Cherchies Blog

Cooking Tip: How to Use Leftover Herbs

cooking tipsSheri SpalloneComment
Cooking Tip:  How To Use Leftover Herbs

Cooking Tip:  How To Use Leftover Herbs

Whether you grow herbs at home or purchase them from your local farmer's market or grocery store, inevitably, you are given more than you need. 

So what is one to do with leftover fresh herbs? Here are some of our favorite tips to help you save money and waste less!

Thanks for stopping by:) Comment below if you have used these tips or have some to add. Come back again for more family-tested recipes, entertaining ideas, and cooking tips using all our favorite Cherchies® gourmet products.

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How to use leftover herbs

  • Make herbed ice cubes-Wash and dry fresh herbs, chop them by hand, or place them in a food processor and pulse. Spoon the chopped herbs into ice cube trays, cover with water, freeze, and store the cubes in ziplock freezer bags when frozen. Use individual cubes to season your favorite dishes.

  • Add to sandwiches- Fresh herbs such as Basil can be used instead of lettuce to liven up sandwiches. -Cook's International Kitchen Hacks

  • Dry them- Tie up bunches of herbs with kitchen twine and hang herbs to dry. OR, for a quick dry, wash and dry herbs and place them on a clean paper towel and microwave for 30-40 seconds. Either way, crumble dried herbs and place them in an air-tight container to use in your favorite meals. - Cook's International Kitchen Hacks

  • Create spice packets- For spices that need to be removed from cooking, such as Parsley or Bay Leaves, fill a clean tea filter bag (the ones used for loose tea) with the desired herbs, tie it with kitchen twine, and remove the packet when finished cooking. No more fishing for those items. - Cook's International Kitchen Hacks

  • Make infused oils or vinegar- Add your favorite herbs to olive oil or vinegar to cook tasty meals. See How to Make Infused Oils.

  • Make compound butter- Add freshly chopped herbs to softened butter to create flavorful compound butter. See How to Make Compound Butter. The perfect gift for the cook in your life!

  • Make herbed cream cheese spreads- Add herbs to softened cream cheese and serve with bagels, spread on sandwiches, or dip with vegetables.

  • Make vinaigrette- Add your favorite chopped fresh herbs to vinegar and olive oil for a delightfully fresh vinaigrette.

  • Create Simple Syrups- Add herbs to equal parts of water and sugar, and cook until sugar is dissolved and cool. Add the simple syrup to your favorite beverage or cocktail.

  • Give to a neighbor- Need I say more?

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25 Easy Easter Brunch Recipes

parties, recipe round upSheri SpalloneComment
25 Easter Brunch Recipes

25 Easter Brunch Recipes

After the Egg hunt, celebrate the season with a brunch...and Cherchies®.  Finally!  It's Spring!  That means all good things of course, flowers, birds, warm sunshine, and of course Easter.  Check out what's in my Easter basket!

Whether you are serving a crowd or hosting a small gathering, here are our 25 favorite Easter Brunch recipes.

Happy Easter!

Appetizers

Breakfast/ Brunch Dishes

Side Dishes

Sweet Treats

Enjoy!

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Cherry Glazed Ham Recipe

entrees, glaze marinade & sauceSheri SpalloneComment
Cherry Glazed Ham Recipe

Cherry Glazed Ham Recipe

Are you traveling this holiday, or will you share a lovely Easter meal with family or friends at home? What do you serve at Easter? In our family, a traditional Easter dinner or brunch wouldn't be the same without a succulent glazed ham. Since Easter is almost here, I thought you would enjoy our family's favorite glazed ham recipe, Cherry Glazed Ham.  

Let's face it: ham is the perfect entree for most holidays and occasions, as it easily pleases a crowd. And what ham would only be complete with a homemade glaze (not the little packets that come with the hams), a homemade glaze? Preparing a glaze takes only a few minutes, and the possibilities are endless. Over the years, I have experimented with our various preserves and hot pepper jams in this basic recipe, and all the results have been just as fabulous. This time, I was craving a glaze bursting with cherries, and this easy sweet-salty ham recipe, featuring our Cherchies® Cherry Butter Spread, Cherchies® Champagne Mustard, and just the slightest hint of Bourbon, is the perfect addition to your holiday menu.  

So gather up your guests, grab a jar of Cherchies® Cherry Butter Spread, Cherchies® Champagne Mustard, slather on the glaze, and serve this delicious ham with your favorite side dishes for an exceptional holiday meal, and wait for the ooohs and ahhhs!  

Happy Easter, friends!

Thanks for stopping by:) Comment below if you have tried this tasty recipe. 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.

Preparation

* Note- Substitute Cherchies® Cranberry Preserves with Champagne for the butter spread for a festive flair!

Preparation

Prepare the glaze by combining Cherchies® Champagne Mustard, Cherchies® Cherry Butter,  brown sugar, and Bourbon in a small saucepan.  Cook on low until smooth.  Pour half of the glaze over the ham and cook the ham according to the package directions, normally 15 minutes per pound, until warm. Chill the other half of the glaze until later.   When the ham is about a half hour from being done, remove the ham from the oven and pour the rest of the glaze over the ham.  Cook the ham for the remaining time. When the ham is warmed, cool for 15 minutes before serving.

*Note- This basic recipe would work nicely with any of our Cherchies® Preserves or Hot Pepper Jams, depending on your palate. Try them all, and let us know what you come up with:)

Enjoy!

glazed ham (1 of 1).jpg
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Refreshing Fruit Pizza Recipe

desserts, breakfastSheri Spallone2 Comments
Refreshing Fruit Pizza Recipe

Refreshing Fruit Pizza Recipe

This refreshing dessert pizza recipe is a new "twist" on an old classic and is the perfect recipe to take advantage of summer's glorious berries and fruits.  

Growing up, my mother occasionally made this special treat for my sister and me, using whatever fruit was available, and topped it off with a delicious marmalade glaze. (Secretly, I think she made this dessert so her daughters would eat their fruit. We were picky eaters. Clever mom, using a cookie as a disguise).  

This pretty dessert pizza recipe is easy to make; it uses whatever fruit you have on hand (canned or fresh) and is a fun family project for any occasion, any time of year. It features a sugar cookie crust, cream cheese frosting, fresh berries and fruit, and Cherchies® Fig Preserves. I have made this decadent dessert over the years with my babies, with different combinations, and it was a hit every time. Now that my babies are in college, they still like to bake with mom. :) They recently made this dessert for Memorial Day and arranged the strawberries and blueberries to resemble an American flag, but the decorating options are endless. We finished the dessert pizza with a glaze using our Fig Preserves, amping up Mom's original recipe. I did not have time to photograph their creation because it didn't last long.

Are you ready to try this tasty dessert pizza recipe? It is easy and flavorful; it is fun to make and can be made any time of year in whatever design you desire, using whatever fruit is available. 

Thank you for visiting! Stop back again for more tasty recipes!

Comment below if you have made this recipe.

Ingredients

  • 1 pkg. (16.5 oz.) refrigerated sugar cookie dough

  • 1 pkg (8 oz.) cream cheese softened

  • 1/4 cup powdered sugar

  • 1/2 teaspoon (tsp) vanilla

  • 4 cups assorted fruit (blueberries, strawberries, kiwi)

  • 1/4 cup Cherchies® Fig Preserves (you could substitute your favorite preserves or marmalade)

  • 1 Tablespoon (Tbsp) water

Preparation

Heat oven to 375.  Line a 12-inch pizza pan (or any kid of round sheet) with foil; spray with cooking spray. Press cookie dough into pan to completely cover pan.  

Bake 14 minutes, or until golden brown.  Cool completely.  Invert cookie onto plate.  Gently remove foil. Turn crust over onto plate.  

Meanwhile, while cookie pizza is baking, mix together the cream cheese and the powdered sugar and vanilla, and spread cream cheese mixture onto entire cooled cookie.  Now the fun begins...

Then load up the pizza with whatever fruit makes you happy.  In this case, I used kiwis, strawberries, and blueberries.  My mother’s recipe called for mandarin oranges, but for some reason my children don’t like them (silly kids).  If I had had Clementine’s on hand, I would have used them.

Arrange the fruit onto the pizza.  The possibilities are endless.  This is a great family or kid’s party activity.  How fun would it be to arrange the fruit into a face?

Wait for it...

Now the "piece de resistance", the glaze!  Mix the Cherchies Fig Preserves with the water, and drizzle over the pizza...

Yummy goodness!  Dig in:)

 

 

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