Cooking Tip: How to Chill Drinks Without Watering Them Down?

How do you chill your drinks without watering them down?  One "sweet" answer, frozen fruit!  I especially love frozen grapes or blueberries to chill my beverages.  But frozen grapes aren't just for chillin', they're also a fantastic snack!  Our family got hooked on frozen grapes a few years back while vacationing in California and It's been a favorite warm weather treat since.

Simply wash the fruit and place it in a bowl and plop it in the freezer.  In a few hours, you'll have lovely "fruity" ice.  You could use any frozen fruit and match it to your beverage of choice for the perfect drink. And a bonus, you get to eat the grapes!

Candied Pepper Jam Bacon Recipe

Candied Pepper Jam Bacon Recipe

Sometimes you just need to eat bacon, because I said so! Everything in moderation, right?

I have been wanting to try this for a long time...candied bacon.  I was very intrigued by the whole concept, so I researched the ingredients, and found mostly maple syrup (sugar) and/or brown sugar, and sometimes a spice like cayenne.  Then I thought pepper jam...hmmm...we have that!  So I decided to give it a try. Below, I used our hot pepper jams (sweet, spicy and salty) as well as our Lem'n Raspberry Marmalade (the lemon and the raspberry, combined with the salty bacon was to die for). The result, amazing!  Buy our Cherchies® Pepper Jams today, and you'll have them in time to impress your guests for the holiday weekend.

Ingredients

• Bacon, sliced in half (you could use entire slice without cutting)
• 1 Tablespoon (per slice) Cherchies®Cherry Hot Pepper Jam (or Cherchies® Strawberry Hot Pepper Jam, Cherchies® Cranberry Hot Pepper Jam for the holidays, or Cherchies®Lem'n Raspberry Marmalade)

Preparation

Slice desired amounts of bacon and place in jelly roll pan.  Spread about 1 Tablespoon of pepper jam on each slice of bacon.  Cook at 350 until bacon is cooked to your desired doneness.  Serve the bacon on a pretty platter or glass for an appetizer.  It's that easy!  Enjoy!

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Cooking Tip: How to Make Buttermilk

I rarely have buttermilk on hand when I decide to bake something, plus it's usually too late to go to the grocery store. My mom taught me this trick for a quick substitution.  Add 1 Tablespoon (Tbsp) of lemon juice or vinegar to 1 cup of milk and let stand for 5 minutes. Instant buttermilk (sour milk)!

Top 10 Ten Recipes for a Successful BBQ + Bonus

Top 10 Recipes for a Successful Backyard BBQ

It is officially summer…my favorite season! Have you ever noticed people seem happier when the weather is warmer and that summer is the favorite season for most? Now you know:) Flip flops, warm sunshine, flowers, swimming, the beach, and the smells of barbeques wafting through the air... Summer is alive and vibrant! 

Summer is also a time to slow down, kick back, relax and spend quality time with family and friends.  Simply put, summer screams easy entertaining!

Whether it is a summer BBQ, a potluck, a bonfire, time at the beach, or a birthday celebration, we have rounded up 10 of our favorite easy recipes to ensure a successful summer gathering, allowing more time for you to enjoy the bounties of summer and quality time with those you love.

As always, thank you for stopping by!  Come back and visit us often!

Happy Summer!

APPETIZERS

• Pepper Jam Cream Cheese Recipe- Two ingredients, our sweet and spicy Pepper Jams and Cream Cheese. (Three if you count the crackers;). Keep jars in your pantry for those last minute potlucks!

• Marinated Cheese Recipe- This recipe can be made ahead and is a sure hit at parties. You may want to get a plate for yourself because they will disappear quickly! The sweetness of the Pretty Peppers and the savory ingredients are a nice compliment to the cheese.

• Baked Coconut Shrimp With Spicy Apricot Sauce- It's so simple to make and these tasty morsels disappears right before your eyes. Our Chardonnay Lime & Cilantro Seasoning, Select Grilling Rub & Seasoning Blend, and spicy apricot sauce will your taste buds to a whole new level. Plus they are baked, not fried!

SIDES/SALADS

• Best Darn Coleslaw Recipe featuring Cherchies® Award-winning Champagne Mustard. There is a reason this coleslaw is deemed the best!

• Pepper Jam Grilled Pineapple Recipe- Grilling pineapple brings out the sweet juices of the pineapple. Add our pepper jams, and you have a sweet and spicy party in your mouth!

• Caprese Salad Recipe- Your next go-to summer salad recipe featuring Cherchies® Basil Pizzazz Seasoning. Embrace all of summer’s glorious bounty…fresh tomatoes and basil. Extremely simple to make!

• Strawberry Spinach Salad- A delightful salad using all our your summer bounty with our Champagne Vinaigrette Recipe.

ENTREES

• Sassy Grilled Chicken Skewers- My go-to quick summer recipe with three ingredients, chicken, olive oil, and Cherchies® Select Grilling Rub and Seasoning.

• Strawberry Hot Pepper Kabobs- Hot Pepper Jam and Champagne mustard, an award-winning taste!

• Pizzazzed Steak Recipe- Steaks or burgers sprinkled with our Cherchies® Pepper Pizzaz will make your taste buds sing. Three ingredients!

• Blackberry Champagne Salmon Recipe- Ok, I'm giving you a bonus recipe because this is sooo good.

DESSERTS

• Apple Butter A' La Mode Recipe- Ok, here's another bonus:) No barbecue would be complete without dessert! Apple Butter, Cherry Butter, or Strawberry Butter over ice cream with chocolate...yum!