Sartori's BellaVitano Cheese

My idea of heaven would be to have unlimited access to this Satori's BellaVitano cheese, and be able to eat as much of it as I wanted without gaining a single pound.  :)

This cheese is really that GOOD...

BellaVitano combines the rich and creamy flavor of Cheddar cheese with the savory, crystal like crunch of an aged Parmesan.

BellaVitano is amazing just by itself, but then Sartori adds in flavors like merlot, balsamic, expresso and chai which just puts it over the top!

I typically buy the Balsamic BellaVitano, but today I saw a few new flavors at my local Harris Teeter. 

Chai and Merlot!!!

The Chai has this amazing spice after taste and the merlot has a nice berry and plum finish.

I made the cheese a legit meal by adding some dried fruits, nuts and crunchy French bread.  Then later I made a scrumptious arugula salad with slices of the BellaVitano Merlot and fresh tomatoes with a lemon vinaigrette. 

Be careful- this stuff is seriously addicting!!

The website has several other fabulous flavors.... and I plan on trying on them all..
http://www.sartoricheese.com/our-cheese/


Enjoy!

-Lauren

McCormick Smoked Paprika Deviled Eggs

Deviled Eggs with a kick...

Sooo one of my new obsessions...

I literally have been using it in everything the past few weeks... it adds a smoky yet sweet flavor...

For football today.. my Fiance had one request... deviled eggs.... worked out perfectly- gave me another reason to use my favorite new spice.


McCormick Smoked Paprika Deviled Eggs:

This recipe is quite easy.... just take a standard deviled egg recipe.. when I say standard I literally mean only mayo and yellow mustard- none of that relish nonsense..

For a dozen eggs.. prepare as you normally would... adding the mayo and mustard to the yolks....but now you are going to add the following:

1 teaspoon Sriracha Sauce
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard- I prefer Grey Poupon
1/2 teaspoon McCormick Smoked Paprika

After you have combined thoroughly, place the mixture back into the egg white shells.

I usually finish it off with a dollop of  Sriracha OR a sprinkle of the paprika. 

 

Eggs were a hit with my Fiance.. he liked the fact that they had a 'bacon' flavor to them! 

Who would have thought- deviled eggs and Sunday football!!  Bringing these to my next party for sure!

Enjoy!


-Lauren






 

Refreshing Low Calorie Soda

I love soda and I am often looking for a replacement... something that will give me that bubbly refreshing feeling but minus all the bad stuff....

I love Izze drinks and was down the soda isle looking for these.. when I found this....

Dry Soda- Cucumber

http://www.drysoda.com/about-dry-soda.php

Tried it when I got home and it was cool, refershing, bubbly and balanced.  It was similiar to club soda but had that sweet hint of cucumber.  If you like cucumber this is for you-it really does taste like authentic cucumber and it doesn't taste sugary at all. 

While I was drinking it all I kept thinking about was what I could pair it with to create a yummy alcoholic drink. 

I am thinking a little bit of St. Germain Elderflower liquor and a fresh squeezed lime juice and topped with a cucumber slice-yes please!!  http://www.stgermain.fr/index2.php

Oh and by the way Dry Soda has several other flavors including Lavender, Juniper Berry and Ginger.

I can't wait to try them all!

Crab Pretzel Minus the Crab

I know, I know- you are thinking really... crab pretzel without crab...but yes.. it is a soft pretzel with cheddar and old bay... and it is a SUPER easy and SUPER delicious snack!!

Crab Pretzel Minus the Crab:

All you need are the following:

Ingredients:
1 soft pretzel
1/4 cup cheddar cheese
Old Bay Seasoning

Directions:

• Cook soft pretzel according to box instructions- typically this involves drizzling water over the frozen pretzel and sticking it in the microwave for around 45 seconds 
• After it is done cooking, put cheddar on top of pretzel
• Stick back in the microwave for 10-15 seconds (until cheese is melted)
• Top with sprinkle of old bay
• Add some yellow mustard at the end if you would like... :)
  

ENJOY!!!

Kerrygold Stuffed Poblano Peppers

So I am obsessed with this cheese.....

And I will create meals just so I have an excuse to eat it!

Of course I could probably eat an entire block of cheese to myself at one sitting.... but instead I decided to share the cheese with others and made some stuffed poblano peppers for a Father's Day cookout!

Kerrygold Stuffed Poblano's:

Ingredients:

• 3 large poblano's
• 8 oz cream cheese
• 1/2 cup shredded Kerrygold Irish cheddar
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cumin
• lime juice from 1 lime
• lime zest from 1 lime
• 1 teaspoon jalapeno cilantro seasoning- see pic below
• dash salt
• dash pepper
• pre-cooked bacon slices- one slice for each pepper half (Hormel makes a good variety)

Jalapeno Cilantro seasoning:

Directions:

• Cut polanos in half and remove seeds and stem (some might be big enough to cut into thirds, you just want to make sure that they create boat like shapes so that when you stuff them with the cheese it can't ooze out)
• Combine cheddar,  cream cheese, spices and lime in a bowl
• Stuff the poblanos with the cheese mixture
• Wrap the bacon (uncooked) around the poblano pepper and secure with a toothpick if needed
• On the grill, over medium heat, add the poblano peppers directly to the grill on the top wrack
• Cover grill and cook for about 5 minutes
• Once the pepper is slightly charred and the cheese mixture is melted and bacon is crispy you can pull them off.
• Let cool for 3 min
• You can also cook these in the oven if you don't have a grill- just put them under the broiler for the same amount of time (5 min)

Spiced Pancakes

Had a craving for something sweet this morning so decided to go with some pancakes!  I wanted to make them my own so I added spices like cinnamon and cloves along with vanilla extract and almond slices. Topped off with bananas and syrup and you are all set!  Super easy and super tasty!  

Spiced Pancakes

Ingredients:

2 cups Bisquick (this is huge... my Grandma told me Bisquick makes the BEST pancakes!)
1 cup milk
2 eggs
1/4 teaspoon sugar
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon almond extract
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup sliced almonds
1 banana
butter
maple syrup

Directions:

• Add Bisquick mix, eggs and milk into mixing bowl.
• Add in sugar, nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves, almond extract, vanilla extract and sliced almonds.  
• Mix well
• Pour slightly less than 1/4 cupfuls in a greased skillet over medium heat
• Cook until edges dry, turn, cook until golden
• Makes around 14 pancakes
• Add syrup, butter and banana on top of pancakes when serving 

Lazy Day Bloody Mary's

 

I love a great Bloody Mary....and I especially like turning the drink into a legit meal!!

This Bloody Mary calls for Absolute citron vodka and a bunch of fixings including pickled onions and pepperoni! That's right folks- pepperoni!!

Lazy Day Bloody Mary's

Ingredients:
For one drink:
2 oz citron vodka
3 dash Worcestershire sauce
2 dash hot sauce
dash pepper
slice of lemon
slice of lime
1 teaspoon prepared horseradish
Clamato juice (around 6 oz)
celery stalk
pepperoni
pickled onions
olives

Take a large glass and fill halfway with ice
Pour vodka over the ice
Add hot sauce, lemon juice, lime juice, Worcestershire sauce, horseradish
Then top off with the Clamato juice
Stir well with large spoon
Stick a large celery stick in the drink 
Then stick olives, pepperoni and pickled onion on toothpick and lay across the top of the drink

Enjoy!

Frankenstein Mac N' Cheese

I was making a big pasta dish one night and ended up having leftover noodles.  From this slight mistake on my part I decided to try and make the best of it... also.... I wanted to look like a hero to my man by giving him a crap load of leftovers to take to work the next day and share with his co-workers.  I went rummaging through the fridge and found that all we really had was various types of cheese.. so it made sense to make some Frankenstein Mac N Cheese!

Keep in mind that since this meal was literally thrown together, the measurements below are more estimates; you can add a little more or a little less of each ingredient and everything should still taste fine.

Frankenstein Mac N Cheese

Ingredients:
2 cups of leftover macaroni noodles
1/2 lb of monterey jack cheese
2 deli slices of white american cheese
2 deli slices of sharp yellow american cheese
1/4 cup of feta cheese
1/4 teaspoon pepper (can add more to taste if needed)
1/4 teaspoon salt (can add more to taste if needed)
1/4 cup of chicken broth
1 tablespoon olive oil
dash of hot sauce

This recipe is quite easy..

• Cook the noodles according to the box directions
• drain noodles and put back on stop top over low heat
• add chicken stock and olive oil
• then start to add the cheese- add monterey jack and both types of american first, allow it to slowly melt
• then add the feta and salt and pepper
• cook until the cheese is melted but be sure not to let it burn
• splash in some hot sauce at the end and you are all set
• of course taste it and then adjust as necessary

Enjoy!