House of Frolic and Mirth

The dress.  The cake.  The vows.  The food. 

You probably already know which life moment I’m talking about when you hear these phrases.

When you’re getting married and planning your wedding, you want to remember every little detail, down to the ingredients in the food. This year marks our 15th wedding anniversary. Looking back on the memories of our wedding, we had the normal food you see at a reception--small sandwiches, meatballs, veggie trays and the like.  If I had known then what I know now, these would have had a starring role on my special day.  Made with Sargento Off the Block Shredded Extra Sharp Cheddar, this combination of flavors will really wow your guests.

Cheddar Pecan Thumbprints with Thyme Roasted Grapes

 1 pound seedless red grapes, stems removed

1 tbsp olive oil
1/2 tsp dried thyme

1/2 cup cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces

1 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup all purpose flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp dried thyme
2 cups Sargento Off the Block Shredded Extra Sharp Cheddar cheese
2 eggs
1/2 cup ice cold water
1 cup finely chopped pecans

Sargento recently published my recipe on their website as part of their Celebrate Life's Moments campaign.
http://www.sargento.com/recipes/2032/cheddar-pecan-thumbprints-thyme-roasted-grapes/

See the rest of the collection here:
http://www.sargento.com/cookbook/.

Directions:

1.  Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Toss grapes in olive oil and place on a baking sheet.  Sprinkle with thyme and roast for 20 minutes.  Remove from oven until needed.

2.  Add butter, whole wheat flour, all purpose flour, salt, and thyme to a food processor.  Mix until ingredients resemble coarse sand.  Add Sargento cheese and pulse into mixture. Add eggs, one at a time, and mix until dough starts to form a ball.  Add water and mix until incorporated, scraping sides with a spatula if needed.

3.  Using a cookie scoop, scoop balls of dough and roll each in pecans.  Place on a parchment-lined cookie sheet and use a 1/2 teaspoon measuring spoon to press an indentation in the center of each ball.  Fill each “thumbprint” with 3-4 roasted grapes.

4.  Bake thumbprints for 15-17 minutes at 400 degrees.  Allow to cool before serving.

My favorite snack is grapes with extra sharp cheddar cheese, so I created this recipe to mimic that.  It’s a delicious contrast between sweet and savory with some nuttiness thrown in, and your guests will be asking for the recipe before you leave for your honeymoon.  Be sure they save some for you!

 
It's important to make life moments memorable, don't you think?

I received products from Sargento Foods Inc. as part of my participation in this campaign.  All thoughts and opinions expressed in this post are my own.