Tag: appetizers

Smokey Jalapeno Wontons

I’ve talked about the Alouette Smokey Jalapeno cheese before – I used it when I made shrimp and grits, using it. This stuff is good!

I was looking for something quick, and kind of snacky (Is that a word? If it isn’t, it should be!), for lunch. I decided to use some of the wontons I had on hand and I had just picked up some of the Alouette Smokey Jalapeno cheese – it seemed like a match made in heaven.

I was just making these for me, for lunch – but, they would make a perfect appetizer, if you wanted to make a bunch of them. I decided to make 6 wontons (but accidentally took 7 out of the pack – 7 it is!).

I put about a tsp of the cheese in each wonton.

I wasn’t quite sure how to close them up – the first one, I just folded over into a triangle, but wasn’t quite sold on it. Then I decided to pinch the corners together, kind of like crab rangoon appetizers that I’ve had at Chinese restaurants. To close them up, just put a little bit of water where I was punching the wontons together.

I could have fried them – but, I decided to do them in the oven. In order to make them a little crispy, I did spray them with avocado spray.

I baked them in a 400 degree oven, for 15 minutes, on parchment paper. They were perfectly crispy!

Even the bottom of them were browned, since my avocado spray went on a little heavier than intended and I made sure to rub the wontons on the overspray – getting avocado oil on the bottom.

This was super easy – and now I want to do it with different Alouette cheeses!!

by Michelle

Stuffed Baby Bella Mushrooms (and Jalapeños)

I love mushrooms – seriously love mushrooms! They are, without a doubt, one of my favorite foods. They add depth to so many dishes and, as is the case with this recipe, they can even stand alone.

The ingredients for this recipe are pretty simple. Most everything is easy to find. The most elusive ingredient may be the Alouette spreadable cheese – but, make sure you’re looking for it in the deli section of the grocery store, as many stock it there, rather than with the other cheeses.

As I had some jalapeños, I decided to stuff both the mushrooms and the jalapeños. Both worked out well, but I – personally – enjoyed the mushrooms the most. If you wanted to use this stuffing for just mushrooms, I would either halve the stuffing or use an additional dozen mushroom caps (or enjoy the extra stuffing on it’s own – my oldest daughter seemed to!).

The stems are removed from the mushrooms and the jalapeños are halved and seeded. Also, chop a small, seeded, jalapeño and the stems from the mushrooms – this will he used in the stuffing.

After prepping the mushrooms and peppers, I made the stuffing.

In a skillet over medium to high heat, I browned the sausage, along with the garlic, mushrooms and jalapeño.

Once the sausage was fully cooked, lower the heat and add in the cheeses. Stir until the cheeses have melted and are well combined with the sausage.

Finally, add in the bread crumbs and cook until the bread crumbs are nicely browned.

The next step is to stuff the mushrooms and jalapeños with the stuffing, top with a little more parmesan and bread crumbs – finally, drizzle with olive oil and into the oven the go!

Cook them at 400 degrees for 20 minutes.

Stuffed Baby Bella Mushrooms (and Jalapeños)

1 dozen Baby Bella Mushrooms
6-8 Jalapeños, halved and seeded
Olive Oil

Stuffing
1/2 chub sausage (I used Jimmy Dean)
4 tbsp Alouette Garlic and Herbs Soft Spreadable Cheese
3 tbsp grated parmesan
1/2 cup Italian Panko Crumbs
Mushroom stems, finely chopped
1 small seeded jalapeño, finely chopped
1/2 tbsp garlic

  • Remove stem from mushrooms, save for stuffing
  • Halve jalapeños and remove seeds
  • Finely dice both the mushroom stems and a small jalapeño
  • In a skillet, cook the sausage, garlic, mushroom stems and diced jalapeño
  • Once the sausage is cooked through, reduce the heat and add in the Alouette cheese and the parmesan, letting the cheeses melt and mix in well with the sausage
  • After cheese is well incorporated, add in the panko crumbs and mix well – cook until the panko crumbs are nicely browned
  • On lined cooking sheet, place mushrooms and peppers cut side up
  • Add stuffing to each of the mushrooms and peppers
  • Top stuffed mushrooms and peppers with more parmesan cheese and bread crumbs
  • Drizzle with olive oil
  • Cook in 400 degree oven, for 20 minutes
  • Best served warm
by Michelle