Is everyone done popping champagne bottles for the return of the replacement refs? Still walking around and flexing your Hochuli’s in celebration? Little extra bounce in your step knowing you won’t lose serious money over a blown call and can relax knowing in the future you will only lose serious money on your own poor gambling choices and blown calls made by professionals? Understandable. The end of the NFL Referees Association lockout is good news for football fans and today should be a day of rejoicing.

Should be a day of rejoicing.

Selfishly, I’d rather be rejoicing tomorrow after we got in one last game with the replacement refs. The fact that tonight’s game is between the Browns and the Ravens is a complete coincidence, I swear.

Roasted Garlic Cheese Spread

Over the years I’ve found sometimes it’s good to have a snack that it a little more substantial than chips and dip between a big football brunch and the late-afternoon or evening football meal. Items that satiate small nagging hunger without spoiling your appetite later. Luxurious creamy French cheese infused with the flavors of roasted garlic, herbs and crisp white wine spread over crostini or crackers fit the bill perfectly, and if you’re watching the game with your in-laws, makes your game day feel a little classier than the usual canned-salsa-in-Velveeta routine.

You will need:

6-8 ounces soft or semi-soft French cheese, such as Camembert, Saint Albray, Boursault or Port Salut depending on cheese preference
3-4 cloves garlic, peeled
1 tablespoon olive oil, divided
2 tablespoons dry white wine, such as Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc
kosher salt and cracked pepper
small bunch of chives (optional)

Preheat oven to 350º.

Set the cheese out soften a bit before mixing.

Make a small foil packet to hold the cloves of garlic, 1/2 tablespoon olive oil and a generous pinch of kosher salt. Roast the garlic for 15-20 minutes until just lightly toasted. Remove from the oven and allow to cool for a couple of minutes.

Once the garlic has cooled a bit, chop together the roasted garlic, cheese, dash of cracked pepper and salt in a food processor. Add the chives and slowly blend in the white wine. After the wine has been incorporated into the cheese, blend in the remaining olive oil until smooth.

You can serve the cheese right away, but I prefer to return the cheese spread to the refrigerator and let the flavor develop for at least an hour or two. (If making ahead of time, don’t blend the cheese and wine together more than 24 hours in advance.)

Serve with crostini or crackers.

You might also like: Dips and Spreads collection.

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Roasted Garlic Cheese Spread: Fancy Football Foodie
Author: 
Recipe type: appetizer, snack
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 6-8
 
Ingredients
  • 6-8 ounces soft or semi-soft French cheese, such as Camembert, Saint Albray, Boursault or Port Salut depending on cheese preference
  • 3-4 cloves garlic, peeled
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil, divided
  • 2 tablespoons dry white wine, such as Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc
  • kosher salt and cracked pepper
  • small bunch of chives (optional)
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350º.
  2. Set the cheese out soften a bit before mixing.
  3. Make a small foil packet to hold the cloves of garlic, ½ tablespoon olive oil and a generous pinch of kosher salt.
  4. Roast the garlic for 15-20 minutes until just lightly toasted.
  5. Remove from the oven and allow to cool for a couple of minutes.
  6. Once the garlic has cooled a bit, chop together the roasted garlic, cheese, dash of cracked pepper and salt in a food processor.
  7. Add the chives and slowly blend in the white wine.
  8. After the wine has been incorporated into the cheese, blend in the remaining olive oil until smooth.
  9. You can serve the cheese right away or refrigerate to let the flavor develop for at least an hour or two.
  10. Serve with crostini or crackers.
Notes
(If making ahead of time, don't blend the cheese and wine together more than 24 hours in advance.)

 

 

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