Game Day Recipes: Cheesy Pull-Apart Sliders

This recipe was featured on our local Fox 8 News channel page and I received it in my email. It looks so good that I had to share it with you! Definitely a must-do for the big game! Put these on a table with some chili, pulled pork or chicken wings, veggies and dip plus other munchies and you have everything you need for an ooey gooey (calorie-laden but who watches calories anyway on Superbowl?) good time!

Cheesy Pull-Apart Sliders

Sliders:

• 1 pound lean ground beef
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon pepper
• 1 teaspoon mustard powder
• ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
• 2 cups diced onion (about 1 medium onion)
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 (10-oz) can Ro-Tel Diced Tomatoes and Green Chiles, drained
• 12 slices cheddar cheese
• 12 dinner rolls

Glaze

• ½ cup (one stick) butter
• 2 tablespoons Brown Sugar
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tablespoon mustard
• 1 tablespoon sesame seeds

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Place a large skillet on the stove top over high heat. When the pan is hot, add the beef and season with salt, pepper, mustard powder, and paprika. Add the onion and garlic, and cook, stirring occasionally, until beef is browned and onions are golden. Stir in drained tomatoes until combined.
3. Slice dinner rolls in half and place bottom half of rolls in 9x13 baking dish. Top with beef mixture & sliced cheese. Finish off with the top half of the bun.
4. Mix all the ingredients for the glaze in a sauce pan over medium heat (or microwave about 40 seconds) and mix until melted, smooth, and combined. Pour evenly over the buns.
5. Bake at 350 degrees F for 25 minutes.

Makes: 12 burgers.

Cheese Ball with Attitude

There is nothing "cheesy" about this non-traditional version of the traditional appetizer or snack except the abundance of cheese and other goodness inside. Serve with crackers of your choice (preferably those which are a bit more sturdy). Great with a glass of vino, a stein of brew or your favorite beverage. Simply delicious.

                                                             

Cheese Ball

Totally tasty yummy deliciousness

Ingredients:

Cheese Ball

• 1 pkg of Neufchatel cheese
• 3/4 pkg shredded medium or sharp cheddar cheese (about 1 1/2 c or so)
• 1/4 diced medium sweet onion (approx. 1/4 c)
• 1/4 c grated Parmesan or Parmesan/Romano cheese
• 1 tsp red pepper flakes or a dash of Tabasco Sauce (if desired)
• 1 tsp Worcestershire Sauce (if desired)

Topping

• 1/2 small single serving pkg of cheddar cheese Sunchips, crushed
• 1/4 c dried parsley flakes
• 1/2 c finely chopped pecans

I prefer Neufchatel to Cream Cheese because of the lower calorie count and the fact that it's softer and easier to work with, requiring no softening.

1. Mix all cheeses and onion (and pepper flakes and Worcestershire sauce, if desired), first with a wooden spoon to smush it together and then with your hands (yes, it will be messy). 
2. Quickly shape into 2 smooth round balls of roughly the same size. Let sit while preparing the topping.
3. In a pie plate (or dish with sides), mix topping ingredients together. 
4. Roll the cheese balls in the topping to cover completely. 
5. Wrap in cling wrap or place in a Ziploc bag and store in the fridge until serving time. If possible, let flavors blend by not serving for at least 4 hours or overnight. Keeps well for up to a week, if refrigerated in Ziploc bag.

SO much tastier than the supermarket variety, and just think -  you made it all by yourself!