Jalapeño Popper Pumpkin Cheeseball Recipe

Jalapeño Popper Pumpkin Recipe

Prep Time:  20 Minutes  (Plus extra time to chill the cheeseball)
Difficulty:  Easy
Serves: 8-10

Happy Fall, everyone!

An easy appetizer that never gets old is the cheeseball, and this pumpkin cheeseball is perfect for entertaining for Fall, Halloween, or Thanksgiving. Not only does the mighty cheeseball, although underrated, lean itself to festive shapes; footballs during game day season, pumpkins for Fall, snowmen, reindeer and trees for winter, and so much more, this recipe is so easy and tasty that you will want to keep it in your back pocket for any occasion.

We’ve spiced things up with this delicious jalapeño popper pumpkin cheeseball featuring cream cheese, fresh and pickled jalapeños, cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses, and Cherchies® Garlic Seasoning Blend. It is the perfect blend of sweet and spicy, and the flavors intensify beautifully if you make it ahead.

This jalapeño popper cheeseball is such a hit we’re constantly asked to bring it to gatherings, and you will be amiss not to try it! And, because it can be made ahead, it allows you more time with your family and friends.

If you’re looking for a new appetizer to add to your Fall culinary cache, consider this jalapeño popper pumpkin cheeseball. You will not be disappointed.

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Ingredients

• 3 slices of bacon, cooked and chopped

• 1 8oz. block of cream cheese, room temperature

• 1/2 cup cheddar cheese (Hand-shredded is better than store-bought shredded cheese)* See Note

• 1/2 cup Monterey Jack Cheese (could use pepper jack if you like it spicier. (Hand-shredded is better than store-bought shredded cheese)* See Note

• 1/3 cup seeded and finely diced fresh jalapeños (2 medium or 1 large…more if you like it spicier), reserving one stem to finish the pumpkin at the end

• 1/3 cup finely diced pickled jalapeños (recipe to come soon for homemade pickled jalapeños)

• 1/2- 1 teaspoon (tsp.) Cherchies® Garlic Seasoning Blend (Could substitute Cherchies® Garlic ‘N Herbs NO-SALT) Seasoning.

• 1/4 cup chopped chives or green onions- white and green parts (Optional. I have used them before, but not for this photograph).

• 1 snack-size bag of Cheese Itz crackers, crushed (Could use cheese puffs, spicy Doritos, or even extra cheddar* See Notes).

• 3 rubber bands

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. When the oven is ready, with a parchment paper-lined baking sheet, place bacon on the baking sheet and cook until crispy. (Every oven is different, so you must watch the bacon for about 15 minutes, give or take a few).

While bacon is cooking, chop up jalapeños and grate the cheese. Be sure to save one stem as decoration for the finished product.

Add the cream cheese, shredded cheese, Cherchies® Garlic Seasoning, and jalapeños to a medium-sized bowl. (Make sure to use kitchen gloves while chopping up jalapeños…trust me from experience; you need the gloves).

When cooked and cooled, chop up the bacon and add to the bowl. Mix all the ingredients with a hand-held mixer until combined.

Use a rubber spatula to shape the mixture into a ball. Place the cheeseball on a piece of plastic wrap and cover the cheeseball. Use rubber bands to create the typical grooves found on pumpkins. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours.

Place the cheese crackers in a plastic resealable bag and crush them with a rolling pin, rolling over the bag until fine crumbs are formed. Set aside. If you have a food processor, place the crackers in the processor and pulse until finely ground.

Once your cheeseball has chilled in the refrigerator*, add the crushed crackers to a medium bowl, remove the rubber bands, and roll the cheese pumpkin in the crushed crackers. Decorate with the saved jalapeño stem and serve with crackers, pretzels, and/or carrots, celery, and cucumbers for a healthier dipping option.

Enjoy!

For a football shape, add extra cooked bacon on the outside, followed by Provolone or Monterey Jack cheese.

Notes:

• Substituting the Cheese Itz- Feel free to substitute them with cheese puffs, spicy Doritos (regular Doritos are not as orange, or extra grated yellow cheddar cheese.

• Grating Cheese- It’s always better to hand-grate a block of cheese. Pre-shredded cheese works in a pinch. If baking this mixture for a hot dip, hand-grated cheese is best because the pre-shredded cheese does not melt as well because of the coating added to the cheese.

• Would you prefer a hot dip? Evenly spread the dip ingredients into a pie plate (step five, “Use a rubber spatula to shape the mixture into a ball”), sprinkle with the cracker crumbs, and bake in the oven at 350 degrees for 15 minutes or until bubbly.

Picked Red Onion Recipe

Tasty Pickle Red Onions Recipe

If you want to add a pop of zing and an extra dimension of flavor and crunch to your sandwiches, Southwestern dishes, burgers, etc., you need to make these tangy-sweet pickled red onions. Beware, once you make them, you'll wonder why you never made them before, and you'll obsess about keeping a jar on hand in the refrigerator at all times:). Well, maybe not obsess:).

Homemade pickled onions are incredibly delicious and easy to make. They brighten up any dish with a tangy pop of flavor, require a handful of ingredients, and take minutes to prepare. If you haven't tried them, your tastebuds are missing out. The main ingredients for pickled onions are usually vinegar, water, and salt. There are fancier recipes on the internet, sometimes with fresh herbs, garlic, fruit, peppercorns, etc.; however, our version features red onions, Cherchies® Garlic Seasoning, apple cider vinegar, and red wine vinegar (* homemade-see notes).

As I've often mentioned in other blog posts, our children (now college students) are often guinea pigs and our best food critics for new recipes that I create. Over the years, it has been wonderful watching their palates mature with them trying different foods, including pickled red onions. When our daughter and son came home for the weekend recently for a visit, their favorite Taco Night was on the menu. It was the perfect time to introduce pickled red onions as one of the taco toppings, and I was pleasantly surprised at their reactions. They gave the pickled red onions a thumbs up!   

Still not convinced? Here are 19 mouth-watering examples of why you should make pickled onions today to have on hand when the moment strikes to add a burst of tanginess to your dishes. Your tastebuds will thank you.  

1. As a topping for tacos

2. In sandwiches and wraps

3. As a fixing for bagel and lox boards

4. As a topping for pizza

5. In burgers

6. On top of avocado toast

7. In mayo-based fillings (eg. deviled eggs, salads)

8. In salads

9. As a topping for hotdogs or sausage

10. As a topping on stews or chili

11. In dips- rich dips like spinach artichoke

12. Use the vinegar as a marinade when finished with the pickled onions.

13. As a martini instead of Gimlet

14. In coleslaw

15. As a compliment to Indian food- it pairs nicely with the heat in their dishes

16. As a topping for baked potatoes w/ sour cream, and/or butter

17. As an accompaniment to charcuterie, especially pate

18. In beans- a pot of pintos or black beans with sour cream, cornbread, and pickled onions

19. Add to scrambled eggs.

20. In BBQ sandwiches

If you haven’t tried pickled onions, then you are missing out. They are incredibly delicious and easy to make, and they bring a new depth of flavor and texture to your favorite dishes. Are you ready to give this recipe a try?

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

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Ingredients

• 1 large red onion, thinly sliced into half-moons

• 1 cup apple cider vinegar

• 1/2 cup red wine vinegar (* we used homemade red wine vinegar- optional)

• 1/4 cup sugar or honey

• 1 teaspoon (tsp.) Cherchies® Garlic Seasoning (or Cherchies® Garlic ‘n Herbs No-Salt Seasoning)

• 1/8 teaspoon (tsp.) ground allspice

• A pinch of red pepper flakes or a few peppercorns

Ingredients for Homemade Red Wine Vinegar

• equal parts of apple cider vinegar and leftover red wine. (best if made a few days to a week ahead)

Preparation

Remove the outer layer of the onion. Slice the onion at half beginning with the root side of the onion. Using a mandoline or sharp knife, thinly slice the onion into half-moon slices. Set aside.

Add to a medium saucepan, the apple cider vinegar, red wine vinegar, sugar, Cherchies Garlic Seasoning, allspice, and red pepper flakes. Turn the saucepan on low and cook for a few minutes (stirring occasionally) until the sugar or honey has dissolved. Turn the pan off.

Add the onions to the pan and allow the mixture to cool.

Remove the onions from the saucepan with tongs and add them to a clean mason jar (or jar with a lid). Pour the remaining liquid in the pan into the mason jar. Cover the jar with a lid or plastic wrap, refrigerate, and enjoy.

The Best Homemade Pimento Cheese Recipe

The Best Pimento Cheese Recipe

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.

We would love for you to follow us on social media: FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, and PINTEREST!

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!

Blue Cheese Wedge Salad Recipe

Bleu Cheese Wedge Salad Recipe

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Difficulty: Easy

Serves 4

Prep Time: 20 minutes

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.

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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!