Recipes: (Instant Pot) Beer Brats - Jarlsberg-Bacon Spread - Kumquats and Ricottta with Mike's Hot Honey

Okay.  Let me clarify - best weekend ever for 2020.  Aside from recipes being a hit with everyone, I did sell a lot of product.  I'm always going for delicious, but also easy to prepare.  

This was my first weekend sampling for Super Bowl party ideas.  We have 3 more weekends to go, to build your party.  Here are the recipes for this weekend ...

INSTANT POT!  One of my favorite and most used tools in my kitchen.  Sooooo many of you told me you received one for Christmas, but still have it in the box.  Let me say, "TAKE IT OUT OF THE BOX!"  Use it once and you'll be hooked.  

(Instant Pot) Beer Brats

6 Brats

2 onions, sliced

2 Tbl. vegetable/canola/olive oil

2 bottles beer - Lager

½ stick butter

6 pretzel buns

1 jar Freak Flag Organics Smokey Red Mustard

Heat Instant Pot to SAUTÉ/NORMAL.  When HOT add oil and begin browning brats. When browned, remove from pot.  Do not drain any of that goodness from the pot.

To Instant Pot, add onion.  Sauté until translucent.  CANCEL cooking.  

Place brats on top of onions.  Dot with butter. Pour beer over brats. 

Place lid on pot and make sure pressure valve is closed. Set Instant Pot to PRESSURE (LOW/NORMAL) and WARM is off. 

Cook time is 7 minutes. 10 minutes natural release, then open pressure valve to release any remaining steam/pressure. When red pin drops, remove the lid.

Serve with or without buns and Freak Flag Organics Smoky Red Mustard.

When I saw Freak Flag on the shelf, I thought, "Let's play and introduce customers to this."  Brats and Super Bowl came to mind.  To switch it up, put it on a pretzel bun!   Sold a lot of brats, pretzel buns, and Freak Flag Red Mustard.

Saturday I prepared this recipe with Yuengling Lager.  Sunday I used Blue Mountain's Lager.  Blue Mountain had a mild flavor; did not add any character/flavor to the recipe.  I personally prefered Yuengling as did Gene (you know Gene - Deli, sings a lot, spouts off food recipes and ideas all the time).

Sunday, I sampled Red Dragon English Cheddar with Whole Grain Mustard.  HUGE hit.  It also paired nicely with the Beer Brats.

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The following recipe, is from 2014 (back when I worked at TFM Huguenot).  It was a hit then and a hit this past weekend.  The seasoning I used in 2014, TFM no longer sells, so I changed it to my "jump up and down" seasoning (which is new into the store) Spanish Chorizo Seasoning.  The first recipe I used it in was (Instant Pot) Spanish Chorizo Shredded Pork.

Jarlsberg-Bacon Spread

½ lb. Jarlsberg cheese, shredded

6 slices TFM Market Style bacon, cooked and crumbled OR

     1 pkg. Epic uncured bacon bits

1/3 to ½  c. finely chopped red onion

¾ to 1 c. mayonnaise

1 tsp. TFM Spanish Chorizo Seasoning

Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl.  Mix until thoroughly incorporated.  Refrigerate overnight to let flavors blend.   Serve with Original Pretzel Crisps, Pretzel buns, TFM French Rounds, or your favorite crackers.

I did use TFM's Market Style bacon.  Cooked it, removed the fat, and chopped it.  I'll take fresh bacon over bacon bits any day.

FYI - if you need the Jarlsberg cheese shredded, just ask the cheese specialist or anyone in the Deli, and they will be happy to do it for you.  

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This last recipe was TFM Corporate's required sampling.  A "who knew" kind of recipe.  No one thought about the combination of Ricotta, kumquats and hot honey.  Creamy.  Hint of sweet.  Hint of spice.  Crunch. FYI - the more Mike's Hot Honey you put on, the hotter it will be.  

Kumquats and Ricotta with Mike’s Hot Honey

1 pint kumquats

1 (16 oz.) container whole milk ricotta cheese

1 sourdough baguette, sliced

1 (12 oz.) bottle Mike’s Hot Honey

½ c. caramelized walnuts, roughly chopped

Slice kumquats into thin round pieces.  No need to peel.  Remove any large seeds.  Set aside.

Preheat broiler.  Place bread slices on sheet pan.  Broil until lightly toasted, about 5 minutes.

Spread 2 to 3 tablespoons ricotta tablespoon ricotta on top of each bread round.  Add 4 to 5 slices of kumquat on top.

Drizzle with desired amount of honey and garnish with walnuts.

FYI - I used TFM's Original French Rounds.  It was easier for Bakery and for me.  However, I think sourdough would be a nice flavor addition.

Off to plan next weekends sampling.  I already know what Corporate wants.  Now to figure out some delicious party food for what I want.