Wednesday, April 13, 2016

Recipes: Creamy Gooey Grilled Cheese - Jalapeno Poppers

If you missed the sampling at Fresh Market, Commonwealth Parkway, you missed delicious food.  Aside from great flavor, there is NO MEASURING of ingredients required.  Both recipes, EASY to prepare.

Creamy Gooey Grilled Cheese
Stonewall Kitchen Red Pepper Jelly 
1 container TFM Original Pimento Cheese Spread
1 loaf bread
Bacon, cooked or Real Bacon Bits (optional)
mayonnaise

On one slice of bread, spread pimento cheese. If using bacon, place on top of cheese.

On other slice of bread, spread Red Pepper Jelly. Sandwich the two slices together.

Spread mayo on top slice of bread. Place, mayo side down, in pan to cook.  While it cooks, spread mayo on top slice.  When bottom is nice and golden, flip and cook other side.  When nice and golden, remove from pan. Plate. Slice. Serve.

The bread I used was French Brioche.  Sold A LOT of bread!

RAVE reviews from customers!  Some said they would use Stonewall Kitchen's Hot Pepper Jelly instead of Red Pepper Jelly.  Your choice.  A few commented, instead of bacon they'd use ham. Whatever grilled cheese additions you like, go for it. 

Oh, and YES mayonnaise on the bread, not butter.  With the mayo you get a nice little crispiness and it's easier to spread "crust to crust".  Let's face it, with butter you have to wait for it to soften and if you don't, you'll tear the bread when you spread it.  All the way around, mayo on the outside of a grilled sandwich is the way to go.

*****

Jalapeno Poppers
Jalapenos
TFM Pimento Cheese
Stonewall Kitchen Hot Pepper Jelly or Red Pepper Jelly Real Bacon, cooked and crumbled or Real Bacon Bits (optional)

Preheat oven to 350o.

Cut jalapenos in half, lengthwise, leaving stem on. Remove seeds and ribs.

Spread Pimento Cheese in each jalapeno and place on a parchment lined baking sheet.  Sprinkle with bacon/bacon bits.  Bake for 15 to 18 minutes until jalapenos are tender.

While jalapenos bake, put jelly in a microwave save bowl and microwave until soft. 

Place jalapenos on serving dish.  Drizzle with jelly.  Serve.

Aside from comments of "these are delicious", most customers were surprised with putting hot pepper jelly on jalapeno poppers.  Because these aren't fried, 1. they make a great quick snack and 2. it's something easy and different for Bunko (women were purchasing ingredients to prepare just for that).


Monday, April 11, 2016

Wine and Food Sampling - April 12th (Updated - 4/12/16 8:21 AM)


Tuesday, April 12th (2:00 to 6:00 PM)  
(Commonwealth Pkwy.)


Food
  • Stonewall Kitchen Red Pepper Jelly and Hot Pepper Jelly 
    • Jalapeno Poppers 
    • TFM Pimento Cheese
    • Grilled Cheese
  • Stonewall Kitchen Sea Salt Crackers

Wines
  • Bluefeld Riesling
  • (May pick a Chardonnay.)
  • Kilka Red Blend
  • Kilka Malbec

Saturday, April 2, 2016

Mark your calendars ...

...  because you're invited!


Saturday, April 30th - 1:00 to 4:00 PM
(Huguenot Store)



I LOVE my customers.  Tom knows our customers are wonderful as well.  All the employees in the store appreciate our customers.  Soooo, Tom has allowed me to co-ordinate an event to show how thankful we are for you.  I'm coordinating with,

  • Penelope (my wine distributor), 
  • my favorite brands (that I love to sample out), 
  • Nicole (deli manager), 
  • Jenny (our cheese specialist), 
  • Harvey (who will man the grill) and 
  • Mark (in grocery who orders everything I need).

We will feature food and wine perfect for Mother's Day, Spring and grilling season.  I am hoping this will be a fun event that will give you plenty of ideas.

If you  know me, you know I stress when I prepare recipes.  With this event ... from now until April 30th, 4:30 PM, I will be stressing big time.  My distributor and Tom are putting a lot of faith in me and I don't want to disappoint them (with lack of sales).  I also don't want to disspoint you my faithful, wonderful customers.  The pressure is on.  I need a glass bottle of wine.

I will post the wines and food, the week of the event.  For now, just mark your calendars.





Friday, March 25, 2016

Wine Tasting - March 26th

Saturday, March 26th (1:00 to 4:00 PM)  
(Huguenot Store)

Food
  • Spiral Sliced Ham with Stonewall Kitchen Classic Ham Glaze
  • Stonewall Kitchen Classic Ham Glaze over Cream Cheese with Pineapple and Pecans

Wines
  • (Will post as soon as I know what I'm pouring.)

Monday, March 21, 2016

Wine Tasting - March 22nd

Tuesday, March 22nd (3:00 to 6:00 PM)  
(Huguenot)

Chef Sherry is doing a cooking demo and I will be pouring North by Northwest Chardonnay and Red Blend.

Sunday, March 20, 2016

Recipe: Ham Glaze over Cream Cheese

Friday brought back a flood of memories for me.  I remember when I would put Dr. Pete's Prailine Mustard Glaze over cream cheese and everyone thought it was the best thing since sliced bread.  From there I branched out to other products over cream cheese.  It boggled my  mind it was a hit. Then I began to get a following.  Next thing you knew Tom hired me, I had two sample tables set-up, and the party goes on!

When I was shopping in the store Thursday, what do I see on the meat counter, but Stonewall Kitchen's Classic Ham Glaze.  With Easter a week away, I figured I'd sample this over cream.  BUT WAIT!  I couldn't just do cream cheese.  I slept on it and decided to prepare the following - 


Ham Glaze over Cream Cheese
1 jar Stonewall Kitchen Classic Ham Glaze
2 (8 oz.) blocks TFM Cream Cheese
1 small can Dole Crushed Pineapple, drained
1/3 c. fancy pecan pieces
1 box Stonewall Kitchen Sea Salt crackers

Place cream cheese on serving plate,  Top with pineapple.  Drizzle with 1/3 jar (or to taste) ham glaze. Garnish with pecan pieces.  Serve.

As I always hope, this recipe was a success.  What can I say?  And NO, Tom has not given me hours.  I was just feeling nostalgic and miss preparing food.

Tuesday, March 15, 2016

Wine Tasting - March 18th

Friday, March 18th (3:00 to 6:00 PM)  
(Huguenot Store)

Food
  • Stonewall Kitchen Classic Ham Glaze over Cream Cheese with Pineapple and Pecans

Wines
  • Rodney Strong Chardonnay
  • Rodney Strong Sauvignon Blanc
  • Z Alexander Brown Cabernet
  • Z Alexander Brown Red Blend