This is a tangy but tasty dip to be used with crackers, pretzels, celery pieces or whatever you have on hand. Please note.. I tried to be healthy. After all, I added celery, didn’t I?
- 2 cups cheddar cheese, grated
- 1 cup shredded Pepper Jack Cheese
- 4 oz. cream cheese, softened
- pinch of cayenne pepper
- 3-4 pickled artichokes in a jar, drained and chopped
Put all the ingredients in a blender and process until well blended.
Spoon into a greased 3 quart baking dish and bake in a 375 oven until hot and bubbly. Remove from oven and let stand for about 10 minutes before serving.
Note: I would add small cooked shrimp just after removing from the blender. Mix well with a spatula. Bake are noted. I know….a glass of wine or beer of your choice would be good.
OMG! This is yummy.
Savory Walnut Ravioli
- You would almost think this would be a dessert but it is a savory dish that pairs beautifully with spring lamb. It can also be used as an appetizer. By using prepared wonton skins, you take a gourmet dish and make it simple.
This will serve 6.
- 3/4 cup ricotta cheese
- 3/4 cups Gorgonzola cheese, crumbled
- freshly ground pepper
- 3 tbsp. chopped walnuts, toasted
- 36 prepared wonton skins 3″ x 3″
- 3/4 cup butter
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts, toasted
- 3/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
For the filling mix together the ricotta and Gorgonzola cheeses, pepper and 3 tbsp. walnuts. Drop 2 generous tsp. of filling onto 18 wonton skins. Dampen the top edges with water. Top each skin with another wonton skin and press to seal.
Gently drop the ravioli into the boiling water. Cook for 2 1/2-3 minutes or until the ravioli rises to the surface. Drain carefully with a slotted spoon. Place 3 ravioli on each serving plate.
Melt the butter in a saucepan then heat the walnuts in the butter. Spoon butter and walnuts over the ravioli and sprinkle parmesan cheese over.
Oh my goodness…..yummy!
New Take On Cheese Fondue
It’s always nice to find a new way to use an old classic recipe. This one might work for you, especially if you are celebrating the Christmas-New Years time at a ski resort. Gather round my friends and chill the beer, wine or champagne and settle in front of a warm fire with this.
To serve 4:
- 2 oz. Mozzarella Cheese
- 1 package sliced Gouda Cheese – cut up
- 1 package sliced Swiss Cheese- cut up
- 3 tbsp. cornstarch
- 1 1/3 cup ‘white’ beer
- 1 garlic clove, halved
- 1 tbsp. Calvados liqueur
Place the cheeses in a resealable bag with 2 tbsp of the flour. Shake well to distribute the flour evenly. Pour 1 cup of the beer into the bag and leave for half an hour.
In a heavy pot rub the bottom and sides with the garlic clove. Heat the pot over medium-low heat for about 3 minutes.
Add the cheese mixture one third at a time, stirring gently with a wooden spoon until completely melted before adding the next third. Do NOT let this boil.
Adjust the consistency if needed. If too thick, add the remaining beer, if not, just drink it…Cook for a further 2 minutes , now add in the calvados.
Transfer to a fondue pot and serve with any of the following:
bread cubes, potato gnocchi, polenta cubes, cubed salami…the choice is endless.
Yummy! Enjoy!
Easy Morning Wake-Up
Okay…here is the scenario. You are the first one up and all is quiet. You slip into the kitchen and turn the coffee pot on (You did set it up the night before, didn’t you?). Now, you can hear stirrings throughout the house.
Get ready to put out a totally scrumptuous breakfast..
- 10 eggs beaten
- 1/3 cup flour
- 3/4 tsp. baking powder
- 1 lb. bacon, fried crisp and crumbled
- 1 lb. Monterey Jack Cheese (one of my favourites)
- 1 cup cottage cheese
- 1/2 cup cream cheese, cut into small squares
- 1 cup fresh mushrooms, sliced and fried
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Beat the eggs, flour and baking powder really well. Oh, ask one of the bodies that just entered the kitchen to pour the orange juice and set the table for you, please.
Add the crumbled bacon, cheeses and mushroom to the mixture and beat well to combine.
Pour into a 13 x 9 inch baking dish that has been sprayed with Pam. Bake for about 35-40 minutes.
Get everyone around the table, plate the baked eggs and add fresh hot, buttered toast, fresh coffee and it is all done. How happy are we now??
Did I hear you say “Damn, I actually did this?” Aww go ahead, it’s is okay.