine in the middle of the afternoon-shame on us!).

Thank you for visiting! Comment below and let us know if you have tried this recipe. Come back again for more tasty recipes, entertaining ideas, cooking tips, and more!

Ingredients

• 6 heads of Belgian Endive

• 1 Tablespoon (Tbsp) Cherchies® Champagne Mustard (or substitute our Cranberry Mustard)

• 1 1/2 Tablespoons (Tbsp) white wine vinegar

• 1/2 teaspoon (tsp) pepper

• 3/4 teaspoon (tsp) salt

• 6 Tablespoons of Olive oil

• 1 Granny Smith Apple, coarsely chopped

• 1 Honey Crisp Apple, coarsely chopped

• 1/2 cup dried cranberries, coarsely chopped

• 1/2 lemon

• 1/2 cup coarsely chopped pecans (you could substitute walnuts)

• 1/4 pound Roquefort cheese (can substitute Blue Cheese)

Preparation

Turn the stove top on to low heat.  Using a medium-sized skillet, place the pecans in the skillet, and toast pecans for a few minutes (this will bring out the flavor of the pecans).  Turn off the heat, remove the skillet from the burner, and allow pecans to cool (you will need to chop the cooled pecans later).

Slice off the ends of the endive and cut the endive in half lengthwise, removing the endive core, and gently separating the leaves.  Place the separated leaves on a platter if serving as appetizers, or a few on each plate if serving as a salad.

I just love apples!  Apples and Roquefort cheese...sigh.  Sorry, I got distracted...Coarsely chop the apples, the cranberries, the pecans and place them into a medium bowl.  Squeeze the juice from the lemon half over the apples and cranberries to prevent the apples from browning (that wouldn't look pretty).  Stir the apple mixture to coat with lemon juice.

Meanwhile, in a separate small bowl, mix together the vinegar, Cherchies® Champagne Mustard, salt, pepper, and olive oil (make sure to use good olive oil).  Toss the apple mixture with some of the champagne vinaigrette.  

Now for the assembly...Spoon a generous portion of the apple mixture into each endive leaf and crumble the Roquefort cheese on top of the apples.  Add the pecans, and drizzle the remaining vinaigrette over the endive leaves.  Serve cold or at room temperature.  Voila, a classy elegant appetizer or salad.

Next time I make this recipe, I will try it with our Cherchies® Hot Banana Pepper Mustard for a sweet and spicy twist, or our Cherchies® Cranberry Mustard.  Enjoy!

Caprese Salad Recipe

Caprese Salad Recipe

When the sun is out, easy fresh recipes are IN. Summer lends itself to relaxing and easy-peasy recipes without fussing in the kitchen. This refreshingly delicious summer salad, featuring fresh tomatoes, basil, garlic, and Cherchies Basil Pizzazz Seasoning, allows you to embrace summer’s bounty while leaving you more time to enjoy the lazy days of summer.

Comment below and let us know if you made this recipe.

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Ingredients

• 1 pint of red grape or cherry tomatoes, sliced in half

• 1 pint of yellow grape or cherry tomatoes, sliced in half

• 1 large container of small mozzarella balls, sliced in half

• salt and pepper to taste

• 1/2 cup Cherchies Perfect Pesto Recipe

• 1/4 cup olive oil

Preparation

Slice tomatoes and mozarella cheese in half and put into a large bowl.  Season with salt and pepper.  Add Cherchies Perfect Pesto and olive oil to bowl.  Combine all ingredients and refrigerate for at least an hour, to allow flavors to intensify.  Serve cold or at room temperature.  Enjoy!

Savory Wedge Bread Recipe

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It was a cold and dreary day here in Pennsylvania, and I wanted comfort and thought of soup...and bread. Unfortunately, bread is one of my weaknesses...and chocolate...and cheese...hmmm,  I may  have to go to weakness anonymous.

All kidding aside, this bread is perfect, it's light and fluffy with just a hint of heat.  Try serving this along with our White Bean Chili With Jalapeno Peppers.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups biscuit mix

• 1 Tablespoon (Tbsp.) sugar

• 1 Tablespoon (Tbsp.) Cherchies® Lem 'n Pepper Spicy Blend or our New Basil Pizzazz

• 1 beaten egg

• 1/4 cup milk

• 1/4 cup white wine

• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Preparation

Combine all ingredients except for the Parmesan cheese.  

Spread dough in a greased 8-inch round pan.  Sprinkle cheese over the dough before baking at 400 degrees for 20 minutes, or until done.  

Cut into wedges to serve.  A perfect accompaniment to one of our fabulous soups.  Happy Cooking!

Cooking Tip: Too Much Salt? No problem!

Cooking Tip! How to dilute an over salted meal

Added too much salt to your soup, stew, or sauce?  No problem!

It's an old myth that adding a peeled potato to the soup or sauce will absorb the salt in a dish. Although it may draw some salt out, it is better to add a little sugar or acid, such as a lemon juice, and taste as you go.  

Another option is to add more water and dilute the dish if it is a soup or stew.  

Look at that mess!  Now I need to throw some salt over my shoulder;)

Happy cooking!