Summer Entertaining Cheese Jerky Show-Offs

Summer Entertaining Cheese Jerky Show-Offs

It is summertime – finally – and at least in Sonoma everyone is eager for easy outdoor entertaining, and here are a few ideas that we keep on hand for when the gang comes over.  

Stock your refrigerator with a few wedges or blocks of different cheeses, open up a package or two of Krave Jerky, and look around to see what else you have that might add to the flavors.  Of course simply laying a strip of moist and flavorful Krave jerky across a wedge of fresh Asiago, aged Gruyere – or even a slice of cheddar or jack cheese is pretty darned nice all by itself – and somehow those kids are always hungry!

If you want to take it a step further, here are some ideas for a few others.   Expand these proportions to suit your needs, and substitute jerky to suit your own preferences  –

Note:  for ‘finely chopped’ in a recipe, I pulse the jerky into tiny bits in my food processor

Turkey Jerky Brie Bites
Slice Brie lengthwise down the middle of a wedge, open up and sprinkle finely chopped Krave Turkey Jerky over the cut sides and serve.  It doesn’t get much easier than that!  Use whatever flavor jerky on whatever cheese you have on hand.

Mushroom-Garlic Jerky Spread
¼ cup sautéed mushrooms
4 tsp. diced sautéed garlic
¼ cup finely chopped Krave Garlic Chili Jerky
Wedge of Brie or fresh Fontina cheese

Strawberry-Balsamic Chipotle Spread
¼ cup fresh strawberries
2 tsp. balsamic vinegar
½ tsp. sugar
¼ cup finely chopped Krave Chipotle Jerky
Wedge or block of Brie or Cream Cheese

BBQ  Jerky Spread
¼ cup bbq sauce
¼ cup finely chopped Krave Garlic Chili or Chipotle Jerky

Mediterranean Provolone Jerky Melt
¼-inch think round slices provolone
Use as many slices as you want, and spread each slice with the following combination:
2 Tbsp. finely chopped Krave Garlic Chili, Chili Lime, or Turkey Basil Jerky
1 tsp. minced fresh oregano
1 tsp. minced fresh thyme
Garlic toast or Italian or French bread slices

Mint & Pecan Jerky Cheese Roll
1 Tbsp. finely chopped pecans
1 Tbsp. minced fresh mint
2 Tbsp. finely chopped Smoky Grilled Teriyaki or

Top a wedge of Brie or Fontina cheese with mushroom mixture and serve warm or cold.

Mash the strawberries and mix with balsamic and sugar.  Spread over cheese.

Mix and spread over wedges of aged Gouda or sharp Cheddar cheese.

Top each cheese slice with jerky and herb mixture and cook the cheese slice in a dry sauté pan over very low heat for about 45 seconds, cover for an additional 30-45 seconds.  Transfer very carefully to toasted bread, cut into serving pieces and serve immediately.

Combine nuts, mint, and jerky and roll the goat cheese in the mixture, covering all surfaces.  Wrap cover cheese roll tightly in plastic and refrigerate until ready to serve.