The Palm Beaches' Best Variety

 
 
 
 
Sally's Recipe of the Week: Baked Mozzarella Sticks and BBQ Cheese Straws
Say Cheese! Cheese inspired appetizers.

BAKED MOZZARELLA STICKS from BeyoneTheCracker.com
BBG CHEESE STRAWS from "5 Ingredient Fix"

RECIPE FOR BAKED MOZZARELLA STICKS
Ingredients
                1 (12-ounce) package reduced-fat Mozzarella string cheese
                1 egg
                1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
                8 tablespoons panko (Japanese) bread crumbs
                1/2 cup marinara sauce, warmed (optional)

NOTE:  RECIPE FOR MARINARA SAUCE BELOW PHOTO, OR YOU CAN USED PREPARED SAUCE.
Position rack in upper third of oven and preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a baking sheet with foil and spray lightly with cooking spray.
Remove cheese from packaging and set aside. In a small bowl, whisk egg until foamy. In small non-stick skillet, mix Italian seasoning with bread crumbs and place over medium heat. Cook and stir bread crumbs until lightly browned, about 5 minutes.
Dip one piece of string cheese in egg until coated and then into toasted bread crumbs, coating completely. Redip the string cheese in egg and again into the bread crumbs, if desired. Place on baking sheet. Repeat with remaining string cheese and place on baking sheet 1 1/2 inches apart. Spray string cheese lightly with cooking spray.
Bake 5-6 minutes or until heated through. (Cheese may melt slightly and lose shape. Simply press it back into place.)
Suggested serving: Pair with warmed marinara sauce for dipping.
Recipe created by 3-Every-Day™ of Dairy.
Marinara Sauce
2009, Ina Garten, All Rights Reserved
Ingredients
                1 tablespoon good olive oil
                1 cup chopped yellow onion (1 onion)
                1 1/2 teaspoons minced garlic
                1/2 cup good red wine, such as Chianti
                1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes, or plum tomatoes in puree, chopped
                1 tablespoon chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
                1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
                1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Directions
Heat the olive oil in a large (12-inch) skillet. Add the onion and saute over medium heat until translucent, 5 to 10 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 1 more minute. Add the wine and cook on high heat, scraping up all the brown bits in the pan, until almost all the liquid evaporates, about 3 minutes. Stir in the tomatoes, parsley, salt, and pepper. Cover, and simmer on the lowest heat for 15 minutes.



BBQ Cheese Straws

Recipe courtesy Claire Robinson, The Food Network

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups coarsely grated extra-sharp Cheddar
  • 1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
  • 3/4 stick cold unsalted butter, cut into tablespoons
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon BBQ seasoning mix
  • 2 tablespoons heavy cream

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F with the racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven. Line 2 sheet pans with parchment paper and set aside. Add the cheese, flour, butter, salt and BBQ mix to the bowl of a food processor and pulse until the mixture resembles coarse meal. Add the cream and pulse until a ball forms. On a lightly floured work surface, roll the dough out to 1/4 to 1/8-inch thick. Cut the dough with a sharp knife into 1/4-inch wide strips. Transfer to the prepared sheet pans, leaving space between them, and bake until golden brown, about 15 minutes. Flip the pans once halfway through the cooking time. Cool completely on the sheet pans.
 
(Sorry I did not get a photo!  Next time I make them I will post it!)