Super Bowl Snacks Part One

Today I kicked off my own pre-Super Bowl gathering with Pigs in a Blanket and Chocolate Cherry Cookies.  
 Puff Pastry Pigs in a Blanket 

Cook's Notes: A twist on your classic Pigs in a Blanket. It's a game day snack using Puff Pasty, Roasted Red Pepper Chicken Sausage (a healthy option) sprinkled with Bagel Everything Seasoning.

Note there are other chicken sausage flavors to choose from. The recipe makes about 20 appetizers.

Ingredients:

• 1 box puff pastry sheets, thawed (you will need both sheets)
  
• 1 package Roasted Red Pepper and Garlic Chicken Sausage
  
• 1 large egg, whisked
• Bagel Everything Seasoning
  
  
  
• Honey Mustard Sauce

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a baking sheet with a silicone pad or parchment paper. 
• Make sure each sausage is wiped dry and cut into 5ths.
• Roll out puff pastry to a 9- 10 inch square on a lightly floured surface. Cut into 7 equal strips, then cut each strip in half.
• Wrap a strip of puff pastry around each sausage bite and place the seam side down on the baking sheet.
• Brush puff pastry with beaten egg mixed with 1 tablespoon of water, sprinkle with bagel seasoning (found in spices at grocery store). Secure each piggy with a toothpick. Bake for 16-18 minutes or until golden and puffed. 
• Serve with a honey mustard sauce.
  

Honey Mustard Sauce

Cook's Notes:

• Takes 5 minutes to make. Refrigerate any leftovers.

Ingredients and Directions:

• Mix the following in a bowl using a whisk.

• 1/4 cup honey, 1/4 cup mayonnaise or Miracle Whip, 1/4 cup Dijon mustard, dash cayenne pepper, 1 tablespoon white distilled vinegar 

• 1/4 cup honey, 1/4 cup mayonnaise, 1/4 cup Dijon mustard, dash of cayenne pepper, 1 tablespoon white distilled vinegar 

Chocolate Cherry Crackles

Cook's Notes: Chocolate and cherries are simply a "marriage made in heaven" and are super delicious together. A plate of these cookies that are speckled with cherry bits and chocolate chunks are just YUM!.
Recipes make 18-20 cookies and were adapted from Food Network, December 2017 and December 2020. 

Ingredients:

• 1-3/4 cups flour
• 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 stick of butter, room temperature
• 1 cup of sugar, divided
• 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1/3 cup cherry jam or preserves
• 5 drops of food coloring, red
• 1/2 tsp. each vanilla and almond extract
• 1-4 oz. semi-sweet or bittersweet chocolate bar, chopped small or 3/4 cup Dark Chocolate Chips 
• 1/2 cup dried cherries
• 1/2 cup confectioners (powdered) sugar

Directions:

• Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
• Beat butter, 1/2 cup sugar, and brown sugar on medium-high until light and fluffy. Add in egg, jam, food coloring, and extracts. Mix well.
• Reduce the speed to low and mix in the flour mixture.
• Fold in chocolate and cherries.
• Chill dough in freezer about 45 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone pad. Lay a long sheet of wax paper on the counter. Roll heaping tablespoons of dough into balls and place on wax paper.
• In two different small bowls, add 1/2 cup confectioners sugar in one and 1/2 cup granulated sugar in the other. Roll dough balls in granulated sugar first, then confectioners' sugar. Shake off any excess. Place on a baking sheet two inches apart.
• Bake 9 minutes. Cool on a wire rack, then use a sifter to dust each cookie with confectioners' sugar while still warm.

These cookies go perfectly with a cup of coffee or tea, 

UP NEXT: SUPER BOWL RECIPES PART TWO