Smoked Cheddar Cheese Food

SMOKED CHEDDAR CHEESE

Steps:

• Set up your smoker to maintain a temperature of less than 90°F (32°C). It's imperative that the heat be no higher than 90°F (32°C) to prevent the cheese from melting.
• To create cold smoke, place the cheese on the grate of your smoker. Set three lit charcoal briquettes flat in the charcoal pan or firebox of your smoker. Place a flat wood chunk on top of the charcoal to create smoke. Provide a little airflow and replace the charcoal and/or wood chunks as needed to keep the smoke going for the desired period of time.
• Place the blocks of cheese directly on the grate and apply light smoke for about 4 hours.
• Remove the cheese from the grate and place it in a resealable plastic bag. Store the smoked cheese in the refrigerator for 2 weeks before indulging to allow the smoke flavor to permeate the cheese and even mature slightly. (If you simply can't wait 2 weeks, no one's going to tattle on you. But just know that the smoke flavor will be more pronounced and even somewhat bitter or, dare we say, acrid. If you can resist temptation, a perceived virtue that we usually find to be highly overrated, you'll be rewarded with a more mellow smoke flavor.)

SMOKED-CHEDDAR CHEESE BALL

Steps:

• Combine Cheddar cheese, cream cheese and butter in a medium mixing bowl and bring to room temperature.
• Add milk and steak sauce and beat until fluffy.
• Cover and chill for 4 to 24 hours.
• Shape mixture into a ball. Roll in the finely chopped pecans.
• Serve with assorted crackers.

SMOKED CHEDDAR AND CREOLE MAC AND CHEESE

Steps:

• In a large pot of salted boiling water, cook the pasta until al dente, 8 to 10 minutes. Drain and reserve.
• Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large, heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Add the panko and stir constantly with a wooden spoon, toasting until golden brown, about 4 minutes. Remove from the heat and cool.
• In a separate large pot, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the flour and whisk vigorously to combine, being careful not to burn the mixture, 1 to 2 minutes. Gradually pour in the milk, whisking constantly to avoid lumps. Bring the bechamel to a simmer, and cook to thicken, 4 to 6 minutes. Add the Creole seasoning and dill.
• Place the egg in a medium bowl. Remove 1/3 cup of the bechamel sauce and whisk it into the egg to temper. Then add the egg-bechamel mixture back into the pot and whisk to combine. Gradually add the smoked Cheddar, Monterey jack and pepper jack, whisking to maintain a smooth texture and avoid clumping. Stir in the cooked pasta.
• Spoon the warm mac and cheese into a serving bowl. Top with the panko breadcrumbs.

SMOKED CHEDDAR HUSH PUPPIES

Steps:

• Pour enough oil in a large Dutch oven to fill about a third of the way. Heat over medium heat until a deep-frying thermometer inserted in the oil reaches 350 degrees F. Line a plate with paper towels.
• Combine the flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder and 3/4 teaspoon salt in a large bowl. Stir in the buttermilk, okra, Cheddar, corn, scallions and egg. Working in batches, carefully drop heaping tablespoons of the batter into the oil. Fry, turning, until golden, about 5 minutes. Drain on the prepared plate. Season with salt. Serve with honey mustard.

SMOKED CHEDDAR CHEESE TAMALES

Steps:

• Put the corn husks in a roasting pan of warm water; soak until softened, about 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, prepare the dough: Whisk the masa harina, baking soda and sea salt in a large bowl. Stir in the chicken broth and lard with a wooden spoon to make a thick dough. (If it seems dry, add a splash of broth.) Let the dough rest 30 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat the broiler. Put the poblanos on a foil-lined broiler pan; broil, turning, until charred, about 7 minutes. Transfer to a bowl, cover with plastic wrap and set aside 10 minutes. Peel off the skins, then stem, seed and dice the peppers.
• Heat the butter and vegetable oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and scallions and cook until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the poblanos, tomatoes and vinegar, season with kosher salt and pepper, and cook 5 more minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool completely. Fold in both cheeses.
• Remove the corn husks from the water and gently squeeze dry. Tear 4 husks into thin strips to use as ties. Spread a heaping tablespoonful of dough onto the wide end of each remaining husk, leaving a 1/2-inch border on the top and both sides and 3 inches on the tapered end. Spread 1 tablespoon of the cheese mixture over the dough, then roll up the tamale into a cigar shape. Fold up the tapered end and tie closed with a strip of husk.
• Put the tamales upright in a steamer basket set over a few inches of boiling water; steam until the filling is firm, 30 to 40 minutes. Remove the tamales and let rest 10 minutes.
• Mix the sour cream and lime zest in a small bowl and season with kosher salt. Unwrap the tamales and serve with the lime sour cream.

SMOKEY CHEDDAR CHEESE CRACKERS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Combine the flour, Cheddar, smoked paprika, cayenne and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a food processor and pulse to combine. Add the butter and pulse until incorporated. Add the heavy cream and process until the dough forms a ball.
• Lightly flour a sheet of parchment paper and place the dough on top. Shape the dough with your hands into a flat rectangle, then lightly flour the dough. Roll it out with a rolling pin until it is a little less than 1/4 inch thick (about a 12-by-9-inch rectangle). Cut the dough into squares or rectangles and carefully transfer to the prepared baking sheet. Sprinkle the dough pieces with about 1/4 teaspoon more salt, gently pressing it into the surface, then dust very lightly with more smoked paprika. Bake until light golden brown, 10 to 12 minutes. Cool completely on a rack.

SMOKED CHEDDAR QUESADILLAS

Steps:

• Slice chicken breast into thin pieces and add spices,tossing to coat, refrigerate for about 30 minutes.Shred cheeses.
• Peel onion and slice in half,then slice the onion thin,place in skillet on med heat with 2T olive oil and caramelize,usually takes about 10-15 minutes.
• In a seperate skillet (I like to use my cast iron) add 2T olive oil,put on medium high heat till skillet gets hot,add chicken breasts and sear on both sides till done,you want the chicken to be blackened but not burnt,this should take about 5 minutes,just make sure the skillet is hot.
• To prepare the quesadillas butter one side of flour tortilla and place in skillet or griddle on medium high heat,butter side down.
• Add 1/3- 2/3c mexican blend cheese to tortilla, (sprinkling around the whole tortilla),then add the smoked cheddar,about 1/4c (do not overdo the smoked cheddar because it will be to strong).
• Add the chicken pieces (just handful or however much you like) to one side of the tortilla,like you are making an omelet,then follow suit with the onions,as much as you like.
• Fold tortilla over as in an omelet and"fry" till lightly brown and crispy,then flip over and do the other side.
• Slice into wedges and serve with sour cream,salsa,guacamole.
• This recipe will make 3-4 large tortillas,depending on how much ingredients you use per tortilla,the amount I have posted is only a guideline,use as little or as much as your liking.

SMOKED CHEDDAR CHEESE CRISPS

Steps:

• Using an electric mixer, beat butter and cheese in medium bowl until well blended.
• Mix flour, cayenne and salt; gradually beat dry ingredients into butter alternately with milk (dough will be soft).
• Turn dough out into sheet of plastic wrap;shape dough into 8-inch-long log using plastic as aid.
• Wrap and refrigerate at least 6 hours.
• (Can be prepared 2 days ahead.).
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• Unwrap dough and cut log into 1/8 to 1/4-inch-thick slices.
• Place 1 inch apart on heavy large cookie sheet.
• Bake until golden brown, about 15 minutes.
• Transfer to rack and cool 3 minutes;serve warm or cool completely and store in an airtight container.

SMOKED CHEDDAR SOUFFLE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375°F and place a rack in the bottom third. Generously butter a 6-cup souffle dish and sprinkle with the breadcrumbs, turning to coat evenly and discarding any excess. Place a baking sheet in the oven to heat.
• Melt butter in a small pan over medium heat. When it foams, add flour and whisk until the raw cereal taste has cooked out, 3-4 minutes. Gradually add milk, whisking constantly. Bring to a boil, stirring often. Remove from heat and whisk in salt, pepper and nutmeg.
• In a large bowl, whisk egg yolks until smooth. Add hot cream sauce, a spoonful at a time, whisking constantly, until about 1/2 cup of sauce has been added. Whisk egg yolks back into sauce until smooth. Add cheese and whisk until melted.
• In a clean bowl (or the work bowl of a stand mixer), beat egg whites (on medium if using electric beater) until soft peaks form, about 5 minutes. Increase to high speed and beat until peaks are stiff and glossy but not dry, about 2 minutes.
• Fold 1/3 of egg whites into cheese sauce until no streaks of white are visible. Add chives and remaining egg whites and fold gently to combine. Pour into prepared souffle dish.
• Place dish on hot baking sheet. Bake until well-puffed, golden brown, and the center is set (it does not move when gently touched), 35-40 minutes. Serve immediately.

SMOKED CHEDDAR WAFFLES

Steps:

• in a large bowl, mix together the two flours, baking soda, baking powder and salt.
• in a separate bowl, beat the eggs lightly and stir in the buttermilk, butter, scallions, mustard and grated cheese.
• add teh egg mixture to the dry ingredients and stir just till combined.
• let the waffle batter sit for about 10 minutes, till you see some bubbles on top.
• meanwhile, preheat the waffle iron. use 1/3 cup batter for each waffle and bake according to instructions that came with waffle iron.
• Serving option: top with scrambled eggs and salsa - though I'm sure there are other good ideas out there!