Pretty Cream Cheese Recipe

Pretty Cream Cheese Recipe

Many of you have heard of serving hot pepper jelly over cream cheese as an easy appetizer.  But what about sweet tangy Pretty Peppers over cream cheese?  With only two ingredients (three if you count the crackers), entertaining is easy and elegant.

Our children hate peppers, and when I am cooking, I try my best to disguise them, but they LOVE LOVE LOVE Cherchies® Pretty Peppers, served this way as an appetizer. Go figure!

Not only are these tasty ruby peppers a fabulous appetizer, they are also perfect in eggs, casseroles, salads, dips, and so much more.   (Check out our recipes for our Pretty Peppers).

So, what are you waiting for? You need to try this easy appetizer recipe today.

Comment below and share your favorite Pretty or Pretty Hot Pepper recipe.

As always, thank you for visiting!

Ingredients:  

• 1 (8 oz.) package cream cheese

• 1/2 jar Cherchies® Pretty Peppers

• Crackers

Preparation

Spread cream cheese onto a plate.  In honor of Valentine's Day, I shaped the cream cheese into a heart and spooned the Pretty Peppers over the top.  

Serve with crackers.  Easy Peasy...done! 

View fullsize

Or try it with our new spicier Pretty Hot Peppers, or be daring and dollop one half of the cream cheese with Pretty Peppers and the other half with Pretty Hot Peppers and let your guests decide:)  Enjoy!

View fullsize

Cooking Tip: How To Cook Asparagus

Asparagus is an antioxidant powerhouse packed with vitamins and fiber—and it’s one of the easiest vegetables to prepare.

No matter which method you choose, start by washing and trimming the asparagus. Season before serving, and for extra flavor try a squeeze of lemon with Cherchies® Garlic Seasoning or Garlic ’n Herbs No-Salt Seasoning. Finish with a sprinkle of Parmesan if you’d like.

For a lighter option, skip the butter and drizzle with a quick vinaigrette made with Cherchies Champagne Mustard, white vinegar, and olive oil.

5 easy ways to cook asparagus

Roasted (Our favorite)
Place washed, trimmed asparagus in a baking pan. Drizzle with olive oil, lemon juice, and your favorite Cherchies Garlic Seasoning. Roast for 10–15 minutes at 350, or until browned and tender.

Sautéed
Sauté over high heat for about 10 minutes, tossing occasionally. Cook in a bit of butter or oil and season to taste. This method helps asparagus keep its bright green color.

Steamed
Place asparagus in a steamer basket over boiling water and cook 4–8 minutes, or until tender. If you’re using it for salads or stir-fries, transfer to an ice-water bath for a few minutes to stop the cooking. Season to taste.

Microwave
Add about 2 tablespoons of water to a microwave-safe bowl or plate. Microwave asparagus 2–3 minutes. If using for salads or stir-fries, add to an ice-water bath to stop the cooking. Season to taste.

Grilled
Toss asparagus with a small amount of oil and place on a hot grill. For easier flipping, skewer several stalks together. Grill about 10 minutes (turning to brown evenly), or until tender. Season to taste.

How to trim asparagus: Bend each spear near the bottom until it naturally snaps at the tender point, or line up the spears and cut off the woody ends with a knife so they’re all an even length.

So, what’s your favorite way to cook asparagus? Comment below—we’d love to hear your tips and recipes!

Thank you for visiting! Come back again for more family-tested recipes, entertaining ideas, and cooking tips using all our favorite Cherchies® gourmet products.

Follow us on social media: Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.

Grilled Muffuletta Recipe

Grilled Muffuletta Recipe

Cook Time: 20 minutes  Difficulty: Easy

Today is Mardi Gras, or "Fat Tuesday", and in honor of this celebration I share with you my version of "The Muffuletta", grilled with melty provolone cheese, salty olives and salami, ham, sweet roasted peppers, and Hot Banana Pepper Mustard.  Making your mouth water?

My hubby and I and a few friends traveled to New Orleans (aka NOLA) for the first time recently and had the most sinfully delicious sandwich, "The Muffuletta" from The Central Grocery in The French Quarter. This gargantuan sandwich is made with homemade bread and stuffed with layers of ham, salami, cheeses, and a tasty olive salad.  Seriously insane.  Talk about a flavor party in your mouth!

My version has all the flavors sans some of the the guilt.  The Banana Hot Pepper Mustard is the "piece de resistance" of this sandwich.  Go ahead and try it, it's the perfect Fat Tuesday sandwich or anytime you have a hankering for salty olives and salami, ham, sweet roasted peppers, tangy mustard, and gooey melty cheese.  Everything in moderation, right?  Here's how it's made.  This recipe serves 2.

Happy Mardi Gras!

Ingredients (per sandwich)

• 2 Tablespoons (Tbsp) Cherchies® Hot Banana Pepper Mustard

• 1/4 cup chopped pitted black olives

• 1/4 cup chopped pitted green olives

• 1/4 cup chopped salami

• 1/4 cup cubed Provolone, chopped (optional)

• 1/4 cup Pepperoncini, seeds removed, chopped

• 1/2 jar Cherchies® Pretty Peppers

• 4 slices of good fresh bread (Here I used sourdough bread)

• 4 slices Provolone Cheese

• 2 Tablespoons (Tbsp) butter

Preparation

Chop the olives, provolone chunks (optional), salami, and pepperoncini into small pieces (In the second picture the salami had not been chopped fine enough).  In a medium bowl, mix the olives, Provolone, salami, Pretty Peppers, and pepperoncini.

Turn griddle (or pan) onto medium.  Spread softened butter or olive oil onto bread.  Place buttered bread onto griddle.  Grill until desired consistency.  

Turn oven onto broil.  Now, let's build this glorious sandwich.  Spread Cherchies® Hot Banana Pepper Mustard on the grilled slices of bread that are facing up.  Add ham then the olive mixture (oops, sorry about the ham picture).

Now for the melty "glue".  Place the slices of Provolone cheese over the olive mixture and broil the sandwiches open faced until cheese has melted (only a few minutes).

When the cheese has melted, carefully put the halves together, and cut sandwich in half.  Is your mouth watering yet?  Mine is:)  The perfect sandwich anytime, not just for Mardi Gras.  Enjoy!

Recipe Roundup-Top 20 Game Day Recipes

View fullsize

Top 20 Game Day Recipes

Munchdown! It's almost time for the Super Bowl folks and that means parties, which means food! 

To help with your football party planning, I've listed 20 of our favorite quick and easy Cherchies® recipes to make your party is extra "super". 

Now go, have yourself a game day party...even if you don't like football (What???...just kidding... I won't hold it against you, if you won't hold it against me that I like football...or The Eagles...sorry guys, maybe next year;)

Appetizers

• Marinated Cheese Recipe- A make ahead must! The Garlic 'n Herbs Seasoning and our Pretty Peppers "score" big in this recipe.

• Muffuletta Cream Cheese Roll-Up Recipe- The flavors of the classic New Orleans "Muffuletta" in a bite-sized appetizer.

• Cheesy Havarti-Dill Pull Apart Bread- Soft, crunchy artisan bread, melty Havarti cheese, drippy butter and Lemon dill spice...oh my!

• Lemon Dill Dip Recipe- What would a party be without dips? This dip is so refreshing and our Cherchies® lemon dill spice makes this dip irresistibly good.

• Sweet and Sour Spread Recipe- Sweet pineapple combined with the zing of horseradish and gourmet mustard makes this a delicious appetizer that won't be on the table for long.

• Artichoke and Cheese Squares- Score points for flavor.

• Mexican Martino Cheesecake Recipe- This recipe is a touchdown (sorry, couldn't help myself), and feeds a large crowd. A savory cheesecake with peppers and Vidalia Onion Peach Salsa. Yumm!

• Oh Sooo Simple Salsa Recipe- Last minute get-together? No problem! Our Salsa Seasoning with Lime will turn any can of tomatoes into a delicious salsa! For an added bonus, add Velveeta Cheese to your newly made salsa, and microwave until melted... instant queso!

• Candied Pepper Jam Bacon- Bacon and football just seem perfect together for some reason, but then again bacon goes with everything;)

Main Meal/Heartier Appetizers

• Ham and Mustard Biscuit Recipe- It doesn't get much easier than biscuit sliders with ham, cheese, and mustard. Or have a slider spread with different fillings (meatballs,pulled pork...).

• Bake Chicken Tenders with Cranberry Mustard Dipping Sauce- A sweet and tangy compliment to the chicken.

• Double Decker Tacos- Have a taco bar!

• Yes, soup for you! (Seinfeld flashback)- With over 20 soups, we have just the one to warm you and your family. Plus, most of our soups can be made in a crockpot (except for the quick cooking soups!)

• Melt in Your Mouth Pulled Pork- 5 Ingredients, including our Select Grilling Rub and Seasoning Blend.

• Grilled Herb Chicken Legs- Fire up the grill, and add olive oil and your favorite Cherchies® seasoning blend

• Honey and Lime Grilled Shrimp- Lime, Cilantro, and honey will make your taste buds sing!

• Festive Deviled Eggs- Always a crowd favorite, any occasion.

Desserts

• Blackberry or Lemon Raspberry Monkey Bread Muffins- These little cuties are so quick and easy and will be a hit at your next party. Make them both!

• Lemon Raspberry Fruit Pizza Recipe- Serious fruit flavor! Perfect for a crowd.

• Apple Butter Crisp- warm apples with a delightful crunchy topping.

Have a super party folks!