Tag: pittsburgh recipes

Perfectly Fall Pear Salsa!

A salsa does not have to be chunky tomatoes scooped up with crispy salty tortilla chips. Although delicious, the components of a traditional salsa can be used to make something new! So let’s see…a fruit, onion, chili peppers, and of course a cheese! The habanero has a fruity flavor if you can take the heat and pairs really well with a fruit based salsa.

Most recently, we ate this salsa chilled, alongside beautiful butternut squash wedges that were seasoned with lime and spicy sweet flavors. You can also prepare this recipe warm! Just put some oil in a pan and add the goat cheese last! I love a fruit salsa with a beautiful piece of fish, like salmon! Not sure? Trust me this is delicious!

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Pear Salsa
Ingredients:
2 pears, chopped (squeeze a little lemon so they don’t brown)
1/2 of 1 small red or yellow onion, finely chopped
1 small habanero or poblano pepper, finely chopped
1- 2 lemons, squeezed approx. 4 tbsp.
2 tbsp. your favorite honey, (Right now I looooove The Wright Stuff)
1/2 tbsp. olive oil
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tbsp. chopped cilantro or parsley
salt/pepper to taste
1/2 cup crumbled goat cheese

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Directions:
In a mixing bowl, whisk together honey, lemon juice, and olive oil.
Add pears, onion, pepper, garlic, cilantro, and salt and pepper.
Mix to coat.
Add crumbled goat cheese and carefully stir.
Serve chilled.

Enjoy!
Ciao!

Easy Cinco de Mayo Cheese Ball!

Think of an inside-out jalapeño popper. That’s pretty much the taste of this delicious and super easy cheese ball! Cinco de Mayo perfection, but it’s also the perfect summer party appetizer! Save and file this one for a summer fiesta! Pairs really well with tequila ; )

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Cinco de Mayo Cheese Ball
(Makes one cheese ball feeds 8-10 as an appetizer)

Ingredients:

1 -8 oz. package of Cream Cheese, softened
1- 2 cup package shredded Mexican cheese
2 – jalapeño peppers, chopped (may substitute bell peppers or mild hot peppers to reach desired heat level)
1 large tomato, chopped
1 small onions, chopped
2 tbsp. chili powder
1 tbsp. cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp. cumin
salt and pepper to taste
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1/3 cup finely chopped cilantro

Directions:

Soften the package of cream cheese either by setting on the counter at room temperature for 30 mins or by placing cream cheese in a bowl of hot water for 10 mins.

Remove cream cheese from package and place in a mixing bowl.

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Add shredded cheese and mix well.

Gently stir in peppers, tomatoes, onions, chili powder, cayenne pepper, cumin, salt and pepper.

Mold cheese mixture into a ball. It will be a little mushy.

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Mix garlic and cilantro together and place on a flat plate.

Roll the cheese ball in the chopped garlic cilantro mixture to coat.

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Wrap cheese ball in plastic wrap and refrigerate for two hours.

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Enjoy!
Ciao!