Homemade Cherry Applesauce Recipe

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Cherry Applesauce Recipe

Cooking Time:  About 30 minutes  Difficulty:  Easy

Homemade applesauce needs no introduction, but what about cherry or strawberry applesauce? (What?)  Variety is the spice of life, right? 

We have a one-bite rule in our family (I am notorious for trying new things on our kiddos), but I never mention the word "new"...EVER...they get very suspicious. Recently, I made a "new" version of their beloved applesauce and waited for their reactions. 

Apple butter (apples cooked down to a butter consistency) is my secret ingredient in my applesauce.  This time, I made my kiddo's favorite chunky applesauce (Granny Smith and Gala apples, pictured) and substituted cherry butter for the apple butter.  Then I watched and waited with bated breath as their faces contorted as they took their first bite.   It was quite funny.

Needless to say, the "new version" was such a hit, the next night I tried Strawberry Applesauce. Success!  So, it's time to "spice up" your applesauce recipe and introduce Cherchies® Cherry Butter or Cherchies® Strawberry Butter".  Who knows, maybe your family will love it too!

Here's how it's made.

Ingredients

• 6 Apples, peeled and roughly chopped (I'd suggest a variety of apples...Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, Gala...whatever makes you happy)
• The juice of half a lemon
• 1/2 jar Cherchies® Cherry Butter (may also substitute Cherchies® Apple Butter Spread or Cherchies® Strawberry Butter Spread
• 1/2 teaspoon (tsp) Cinnamon

Preparation

Roughly chop the apples and place them in a large bowl with the lemon juice.  Mix the apples and the lemon juice until apples are coated.  Add the apples to a skillet or pan and turn heat to low.  Add the Cherry Butter Spread (Yea baby!) and cinnamon. 

Cook apples on low, stirring occasionally, until apples are tender, about 30 minutes.  There is usually enough liquid from the cherry butter and the juice from the apples, but you may need to add a little water as the applesauce cooks. You can certainly mash the apples as you go, but as I mentioned, my kiddos prefer the chunks;)  

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Enjoy!

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! 

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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!

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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.

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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!