Cheesy. Using the word cheesy to describe something can make it sound way better or way worse.

Potatoes. Cheesy potatoes.

Better.

Movie. Cheesy Movie.

Worse.

Cookies. Cheesy cookies. Wait, whuh?

Usually spritz cookies are made with a cookie press using a buttery cookie dough. They are bakery beautiful, and buttery yum! I love using my cookie press to make a quick batch of beautiful cookies quickly. So when I saw a recipe from Forgotten Bread, I was intrigued. A savory cracker from my handy dandy cookie press would be such a great counterpoint to all the sweets around during the holidays. I imagined them floating gracefully in my tomato soup or being eaten by the handful at football games.

These Cheese Spritz Crackers are so full of flavor! They are great on their own, terrific with soup, and so easy to make. I love easy recipes that are big on presentation and flavor. It makes me feel gourmet! I am excited to make these for my holiday treat plate and let everyone get a delicious surprise when they bite into them!

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Cheddar Spritz Crackers

Author Adapted by Made From Pinterest

Ingredients

• 1 lb sharp cheddar or aged swiss finely shredded
• 1/2 cup butter softened
• 2 teaspoons worcestershire sauce
• dash of hot red pepper sauce
• 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon paprika

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
• In the stand of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream cheese, butter and Worcestershire sauce together until smooth and fluffy.
• Gradually add dry ingredients, mixing until a smooth ball of dough is formed.
• Fill cookie press with dough and spritz desired shapes onto an un-greased cookie sheet.
• Bake for 10-12 minutes until edges are a light golden brown.
• Allow to cool slightly and then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before storing in an airtight container for up to one week.

These would be perfect with:

Tomato Basil Soup

For some more cheesy recipes try:

Cheesy Bacon Ranch Tater Tots

Cheesy Garlic Breadsticks

Williams Sonoma Cheesy Potato Gratin Recipe 

This amazing post has been shared with: Living Well Spending Less and Whipperberry

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Speaking of cheese, I wanted to share with you some interesting facts about cheese and crackers. When someone like me needs info, I Google it  or search Wikipedia. What I found was that there is nothing really interesting about them.  Crackers and cheese, while a tasty snack, are boring. UNTIL NOW! Cream cheese with pecans, dried cranberries and a dash of hot sauce layered between deli slices of cheddar is way better than a boring old cheese and cracker tray! These cheese and crackers are ready to have a good time. And they are purty! I loved that I could make them well in advance and cut and arrange them just before serving. This is a yin yang sort of recipe. There is the balance between crunchy and smooth, spicy and mild, salty and sweet. It hits all the right notes. I brought these to my son’s Eagle Court of Honor and they were popular even among the stellar yummy treats the three other moms whose boys were also being recognized had brought.

The next time I made these, I brought them to a dinner party. Usually I warn people to watch what they say about any food that might end up on our blog, because I just might quote them. But before being warned, one guest said he could stay and eat Party Cheese Ribbon Slices all day. He gave me permission to quote him. I could eat them all day long too. I love this combination of flavors. It looks so holidayish. These cheese slices just look like they should be at a party, right? These are so easy to make. After mixing the cream cheese, nuts, dried cranberries and hot sauce, I layered the cream cheese mixture using a cookie scoop.  It was the perfect amount. Then I spread the mixture to the edges of the cheese squares and repeated layering 6 times. This yielded two stacks of cheese. After refrigerating for several hours I took them out and to keep it looking perfect, I trimmed off the raggedy looking edges, cut each stack in half and then into slices.  Those edges are good for pre-party snacking. Of course if you don’t mind raggedy edges or don’t like pre-party snacking, you can skip this step. But I like a little nibble, and these cut off bits are the perfect excuse. Thanks to Buttercream and a Sewing Machine for introducing us to this rockin’ recipe.

Now just set them on a serving plate with crackers and you are ready to go.

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Party Cheese Ribbon Slices

Author Adapted by MadeFromPinterest.net

Ingredients

• 1 8 ounce package of cream cheese softened
• 1/2 teaspoon hot pepper sauce
• 1/4 cup chopped pecans
• 1/3 cup dried cranberries
• 2 8 ounce packages deli-style cheddar cheese slices about 3 inches square
• Assorted Crackers

Instructions

• Mix cream cheese, hot pepper sauce, pecans and dried cranberries.
• On a piece of aluminum foil place one slice of cheese and spread one cookie scoopful of cream cheese mixture to the edges of the cheese. Repeat layers six times.
• Fold foil around cheese and seal tightly. Refrigerate for 8 hours of overnight. Trim edges, cut in half lengthwise and then widthwise into 1/4 inch slices.

Notes

Makes 4 dozen.

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Growing up, I thought I didn’t like ham. Turns out I love it! It is my dad who didn’t like ham all that much, so we didn’t have it often growing up. I look forward to Easter Ham dinner. We had friends and family with us for dinner this year, and it was so much fun. My husband was worried there would not be enough. We had plenty. And then some.  It seems to me that when you purchase a ham it really only comes in one size, huge.  There are lots of recipes for leftover turkey, but not many for leftover ham.  Unless you like split pea soup. I don’t know if I do. That is another thing I have not had much of. A few years ago my sister-in-law introduced me to panini sandwiches. The minute I got home from our visit, I ran to Williams Sonoma and got myself a panini press. It has become one of my favorite kitchen appliances. Once a week I take a night off from making dinner, and we have panini night. Everybody can pile whatever they want in between two slices of bread, put it in the press, and in minutes have a gourmet grilled cheese sandwich. When I saw this idea for a Broccoli Ham Grilled Cheese from Jaclyn at Cooking Classy, I immediately thought of my panini press. I was right, this is a great combo for a pressed sandwich. It is a healthy, flavorful, casual weeknight meal for a family or a quick lunch for one. I love the combination of a crunchy exterior and soft interior. Add to that the salty, sweet combination of flavors you get from ham, cheese and seasonings, and you have a winner. 

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Broccoli Ham Cheddar Panini

Sherri at MadeFromPinterest.net put country dijon mustard on sliced white bread and cooked it in a panini press.

Servings 1

Author Cooking Classy

Ingredients

• 2 slices Double Fiber Bread or Whole Wheat Bread
• 1.5 oz Medium Cheddar Cheese grated (about 1/3 cup packed)
• 1/2 oz Parmesan Cheese finely grated (about 2 Tbsp)
• 1/4 cup finely chopped quality ham*
• 6 small broccoli florets steamed then diced into small pieces**
• 1/8 tsp onion powder
• 1/8 tsp garlic powder
• Salt to taste
• Freshly ground black pepper to taste
• 1 Tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil divided

Instructions

• In a bowl, combine grated Cheddar Cheese, Parmesan Cheese, ham, steamed broccoli, onion powder, garlic powder, salt and black pepper.
• Layer mixture over one slice of bread then top with additional slice of bread gently pressing down.
• Heat a non-stick fry pan over medium low heat then drizzle 1/2 Tbsp olive oil into pan and tilt pan back and forth to evenly coat, immediately place sandwich in pan (I don't preheat the oil because the outside would darken before the inside cooks through), cover pan with lid and cook 2 - 3 minutes until bottom becomes golden brown.
• Carefully lift sandwich out of pan with a spatula then add remaining 1/2 Tbsp olive oil to pan and tilt to coat. Carefully flip sandwich returning to pan, cover pan with lid, and cook opposite side until bottom is golden brown and cheese has melted about 2 - 3 minutes.
• Serve warm.
• *Note from Cooking Classy - I put quality ham because I used leftover spiral sliced ham that I had placed in the food processor then processed several seconds until chopped into very small pieces (I always do this with leftover ham and freeze it. It's great for salads, sandwiches, eggs and many other entrees. This recipe is a great use for that leftover spiral sliced ham this upcoming Easter). If you don't happen to have left over ham you could also use deli ham, diced into pieces.
• **Note from Cooking Classy - I use a simple steaming method, I place 1/4 cup water in a microwave safe bowl then add broccoli florets. Microwave on HIGH power 1 minute 30 seconds to 2 minutes until tender, then drain water and dice into smaller pieces.

You will use up your leftover ham in a jiffy with this delicious sandwich.

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Look who we are linking with today: Happy and Blessed Home – Shabby Nest – The Best Blog Recipes – Somewhat Simple – Not Your Ordinary Recipes – Chic on a Shoestring – Simply Sweet Home – French Country Cottage – Truely Lovely – Thirty Handmade Days – Shaken Together Life – The Pin Junkie – The Answer is Chocolate – Just us Four – Delicately Constructed Fridays – Fingerprints on the Fridge – A Little Knick Knack – The Frugal Girls – Craftberry Bush

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