Boursin Cheese Tasting Party and Review #ad

Posted on January 5, 2015 by Cindy Kerschner

I received these products for free from Smiley360 in exchange for my honest review. You can join Smiley360 at www.smiley360.com .
Cheese. I must admit, I love the stuff. Hard cheeses, cheese spreads, cheese balls, shredded, melted, ooey-gooey delicious cheese. Grilled cheese, quesadillas, sauces over veggies, au gratin, cheese fries and of course, cheese and crackers.
Now I’m not the only one I know who loves cheese.
So it wasn’t very hard getting some friends together to sample these two offerings from Boursin.
Boursin Cranberry Spice and Garlic Herb
Boursin Cheese party group
Everyone tasted both flavors and gave their opinions. I put out a wide variety of combinations to sample each flavor. There were crackers, homemade pumpernickel bread, assorted veggies and fruit, a Chatcuterie board, nuts and beverages.
Boursin display
Guests tried each cheese and the reactions were great!
Boursin Taste 2
They savored both on crackers.
Boursin Taste 1
Boursin Taste 3
And on the dried meats.
Boursin taste 5
A purist that “just loves cheese”.
Boursin Taste 4
The outcome was a bit unexpected. All my guests adored the Cranberry Spice. I thought it might be a little strong tasting. I was wrong. My guests commented on its smooth and creamy texture.
“Delicious.” “Perfect for parties.” “Pretty colored.” “Tastes great on crackers and veggies.”
The Garlic and Fine Herb was my young friend, the Purest’s favorite. He wanted to just eat it with a spoon! What can I say,the boy has great taste.
A guest that tried it on dried salami thought it made a perfect, spread for meat. I agree.
A quick poll of my guests revealed that most had heard of Boursin brand but never tried it. The obvious question, “Why haven’t you tried it before?”
Most thought Boursin sounded expensive. When I showed them the price, they were pleasantly surprised.
Boursin Cheese products are reasonably priced and full of flavor.
So although these cheeses will impress your guests, don’t save them just for special occasions.
Serve Boursin cheese anytime. Your family will love it!
Learn more about Boursin Cheeses at their website .

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Butternut Squash and Roasted Red Pepper Soup #SundaySupper

Posted on January 4, 2015 by Cindy Kerschner

Butternut Squash and Roasted Red Pepper Soup

Butternut Squash and Roasted Red Pepper Soup tastes great on cold winter day. Skip the cream and enjoy a lighter version that is smooth and naturally creamy.

This week Sunday Supper sheds the calories, extra fat and resolves to eat light. Thanks T.R. from Gluten Free Crumbley for hosting this event!

Many of us resolve to eat lighter, but what does that mean?

More salads? Depending what toppings those tossed salads include, you could be making less than lighter meals. Rich dressings, fatty meats like bacon (delicious yes I know, still…), nuts, sweetened dried fruit, and buttery croutons can contribute to defeating your goal.
Remember all things in moderation.

Soup recipes hide all kinds of hidden calories. These are things we don’t think about. Butter in the roux, heavy cream instead of milk, meat based broth not labeled non-fat or low-fat, even beet sugar in some flavor enhancers for stews.

Remember all things in moderation.
Read labels. Today’s food labels are more informative than ever.

Eating lighter doesn’t mean sacrificing flavor.

Here’s a breakdown of my changes to my recipe for Butternut Squash Soup.

I recommend adding new spices to your dishes. I’m not a chilihead or fan of spicy, hot dishes. A dash of heat is good. White pepper worked perfectly for this soup. A little coriander and allspice added warm undertones.

Introducing different vegetables to your classic soup recipes can be just the change it needs.
I added roasted red peppers to my butternut squash soup on a whim. I sneak pureed veggies into soups as thickeners a lot. Bits of red pepper added texture as well as color.

Ditch the cream. As much as I love cream in soup, this recipe didn’t really need the extra calories. If you miss the dairy aspect, try adding a dollop of plain yogurt to your bowl.

Here is the finished version. What spices would you add to switch this soup up a bit and still keep it light?

Butternut Squash and Roasted Red Pepper Soup close up

5.0 from 3 reviews
Butternut Squash and Roasted Red Pepper Soup
 
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Ingredients
  • 4 cups roasted butternut squash
  • ½ cup chopped roasted red peppers
  • 1 cup vegetable or non-fat chicken broth
  • ⅛ teaspoon white pepper
  • ⅛ teaspoon coriander
  • ⅛ teaspoon allspice
  • salt to taste
Instructions
  1. Place squash, red peppers and broth in a 2-quart or larger saucepan. Puree with an immersion blender or puree in standard blender before adding to saucepan.
  2. Stir in spices, adjust as need to taste .Heat over low-medium heat until thoroughly heated.
  3. serve alone or with a dollop of plain non-fat yogurt.
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Lighten up your meals this year with some great menu ideas from the Sunday Supper Group!

Bright Beverages

Blissful Breakfast Items

Appetizing Starters

Savory Soups and Sides

Marvelous Mains

Delightful Desserts

Sunday Supper MovementJoin the #SundaySupper conversation on twitter on Sunday! We tweet throughout the day and share recipes from all over the world. Our weekly chat starts at 7:00 pm ET. Follow the #SundaySupper hashtag and remember to include it in your tweets to join in the chat. To get more great Sunday Supper Recipes, visit our website or check out our Pinterest board.
Would you like to join the Sunday Supper Movement? It’s easy. You can sign up by clicking here: Sunday Supper Movement.

Posted in #SundaySupper, soup, squash, vegan, vegetables, vegetarian, What's For Dinner? | Tagged , , , , , , | 58 Comments

Uniquely Greek Feta Cheese Spreads Review #ad

Posted on December 29, 2014 by Cindy Kerschner

uniquely greek
I received free samples of Uniquely Greek Feta Cheese Spreads for review. I received no further compensation. I was under no obligation to post my review. All opinions are my own.
Cheese spreads come and go but there is something different about Uniquely Greek Feta Cheese Spreads.
First thing I noticed was vibrant colors. Bright red, orange, green and purple.
Uniquely Greek color
How festive. Imagine guests admiring how you matched the dip perfectly to the color scheme. How did they do that?
The answer is with natural ingredients. No artificial colors. None.
Then there is the texture. These spreads are made with feta cheese which gives them an airy, light appearance. A kind of a melt-in-your-mouth quality. They are also gluten-free.
I tried each first as a dip. Next, I took their claim that these cheese spreads make great meal add-ins and put it to the test.
Fire Roasted Red Pepper
This spread has a mild taste when served alone with crackers or veggies. Very kid-friendly. I added this cheese spread to a butternut squash and pasta casserole. It turned out delicious!
Spinach
Served as a dip, the spinach-feta combination works perfectly. I added this to white rice. Very nice, indeed.
Spicy Buffalo
This spread will work well with crackers, veggies or the traditional buffalo-style dip accompaniment, tortilla chips. I tested this as a base for chicken salad. It made a great buffalo chicken wrap.
Kalamata Olive
Kalamata olives have a strong flavor all their own. Add them to a feta based spread and your have a uniquely tasting Greek spread. I did not try this particular spread as a cooking enhancement. I would use it to heighten the flavor of any Greek Salad dish.
Learn more about this company and their spreads at their Uniquely Greek Website .

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Seafood Scampi A Year End Food Craving #SundaySupper

Posted on December 28, 2014 by Cindy Kerschner

Seafood Scampi
I’m so excited to be hosting this week’s Sunday Supper as we share our Year End Food Craving Recipes!
“It’s the end of the year and you realize there is something you have been craving all year long. Now is the time to get that craving satisfied and share the recipe. You may spark someone else’s craving for it too.”
When I saw our theme posted for today I immediately knew what to make. Seafood. Seafood Scampi to be exact.
Now I’m a lover not a fighter when it comes to seafood. I do like most kinds of fish. Sometimes it comes down to the way the fish is prepared that makes or breaks the dish. Some fish hold up in rich, buttery sauces like Scampi. Sea Bass would be one of those fish.
I even love squid. Sliced and breaded as Calamari and whole tiny ones in red sauces or breaded. Not so much for this dish.
All those are great choices for dinner but I crave shellfish! Shrimp, scallops, clams, mussels, lobster and oysters are high on my list.
The sweetness of their natural juices enhanced with fresh garlic, creamy butter and rich olive oil. Do I have your attention? Good, because I don’t want you to miss the delicate taste of Pinot Grigio. The wine should blend in the background. A dry to medium white does the trick. Remember to have some of the same wine on hand to serve with the meal.
Balance it all out with a squirt of lemon and dash of hot sauce.
Let me take you one step further.
Squid Ink Pasta.
I picked up a pack of this intriguing pasta on a recent visit to an Italian market in Philly. What a gorgeous color! I never tried it before but I heard a lot about it. Squid ink in high in iron and rich in antioxidants. The natural brininess means you need less salt. I only put a dash in the cooking water.
It doesn’t have a fishy taste like I thought it might. To me the taste is subtle. It made a stunning presentation! Too bad my photography skills aren’t better!
Seafood Scampi Plate

With all the garlic, wine and seafood maybe a bit of nature’s breath freshener, parsley for garnish isn’t a bad idea.

Seafood Scampi setting_edited-2 (550x550)

5.0 from 1 reviews
Seafood Scampi
 
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Ingredients
  • 8 ounces pasta cooked according to package directions, reserve liquid.
  • ½ lb large shrimp (21-25)thawed, peeled, deveined
  • ½ lb bay scallops, thawed
  • 1 lb mussels, fresh or frozen, scrubbed and beards removed
  • 8 Tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 cup clam juice or chicken broth
  • 2 Tbsp. olive oil
  • ¼ cup Pinot Grigio or unoaked Chardonnay
  • 1 small shallot, minced
  • 2 cloves garlic, chopped
  • 1 Tbsp. fresh parsley, chopped
  • 1 Tsp. lemon juice
  • Dash of hot sauce to taste
  • Salt and Pepper to taste
  • ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese plus extra cheese for garnish
  • parsley leaves for garnish, optional
Instructions
  1. Melt butter in a large skillet over low heat.
  2. Whisk in oil, clam juice and wine.
  3. Add shallots and garlic. Simmer 1 to 2 minutes.
  4. Add shrimp, scallops and mussels. Cover and simmer for about 6 minutes until shells open, and shrimp and scallops are opaque.
  5. Add lemon, parsley, hot sauce, salt and pepper. Add cheese and a bit of pasta water to thicken sauce if desired.
  6. Spoon over plated pasta. Top with grated Parmesan and garnish with parsley if desired.
Notes
You can use any size shrimp. Adjust the cooking time accordingly. clams can be substituted for mussels.
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All this talk about seafood should have satisfied my food cravings. That’s true for the most part. But there is still a chocolate cake out there somewhere with my name on it!
What kinds of food do you crave? Salty snacks like pretzels or crackers? Sweet confections dusted in powdered sugar or dripping in chocolate? Maybe your mouth waters at the idea of a beef roast, rack of lamb or tender, juicy ham.
Which ever your food cravings might be as this year comes to a close, I’d love to hear them. Please leave your thoughts in a comment below.

We’re sharing our recipes today to satisfy all kinds of food cravings. Enjoy these great recipe ideas from the Sunday Supper Group!

Comfort Food Cravings

Quench Your Thirst Cravings

Seafood Cravings

Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth Cravings

Sunday Supper MovementJoin the #SundaySupper conversation on twitter on Sunday! We tweet throughout the day and share recipes from all over the world. Our weekly chat starts at 7:00 pm ET. Follow the #SundaySupper hashtag and remember to include it in your tweets to join in the chat. To get more great Sunday Supper Recipes, visit our website or check out our Pinterest board.
Would you like to join the Sunday Supper Movement? It’s easy. You can sign up by clicking here: Sunday Supper Movement.

Posted in #SundaySupper, party food, pasta, scallops, seafood, shrimp, What's For Dinner? | Tagged , , , , , , | 60 Comments