Recipe: Cranberry and Extra Old Cheese on Baguette #whatscooking

Over the course of the holidays, we end up having company a couple of times.  And when there’s a house full of people, I am always planning meals.  My favourite way to host is to set up a simple buffet.

Once you have desserts out of the way (baking, baking and more baking has been happening around here!) then it’s time to plan some appetizers. What’s wonderful about a casual get together is that setting the table with a few one-bite options, a cheese platter, vegetables and dips (like this Kraft Canada artichoke dip) and a few other simple bites, makes for a complete holiday snack table.

Looking for a new recipe to try at your table?  Give this tart cranberry with extra old cheddar topped with sugared pecans on a baguette a try! I made the cranberry sauce quickly on the stove top, but if you have a favourite sauce from your local grocery store, give it a try instead (plus, let’s face it, that’s easier!)

Cranberry and Extra Old Cheddar Cheese on Baguette

Ingredients:

1 baguette, sliced

3/4 cups cranberry sauce (see below or use jarred sauce)

1/2 cup chopped pecans

1 tsp butter

2 tsp brown sugar

Cracker Barrel Extra Old Cheddar Cheese, sliced in about 1 inch pieces

To make cranberry sauce:

In a sauce pan on the stove top, heat 1 cup of water or cranberry juice, 1 cup of whole cranberries, a tsp of orange rind, plus 1/4 to 1/2 cup of sugar*.  Let simmer until reduced and sauce is complete.  Add 1/2 tsp balsamic vinegar (optional).

*amount of sugar depends on how tart or sweet you prefer your cranberry sauce.  Begin with 1/4 cup and add a smaller amount until sweet enough, but still somewhat tart.

Directions:

1- Make cranberry sauce, or set aside sauce pre-pared.

2- In an oven safe dish combine pecans, butter and sugar.  Heat in the oven (about 350 for 10-15 minutes) mixing every few minutes, until pecans are toasted and have some sugar on them that is caramelizing.

3- Slice baguette into 1/2 inch slices. Place on a cookie sheet.

4- Cut Cracker Barrel Extra Old Cheddar cheese into pieces and place on baguette slices.

5- Top each piece of cheese with a tsp of cranberry sauce and some pecans.

6- Warm in the oven for about 5 minutes, or until cheese looks like it’s beginning to melt.

Enjoy!

Disclosure: This post is part of my #whatscooking Kraft Canada contributor role.  The opinions and comments are my own.  Any cravings for sweets or foods I give you aren’t my fault (kind of). 😉