Showing posts with label Snack. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Snack. Show all posts

Southwestern Cheese Appetizer ~ Marinated Cheese

I posted this in 2012 and I still make it around the Holidays because it’s delicious, beautiful and easy. 


Original post

This appetizer is perfect for Christmas or New Years Eve with the green and red but can be eaten all year!  I found this recipe in the Southern Living magazine at least 6 or 7 yrs ago!  They actually have two different recipes on their webiste and I have made both, I like this one the most!  The other one has balsamic vinegar in it and so it changes the color of the cheese which I didn't like as much.

Just buy 8 oz bars of cheese and slice them 1/4 inch thick and then in half.  You can see by the picture below the size the cheese should be.  It's kinda amazing how many slices you end up with with just 3 bars of cheese. 

It's very important to let it marinade over night or at least 8 hours.  This will last 3 to 5 days but it's in it's prime the 2nd and 3rd day!

I made this twice last week and didn't take step by step pictures but you can see by the picture below what it should look like.  Just whisk the marinade in a bowl and pour it over the cheese.  I do 3 lines of cheese and place it in a plastic container where the cheese fits snug so that it's not to large of a container, that way the cheese is able to be coated in the marinade.










Here is the plastic container I use and then I just put the lid on it and put it in the fridge!




*also I found the the roasted sweet red peppers at The Dollar Tree!  They are just as good as the ones I buy at the grocery store!





Southwestern Cheese Appetizers


1/2 cup olive oil
1/2 cup white wine vinegar
1/4 cup fresh lime juice
1/2 (7.5-ounce) jar roasted sweet red peppers, drained and diced
3 green onions, minced
3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
1 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1 (8-ounce) block sharp Cheddar cheese, chilled
1 (8-ounce) block Monterey Jack cheese with peppers, chilled
1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, chilled

Whisk together first 3 ingredients until mixture is blended; stir in diced red peppers and next 6 ingredients. Set marinade aside.
Cut block of Cheddar cheese in half lengthwise. Cut halves crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick slices. Repeat procedure with Monterey Jack cheese and cream cheese.
Arrange cheese slices alternately in a shallow baking dish, standing slices on edge. Pour marinade over cheeses. Cover and chill at least 8 hours. Transfer cheese to a serving plate, and spoon remaining marinade over top. Serve with assorted crackers.

Peanut Butter Granola


I saw this recipe on Pinterest the other day and decided to make it last night.  It took all of 5 minutes to combine it together (if that long) and all of 10 minutes to bake it!  Wow!  The longest part of this recipe is letting it cool so it will crisp up because it comes out of the oven soft, still tasty but soft. Granola should be crispy so the wait began! 

You could easily add some m & m's, dried fruit, nuts to this if you wanted. 

This has to be good for ya because it only has oats, peanut butter and honey along with some vanilla and cinnamon. 

*I just wanted to add a day later  that I picked up some M&M's and all I am going to say is mmmmmmm!!!!!  I then wished I had some dried fruit...I might have to go raid the pantry and see!





Just melt the peanut butter in the microwave for about 20 seconds

add vanilla and cinnamon (I just sprinkled a little didn't use the 1/2 tsp it called for)


add Oats to mixture


Stir until combined well


Pour onto a buttered pan or you can spray it with non-stick spray,  I used parchment paper


Just out of oven, now the waiting game!


Delicious peanut butter granola!



Peanut Butter Granola

¼ cup creamy peanut butter
¼ cup honey
½ tsp cinnamon  (I used less)
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups oats
Preheat oven to 325
Butter or spray cookie sheet with non-stick cooking spray (I used parchment paper).
Combine peanut butter and honey in a bowl and place in microwave for about 20 seconds until peanut butter melts. Stir
Stir cinnamon and vanilla into mixture then add oats stirring until combined.
Spread oat mixture onto prepared cookie sheet and back for 10 minutes until granola is slightly brown.  Let cool until granola is crunchy