Recipes

Rosemary Popcorn With Pine Nuts

Rosemary Popcorn With Pine Nuts

Give the usual popcorn an upscale twist with a double infusion of rosemary. Use leftover herb-flavored oil in salad dressings, marinades, or sauces.
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Ingredients

Makes 14 cups

  • 1 cup olive oil
  • ½ cup unpopped popcorn kernels
  • 12 6-inch rosemary sprigs, cut into 2-inch pieces
  • 1½ teaspoons sea salt divided
  • ½ cup pine nuts toasted
  • 2 tablespoons coarsely chopped fresh rosemary

Instructions

  • Heat olive oil in a small saucepan over low heat 3 minutes.
  • Add popcorn kernels, rosemary sprigs, and 1 teaspoon sea salt.
  • Remove mixture from heat; cover and let stand at room temperature 48 hours.
  • Drain kernels, reserving oil; discard rosemary sprigs.
  • Place 3 tablespoons herb-flavored oil and popcorn kernels in a Dutch oven.
  • Cook kernels, covered, over high heat, shaking the pan often 4 minutes or until popping begins to slow.
  • Remove popcorn from heat, and let stand until the popping stops.
  • Place popcorn in a large bowl.
  • Add remaining salt, pine nuts, and chopped rosemary, and toss.
  • Serve immediately.

Notes & Wine Advice

Quick-and-Easy Asian Popcorn: Omit steeping kernels step. Substitute 2½ tablespoons dark sesame oil plus ½ tablespoon hot chili oil for olive oil, garlic salt for sea salt, and roasted cashew pieces for pine nuts.
Garlicky Basil-Parmesan Popcorn: Substitute basil for rosemary and ½ cup grated garlic-and-herb Parmesan cheese for pine nuts.
Note: For testing purposes only, we used Kraft Parm Plus Garlic Herb.
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Course; Appetizer / Nuts

Blue Cheese Crisps

Blue Cheese Crisps

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Ingredients

Makes 6 dozen

Instructions

  • Beat cheese and butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy.
  • Add flour, poppy seeds, and pepper; beat until blended.
  • Divide dough in half; shape each portion into a 9-inch log.
  • Cover and chill 2 hours.
  • Cut each log of dough into ¼-inch-thick slices, and place on ungreased baking sheets.
  • Bake at 350° for 13 to 15 minutes or until golden.
  • Transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
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Course; Appetizer

Honey-Nut Snack Mix

Honey-Nut Snack Mix

Try this flavorful mix over yogurt for a quick breakfast or snack. You can also substitute cashews for pecans.
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Ingredients

Makes 7 cups

Instructions

  • Combine first 5 ingredients in a large bowl; set aside.
  • Stir together butter, brown sugar, and honey in a small saucepan over low heat, stirring until butter melts and sugar dissolves.
  • Pour butter mixture over cereal mixture, stirring to coat.
  • Spread evenly on an aluminum foil-lined 15- x 10-inch jelly-roll pan.
  • Bake at 325° for 20 minutes, stirring once.
  • Stir in cranberries; bake 5 minutes.
  • Spread immediately on wax paper; cool.
  • Store in an airtight container up to 1 week.

Notes & Wine Advice

or testing purposes only, we used Quaker Oat Bran cereal.
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Course; Appetizer / Nuts

Easy-as-Pie Cheese Straws

Easy-as-Pie Cheese Straws

Couverts5
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Ingredients

Makes 5 dozen

  • 1 11-ounce package piecrust mix
  • 1 5-ounce jar sharp processed cheese spread
  • ½ teaspoon ground red pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon dry mustard

Instructions

  • Process all ingredients in a food processor 30 seconds or until mixture forms a ball, stopping twice to scrape down sides.
  • Use a cookie press fitted with a bar-shaped disc to shape dough into 2½-inch straws, following manufacturer’s instructions.
  • Or divide dough in half, and shape each portion into a 7-inch log; wrap in plastic wrap, and chill 1 hour.
  • Cut logs into ¼-inch slices.
  • Place cheese straws on greased baking sheets.
  • Bake at 375° for 8 minutes or until golden.
  • Remove to wire racks to cool.
  • Store in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
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Course; Appetizer / Cheese

Starry Nibbles

Starry Nibbles

Couverts15 cups
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Ingredients

  • 2 8-ounce packages crispy cereal squares snack mix
  • 1 16-ounce package raisins
  • 1 12-ounce jar honey-roasted peanuts
  • 1 9.5-ounce package fish-shaped Cheddar cheese crackers

Instructions

  • Stir together all ingredients.
  • Store in an airtight container for up to 1 week.

Notes & Wine Advice

For testing purposes only, we used Bold Party Blend Chex Mix for crispy cereal squares snack mix and Goldfish Crackers for fish-shaped Cheddar cheese crackers.
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Course; Appetizer / Nuts

Orange Pecans

Orange Pecans

These tasty snacks pair well with an assortment of Cheddar cheeses.
Couverts5 cups
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Ingredients

Instructions

  • Bring first 4 ingredients to a rapid boil in a heavy saucepan over medium heat.
  • Stir in pecan halves; cook, stirring constantly, until pecans are coated and syrup is absorbed.
  • Remove from heat; stir just until pecans separate.
  • Spread in a single layer onto wax paper; cool.
  • Store in airtight containers up to 5 days.
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Course; Appetizer / Nuts

Hot Smoky Pecans

Hot Smoky Pecans

Serve these pecans at a holiday party.
Couverts2 cups
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Ingredients

Instructions

  • Stir together all ingredients; spread pecans in a single layer in a 15- x 10-inch jelly-roll pan.
  • Bake at 300°, stirring often, 25 minutes or until toasted.
  • Let cool; store in airtight container up to 5 days.
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Course; Appetizer / Nuts

Guacamole Hummus

Guacamole Hummus

What better way to upgrade hummus than to infuse it with avocado? We feel you’re salivating already.
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Ingredients

Serves: 4

Instructions

  • Add all ingredients to a food processor and blend until smooth.
  • Pour guacamole into a bowl, drizzle with olive oil, and garnish with cilantro leaves.
  • Serve.
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Course; Sauce / Side Dish