If you ask anyone from the Southern part of the United States what their favorite appetizer is, undoubtedly, they will answer pimento cheese. A staple in most Southern households, pimento cheese is a tasty savory spread made mainly of different cheeses, mayonnaise, pimentos, etc. It is a fantastic dip with crackers and vegetables, but it is versatile enough to be used in countless culinary dishes—more on that in a bit.

This easy recipe comes from our friend Sandra from Lexington, South Carolina. Her recipe uses Cherchies® Pretty Peppers and Cherchies® Garlic Seasoning, and she insists on only using Duke’s* mayonnaise (a preferred Southern mayonnaise- much harder to find here in Pennsylvania). Her family and friends rave about this recipe; we think you will too. Make this tasty dip for your next gathering, and watch it disappear right before your eyes. It is easy, addicting, and is sure to become one of your favorite recipes.

Not only is pimento cheese the perfect complement to crackers and vegetables, but did you know you can cook with it? Here are a few ideas to get your creative culinary juices flowing:

As a sandwich between two slices of bread
In grilled cheese sandwiches
In Macaroni and cheese
Served on top of burgers
Heated to serve as a fondue with bread chunks
Folded into grits
Dolloped over fries to create incredible cheese fries.
On top of baked potatoes
Folded in deviled eggs
So much more!

What is your favorite way to use pimento cheese?

Thanks for stopping by:) Comment below if you have made this delicious recipe featuring Cherchies® Pretty Peppers and Cherchies® Garlic Seasoning Blend. Come back again for more family-tested recipes, entertaining ideas, and cooking tips using all our favorite Cherchies® gourmet products.

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Enjoy!

*Note- We have also tested this recipe with Helman’s for the same great results.

Ingredients

1/2 cup grated extra-sharp cheddar cheese (we prefer to use freshly grated cheese, rather than bagged shredded cheese).
1/2 cup grated pepper jack cheese (we prefer to use freshly grated cheese, rather than bagged shredded cheese).
1/2 cup grated Monterrey Jack Cheese (we prefer to use freshly grated cheese, rather than bagged shredded cheese).
8 oz. cream cheese, room temperature.
1/2 cup *Duke’s Mayonnaise (or more for desired consistency)
1/2 jar Cherchies® Pretty Peppers, drained
1/2 teaspoon (tsp) Cherchies® Garlic Seasoning (more to taste)
Ground pepper to taste

Preparation

Drain the Pretty Peppers in a colander and set them aside. Add softened cream cheese to a medium bowl. Grate the cheddar, Monterrey Jack, and pepper jack cheeses and add them to the bowl. Add the mayonnaise, Cherchies® Garlic Seasoning, pepper, and mix with a hand mixer.

Once combined, gently add in the Pretty Peppers and stir with a spoon or spatula until thoroughly combined.

Refrigerate for at least two hours. The flavors only intensify, so making this ahead of a gathering is perfectly acceptable. Add crackers and vegetables for a delicious dip when ready to serve, the perfect addition to charcuterie platters. Or, add the pimento cheese to your favorite dish (see above).

Enjoy!

Yum

Pork, Apples, and Sauerkraut Recipe

December 29, 2021entrees, Slow Cooker RecipesSheri SpalloneComment

Originally posted Jan 2020.

Happy New Year, everyone! Thank you for supporting us since 1978. It means the world to us! We are grateful for you, your ideas, recipes, inspirational stories, and your patronage.

Tradition dictates that certain foods be served on New Year's Day to welcome the new year and bring good luck and good fortune into your home. One of the most popular culinary traditions is pork and sauerkraut.

In all honesty, this traditional New Year's combination repulsed me growing up. I remember my parents making pork and sauerkraut every New Year's Day. Every year I remember taking the teeniest, tiniest forkful (if you could call it a forkful, but rather a couple of strands of sauerkraut) to appease my parents so I did not miss out on "the good luck" about to be bestowed on me.

Now that I'm older and a mom (with a much better palate than in my youth), I try to continue the "bestowing of luck" tradition on New Year's and make meals my family will like. I adapted a recipe I found in an old cookbook for my slow cooker and used apples, onions, Champagne Mustard, pork, and sauerkraut. Then, I hoped for the best.

As I thought, this recipe was a hit with my family and hopefully will be for your family. It is easy, delicious, and a great way to "bestow some luck and good fortune" this year and every year!

Here's wishing you a healthy and prosperous 2024!

Thanks for stopping by:) Comment below if you have tried this tasty New Year's dish. Come back again for more family-tested recipes, entertaining ideas, and cooking tips using all our favorite Cherchies® gourmet products.

PRINT RECIPE

Ingredients

2 Tablespoons butter
1 (2-3 lb.) pork loin or roast
1 Tablespoon (Tbsp) Cherchies® Garlic Seasoning
1/2 teaspoon (tsp.) pepper
2 Tablespoons (Tbsp) Cherchies® Champagne Mustard
1 (32 oz.) package/ container sauerkraut
1 medium sweet onion, sliced
3 medium apples (we have tested with Granny Smith and Honey Crisp apples), peeled and sliced
1 Tablespoon (Tbsp) Worcestershire Sauce
** 1/2 cup water or apple cider (we tested with leftover champagne)

Preparation

Season all sides of the pork with Cherchies® Garlic Seasoning and pepper and set aside. Melt the butter in a large skillet on low, and add the onions, seasoning with a little more Garlic Seasoning, and cook until translucent. Remove the onions from the pan and add to the slow cooker. Next turn the heat to medium high and sear the pork on all sides, turning after a couple of minutes. Turn off heat. Place the pork on top of the onions. Spread the pork evenly with Cherchies® Champagne Mustard.

Place the apples on top of of the pork, followed by the sauerkraut, Worcestershire Sauce, and water (**See above).

Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 4-5 hours, or until the pork is tender and pulls apart easily. Serve over mashed potatoes and with our Cranberry Spinach Salad Recipe for a complete meal.

Enjoy!

Yum

Blue Cheese Wedge Salad Recipe

August 30, 2021entrees, leftovers, lunch, saladsSheri SpalloneComment

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Difficulty: Easy

Serves 4

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Print Recipe

Have you ever tried a recipe out of pure curiosity? The wedge salad, for example, an unassuming iceberg lettuce salad (that graced menus in the '50s and '60s), has made a resurgence on menus of fancy restaurants and steak houses EVERYWHERE. Why? I had to see what all the buzz was about for myself.

So why the popularity? One, it is easy to make. Ok, I get it. Honestly, the thought of eating a majestic cliff of iceberg lettuce instead of my preferred mixed greens or spinach seemed less than appealing, and you can imagine my hesitation.

Now, here is where the magic begins. Add to the iceberg mountain awaiting fresh juicy tomatoes, sweet tender shallots, crispy salty bacon (hello), clouds of tangy blue cheese, and drizzle it with a creamy homemade blue cheese dressing. Now, we're talking about a whole different taste sensation. The crispness of the salad melded together with the savory ingredients is a flavor party ready to explode in your mouth! Wow, was I surprised! I loved it!

If your curiosity is piqued and you have not tried this iconic salad, it is worth tantalizing your taste buds. It makes for the perfect meal or hearty side dish. It is refreshing, colorful, and easy to make, the perfect blend of deliciousness. The homemade bleu cheese dressing (everything in moderation), made with Cherchies® Garlic Seasoning and Cherchies® Champagne Mustard, is the pièce de résistance of this dish. What are you waiting for?

Comment below and let us know if you made this majestic salad. We would love to hear from you!

Thanks for stopping by:) Comment below if you have tried this tasty salad. Return for more family-tested recipes, entertaining ideas, and cooking tips using all our favorite Cherchies® gourmet products.

Salad Ingredients

Iceberg lettuce washed and cut into fourths

8 slices of bacon, cooked and coarsely chopped
Tomatoes, coarsely chopped (could use halved cherry tomatoes)
1 shallot, finely chopped
Blue Cheese, crumbled
Blue Cheese Dressing (below)
Dash of Cherchies® Garlic Seasoning
Dash of ground pepper
Chives, chopped (optional for garnish)

Blue Cheese Dressing (can be made ahead)

1/2 cup Mayonnaise
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup buttermilk* (or 1/2 cup half and half + 1 Tablespoon (Tbsp.) white vinegar)
1 teaspoon (tsp) Cherchies® Garlic Seasoning
1/2 teaspoon (tsp) pepper
2 oz. good blue cheese, crumbled
1 Tablespoon (Tbsp.) Cherchies® Champagne Mustard

Preparation

Prepare the salad dressing by combining all the ingredients in a medium bowl. Set aside. (This dressing can be made at least a day ahead, as the flavors tend to marry if made in advance).

Chop the cooked bacon, tomatoes, shallot, and chives (optional) for the salad and set aside.

Rinse the lettuce in cool water and remove any outer leaves as necessary. With a sharp knife, cut the lettuce in half, then half again to create four halves. Arrange on individual plates or a platter. (For a fun party idea, make mini wedges for guests, cut them into smaller halves, and arrange them on a platter).

Sprinkle a dash of Cherchies® Garlic Seasoning and ground pepper (to taste) on the lettuce wedges. Next, add the salad dressing, tomatoes, bacon, blue cheese, shallots, and chives (optional) for garnish.

Serve and enjoy!

Yum

Garlic Day- 20 Amazing Garlic Recipes

April 19, 2021recipe round upSheri SpalloneComment

Originally posted April 2016. New pictures and updates.

According to Days of the Year (www.daysoftheyear.com), today is Garlic Day! The origins of this obscure holiday might not be entirely clear, but its purpose is obvious: take to the kitchen and celebrate the many uses of garlic by cooking up a feast"- daysoftheyear.com

Not only does garlic add intense flavor to your favorite savory recipe, it also provides a wealth of health-promoting benefits, such as reducing the risk of heart disease, lowering cholesterol levels, fighting off viruses and infections, cleansing the body of toxic metals, and so much more.

Garlic has found its way in many cuisines around the world, and in honor of Garlic Day, we wanted to share of our favorite recipes. "For one day only, put aside your concerns about bad breath and indulge in twenty-four hours of delicious, garlicky goodness – it is Garlic Day, a day to recognize this pungent little clove"- daysoftheyear.com.

Appetizers

Side Dishes

Garlic Bread- of course! Spread your favorite bread with butter or olive oil, generously season with Cherchies® Garlic Seasoning or Cherchies® Garlic & Herbs Seasoning Blend, and broil in the oven for a few minutes until the bread is slightly browned.
Champagne Roasted Brussels Sprout Recipe
Herbed Corn on the Cob Recipe

Grilling