Friday, February 4, 2011

Cheeseheads Unite!

Cheeseheads unite!

True confessions: I'm not really a Green Bay Packers fan, AKA, a Cheesehead. I am, however, a fan of one of their players. Jordy Nelson played for my beloved K-State Wildcats. Our K-State No. 27 ...

... is now Green Bay Packer No. 87 and a wide receiver and punt returner for the Wisconsin team.

He's a small-town Kansas boy, the son of a farm family from Leonardville, who now also own a restaurant there called Nelson's Landing. He went to Riley County High School before putting on a purple uniform and earning All-American honors.

So, for this Super Bowl, I'm rooting for the Green Bay Packers. Besides, having a "personal" connection gives me more reasons to watch the game than just the Super Bowl commercials.

I have to be a little careful here. My sports fanatic son truly dislikes "bandwagon fans," the people who join the party when things are going well ... and likewise jump ship when a little adversity comes their way.

But I think I'll even have Brent's OK to cheer for Green Bay this week since we're talking about Jordy here.

Whether I'm a true Green Bay Packer fan or not, I am a true cheesehead in another regard: I do love cheese.

If you're a cheesehead, too, I have a perfect Super Bowl snack for you. It's good no matter when you serve it - whether at a ladies' luncheon, a holiday get-together or watching the football game - whether you're cheering for the Packers or the Steelers.

It looks fancy, but it's really fairly easy to put together. And that ooey-gooey cheese with the tart cranberry?

It will make anyone a cheesehead. Enjoy!

Crescent-Wrapped Cranberry and Brie
1 8-oz. can refrigerated crescent dinner rolls
1 8-oz. round Brie cheese
3 tbsp. whole berry cranberry sauce or cranberry chutney
1 tbsp. chopped pecans
1 egg, beaten
Fruit - Grapes, apples, pears, etc. - washed and sliced
Crackers

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Spray cookie sheet with nonstick cooking spray. Unroll crescent roll dough. Separate dough crosswise into two sections. Press dough to form two squares, firmly pressing perforations to seal. Cut corners off both dough squares and reserve to use for cutouts. Place one dough round on cookie sheet.

Cut cheese crosswise into two equal parts. Place bottom half of cheese on center of dough circle on cookie sheet. Spread cranberry sauce over cheese. Sprinkle with chopped pecans. Top with remaining cheese half. Bring dough up around side of cheese, pressing and pinching the dough.

With small cookie or canape cutter, cut shapes from reserved corners of dough; set aside. Place remaining dough on top of cheese round. Press dough evenly around side of cheese, sealing well. Brush dough with beaten egg. Top with cutouts; brush with additional beaten egg.

Bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 30 minutes or until deep golden brown. Cool 15 minutes before serving.

To serve, place warm, pastry-wrapped cheese on platter. Arrange fruit and crackers around cheese. Serves about 12.

***
Looking for other snack ideas for the weekend? Here are a couple more.

Or revamp these little treats, using the team colors for the Packers or Steelers.

3 comments:

  1. I think I'm coming to your house to eat. I was thinking the Mr. would settle for some soup and chips and salsa. PS. I'm a Jordy Nelson and Nelson's Landing fan, too!

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  2. Mmmmmm! I LOVE baked brie! YUM YUM!

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  3. @Mrs.E - You are always welcome at my house to eat. (Give me a little warning so the cleaning is at a guest level, but the food usually is. Randy likes to eat!) Jordy made us proud, didn't he?! @Mandy - It's one of those recipes where people think you've spent a lot of time working on it, but it actually takes more time to cut up the fruit than it does to put together the brie.

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