019. Sporty Snack Roundup

And More Sweet Treats!

Welcome back to Extra Sharp! We’ve made it to Super Bowl weekend, a big deal in the world of appetizers. I’m not a huge sports person, but I’m a fan of any chance to snack on various decadent bites. I’m here to bring you some tasty cheesy inspo, but first here’s a little weekly recap.

New York, New York

I spent more time in Manhattan this week than I have in months. I work from home in Brooklyn, so crossing the river tends to be a rare occurrence for me these days. Not that I actively avoid it, but most of my life operates in my neighborhood so there’s really no reason to venture far. However, this week was a nice little shake up to my usual routine. On Wednesday I saw the Tina Fey & Amy Poehler Restless Leg Tour which was hilarious and iconic. It was a combination of improv, stand-up, storytelling and so just inspiring to see these two legends in-person. Because the comedy show was in Midtown, I also paid a long overdue a visit to my friends at The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. It was so nice to go back to the studio and see my old co-workers and catch up. It felt like no time had passed, and made me want to dip my toes into TV production again! We’ll see ;)

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Cheese > Flowers

Before I get to the Super Bowl recipes, here are some Valentine’s Day updates!

1. Send your loved ones cheese! We teamed up with Kured to curate a heart-shaped cheese board, available for pick up or delivery in NYC and Boston. Order HERE.

2. That Cheese Class returns to NYC! On Tuesday Feb 13th I’ll be at Talea Cobble Hill with Create Dinners teaching my signature “build your own board” class. Tickets HERE.

3. We’re back with our Valentine’s Bundle merch sale! The entire store is 20% off through the weekend. Check it out HERE.

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Ready… Set… Snacks!

Here are some snack ideas to make for the big game, including a new recipe from my latest cookbook.

1) Buffalo Chicken Game Day Dip

This is a delicious spicy, creamy buffalo chicken dip with celery to resemble football laces!

Ingredients

• 2 cups finely chopped or shredded cooked chicken

• 1/3 cup cayenne pepper sauce

• 1 cup Mayonnaise

• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

• 2 Tbsp finely chopped green onions

• 1 tsp lemon juice

• 1/4 cup crumbled blue cheese

To Make

1. Preheat oven to 375°

2. Toss chicken with cayenne pepper sauce. Stir in remaining ingredients except blue cheese. Spoon into 1-1/2-quart shallow casserole, then sprinkle with blue cheese.

3. Bake uncovered 20 minutes or until bubbling. Serve, if desired, with celery and/or your favorite dippers.

2) Ham & Cheese Sliders With Dijon Butter

Ingredients:

• 3 tablespoons salted butter, melted

• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard, plus more to serve

• 2 teaspoons everything bagel seasoning

• 12 King’s Hawaiian Rolls or slider rolls

• 6 ounces Emmental, thinly sliced

• 8 ounces sliced smoked ham

• 6 ounces Gruyère, thinly sliced

• Bread-and-butter pickles, for serving

Directions:

1. Heat the oven to 325°F.

2. In a small bowl, mix together the melted butter, Dijon, and everything bagel seasoning.

3. Using a serrated knife, horizontally halve the rolls. Place the bottom of the rolls on a sheet pan.

4. Onto the rolls, layer in this order: half of the Emmental, half of the ham, all of the Gruyère, the remaining half of the ham, and the remaining Emmental. Place the top section of the rolls on top, then pour the butter mixture all over.

5. Cover with foil and bake for 15 minutes. Remove the foil and keep baking for about 10 minutes, until lightly browned and the cheese is melted.

6. Serve with additional mustard and pickles.
   

3) Greek Salad Whipped Feta

Now this is what I call a super BOWL.

In a food processor blend:

• 10 ounces Feta in brine (drained)

• 1/4 cup greek yogurt

• Juice from 1/2 lemon

• 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil (add more for smoother consistency)

• Salt and pepper to taste

Top with:

• Persian Cucumbers

• Cherry Tomatoes

• Kalamata Olives and Green Olives

• Small Red Onion

• Yellow Bell Pepper

• Lemon Zest

• Fresh Dill

• Fresh Parsley

• Extra Virgin Olive Oil

• Flaky Salt and Pepper

4) Creamy Buffalo Artichoke Dip

This is a favorite recipe from That Cheese Plate Wants To Party! The oval dish was thrifted, but you can find something similar here.

Ingredients:

• 4 ounces Greek feta

• 2 ounces (1/4 cup) Greek yogurt 

• 3 artichoke hearts from a can, drained. 

• 1 ounce (1/4 cup, packed) shredded 4-cheese Italian blend

• ½  - 1 ½  tablespoons Frank’s Red Hot Buffalo Sauce, divided 

• 1 scallion, roughly chopped with roots trimmed

• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh chives, plus more for garnish) 

• 2 tablespoons olive oil

• ½ tablespoon lemon juice 

• ¼ teaspoon of garlic powder

• ¼ teaspoons of onion powder 

• Kosher salt and ground black pepper

• 1/4 red pepper for garnish

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 400ºF.

2. In a food processor, puree the feta, Greek yogurt, artichokes, shredded cheese (reserving some for topping), ½ tablespoon of Buffalo sauce, 1 scallion, chives, olive oil, lemon juice, garlic powder, and onion powder until smooth. Season with salt and pepper to taste. If you want it spicier, blend in an addition ½ tablespoon of Buffalo sauce

3. Spoon into a 5 x 7 baking dish and top with additional shredded cheese and a drizzle of buffalo sauce 

4. Bake for 17-20 minutes, until the cheese topping has melted and the dip is bubbling. 

5. Top with red peppers to create the football laces and serve immediately.

Game Day Playlist

If you’ve been around for a bit, you know I have a curated playlist for almost every holiday and occasion. See below for some music to play at your Super Bowl parties, full of some classic rock tunes to pump you up.

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Chocolate, Cheese & Wine Pairings

For Valentine’s Day, throw your own chocolate and cheese pairing party! Below is a printable “ranking card” for your favorite cheese and chocolate pairings, five wine pairing suggestions and a music playlist!