So much more than crackers and cheese
Roxie has been my pal for decades. We attended the same high school and college. She became the longtime editor of Teen magazine and generously gave me my first writing gig, a story about how to make a giant cookie that looked like a pizza. It was topped with sugary fake pepperoni and grated white chocolate “cheese.” Imagine.
Now retired and living in California's Central Coast wine country, Rox remains an avid home cook. She shares recipes with me from time to time, and it was one of our culinary chat sessions that led me to a great little cookbook, “100 Perfect Pairings,” by Jill Silverman Hough (Wiley, $16.95). One of her recommendations from the book was for white cheddar with wine-soaked cherries and herbs, an easy-to-prepare appetizer that is great for entertaining at home, picnics or an afternoon snack.
White cheddar with wine-soaked cherries and herbs
Yield: 4-6, plus leftover vinaigrette-cherry mix to make about 4more servings
INGREDIENTS
1/3 cup merlot or other dry red wine
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
1 teaspoon herbes de Provence
1/4 teaspoon salt, kosher salt preferred
2/3 cup dried sweet cherries, such as Bing, coarsely chopped
8 ounces medium-sharp
Wine-soaked cherries
(no cooking necessary) and slices of white cheddar top these crackers.
white cheddar cheese, whole or slices, see cook's notes
Crackers for serving
Cook's notes: I often substitute a variety of Spanish cheeses for the white cheddar. My supermarket carries a 5-ounce pack of sliced Spanish cheese: manchego, Iberico and queso de cabra.
PROCEDURE
1. In a medium glass or stain-resistant plastic container, combine wine, oil, vinegar, herbs and salt, whisking to dissolve salt. Add cherries and cover; refrigerate two days, stirring occasionally. You can refrigerate for up to one week, using a portion for one serving with half of the cheese and the other portion for a future serving. The oil may stiffen in the fridge; if so, leave at room temperature for an hour or so, then stir to combine.
2. Place cheese on rimmed plate and spoon mixture on top. Serve with crackers on the side.
Arby's enters the hamburger fray with a sandwich whose patty is about half wagyu beef.
Arby's
Item: Deluxe Wagyu Steakhouse Burger
Description: A chain that has specialized in sliced roast beef for nearly 60 years has added a burger to its menu, albeit briefly. Wagyu is highend beef from cattle bred in Japan that for the most part hasn't made it into quick service restaurants. Arby's describes its patty as “52percent American wagyu and 48 percent ground beef.” It's cooked sous vide to a slightly pink center, according to a news release, and served on a toasted brioche bun with lettuce, tomato and cheese.
Availability: Through July 31. Check Arby's website to see what locations are serving the burger and what the pricing is.
Information: arbys.com
Burger King
Items: Cheesy Breakfast Melts Description: These breakfast sandwiches have sausage, bacon or ham with scrambled eggs and two slices
of American cheese on toast. Availability: Limited time
Dunkin'
Items: Cornbread doughnuts, Munchkin Donut Hole Treats, tomato pesto grilled cheese, Mango Pineapple Dunkin' Refresher
Dunkin's summer menu includes several new items. Among them are cornbread doughnuts and cornbread bites shaped like doughnut holes, a grilled cheese sandwich with white cheddar on sourdough with oven-roasted tomatoes and a nut-free pesto spread; and a mango pineapple beverage that can be made with green tea, coconut milk or
Adding ice carelessly could spill your Mango Pineapple Dunkin' Refresher.
Taco Bell
Item: Mexican Pizza
Description: If you've noticed drivethru lines at Taco Bell have been a little longer than usual, it's probably because the chain restored Mexican Pizza to its menu May 19 after pulling it in late 2020. It's similar to a tostada, with taco filling between two crisp tortillas and a topping of cheese and tomatoes. It's been one of the most hyped fast foods in recent memory, and the publicity blitz isn't over. Today, a musical featuring Mexican Pizza fans Dolly Parton and Doja Cat will debut on TikTok. Availability: It's permanently back, according to Taco Bell.
Information: tacobell.com