\n\n
- 1 envelope of Good Seasons Italian Dressing<\/li>\n
- 1\/2 cup vegetable oil<\/li>\n
- 1\/4 cup white vinegar<\/li>\n
- 2 TB water<\/li>\n
- 2 TB minced green onions<\/li>\n
- 1 1\/2 tsp sugar<\/li>\n
- 12 oz package Monterrey Jack<\/li>\n
- 12 oz package Sharp Cheddar<\/li>\n
- 8 oz package cream cheese (not softened)<\/li>\n
- 4 oz jar diced pimentos, drained<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Mix 1st six ingredients together.
\nCut cheeses into small squares and arrange in an alternate pattern.
\nPour pimentos over cheeses then pour dressing mix over all.
\nMarinate overnight in fridge.
\nDrain excess dressing (optional). For optimum presentation, draining the dressing \u201cmay\u201d be recommended, but for the most delicious factor, excess dressing is yummy.
\nServe with crackers. (Since the layers are cheese, cream cheese, cheese, it\u2019s easy to get on the cracker, but keep a fork near by to assist if necessary.)<\/p><\/blockquote>\nHomemade Soft Pretzel Bites<\/a> (from Two Peas and their Pod… definitely click over to see how good these look! I am SO EXCITED to make these with some fresh Wisconsin cheese sauce for dipping!)<\/p>\n
\nSoft Pretzels:
\n1 1\/2 cups warm water
\n2 tablespoons light brown sugar
\n1 package active dry yeast
\n3 ounces unsalted butter, melted
\n2 1\/2 teaspoons kosher salt
\n4 1\/2 to 5 cups all-purpose flour
\nVegetable oil
\n3 quarts water
\n3\/4 cup baking soda
\n1 whole egg, beaten with 1 tablespoon cold water
\nCoarse sea salt<\/p>\nFor the Pretzels: Combine the water, sugar, yeast, and butter in the bowl of a stand mixer and mix with the dough hook until combined. Let sit for 5 minutes.<\/p>\n
Add the salt and flour and mix on low speed until combined. Increase the speed to medium and continue kneading until the dough is smooth and begins to pull away from the side of the bowl, about 3 to 4 minutes. If the dough appears too wet, add additional flour, 1 tablespoon at a time. Remove the dough from the bowl, place on a flat surface and knead into a ball with your hands.<\/p>\n
Oil a bowl with vegetable oil, add the dough and turn to coat with the oil. Cover with a clean towel or plastic wrap and place in a warm spot until the dough doubles in size, about 1 hour.<\/p>\n
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.<\/p>\n
Bring the water to a boil in a small roasting pan over high heat and add the baking soda.<\/p>\n
Remove the dough from the bowl and place on a flat surface. Divide the dough into 8 equal pieces, about 4 1\/4 to 4 1\/2 ounces each. Roll each piece into a long rope measuring 22 inches and shape. Cut the dough into one inch pieces to make the pretzel bites. Boil the pretzel bites in the water solution in batches. We did about 15 bites at a time. Boil for about 30 seconds. Remove with a large slotted spoon. Place pretzel bites on a baking sheet that has been sprayed with cooking spray. Make sure they are not touching.\u00a0 Brush the tops with the egg wash and season liberally with the salt. Place into the oven and bake for 15 to 18 minutes until golden brown.<\/p>\n
Remove to a baking rack and let rest 5 minutes before eating. Serve with cheese sauce, recipe below.<\/p>\n
Cheddar cheese sauce:
\n\u00bd Tablespoon unsalted butter
\n\u00bd Tablespoon all-purpose flour
\n\u00bd cup milk
\n8 ounces Cheddar cheese, grated<\/p>\nFor the cheese sauce:<\/p>\n
Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the flour and cook 1 minute. Whisk in the milk and cook until slightly thickened. Remove from heat and stir in the Cheddar cheese until smooth and all of the cheese is melted.\u00a0 Season with salt and pepper, to taste.<\/p>\n
*If you want to make cinnamon and sugar pretzel bites-instead of adding salt, sprinkle the bites with cinnamon and sugar. For the frosting mix-soft cream cheese-about 3 T, powdered sugar, a teaspoon of vanilla extract, and a little bit of milk. Whisk together. Add more milk if it is too thick, if it is too thin, add more powdered sugar. I don\u2019t measure. I just guess until the consistency is right.*<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n
Hot Spinach Artichoke Dip<\/a><\/p>\n
Pizza Dippers<\/a> (using my tried-and-true deep dish pizza crust\/breadstick recipe)<\/p>\n
![\"icon](\"http:\/\/beautyandbedlam.com\/wp-includes\/images\/smilies\/icon_wink.gif\" "\\"Easy"){kind=icon}