About the Recipe
This holiday season, impress your guests with two irresistible appetizers crafted with premium ingredients from our friends at Windset Farms. These crowd-pleasing bites pair perfectly with Time Family of Wines' holiday gift bundles, available in convenient 3- and 6-packs at timewines.ca. Whether you're hosting a festive gathering, looking for the perfect hostess gift, or shopping for the wine lover on your list, these wine bundles make holiday entertaining effortless and memorable.
Windset Farms Cheesy Vivo Tomato Snackies
Bursting with fresh tomato flavour and savoury cheese, these versatile patties are the ultimate appetizer. Whether pan-seared to golden perfection or simmered in a rich marinara sauce, they’re a protein-packed treat guaranteed to wow your guests. For a complete dish, serve over a vibrant bulgur wheat and cucumber salad, tossed with Windset’s signature mini Fresco cucumbers and sweet Cameo or Yum Yum tomatoes.
Creamy Smoked Cheddar & Bacon Stuffed Sweeties with Maestro Red Pepper Jelly
These stuffed mini Sweeties peppers deliver the perfect balance of smoky, creamy, and crispy bacon goodness. Baked to bubbling perfection and paired with Ned’s Maestro Red Pepper Jelly, these bites add a touch of sweet-spicy sophistication to your holiday spread.
Enhance your holiday menu with Evolve Premiere Traditional Method Brut, an exquisite sparkling wine aged to perfection. This standout bottle offers bright citrus notes and elegant effervescence, making it the ideal pairing for these appetizers or any festive occasion. This spring, Evolve Sparkling House will open on the Naramata Bench, promising a new destination for bubble lovers and a toast to the art of sparkling winemaking.
With fresh, locally grown produce from Windset Farms and expertly curated wine bundles from Time Family of Wines, your holiday hosting is sure to be both seamless and spectacular.
Ingredients
Windset Farms Cheesy Vivo Tomato Snackies
4 cups chopped tomatoes (Amore or Vivo varieties work well)
1 cup crumbled feta
1 cup cottage cheese
½ cup finely grated Parmesan cheese
1 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley
2 cloves garlic (crushed or finely minced)
1 cup flour (gluten-free flour works too)
3 cups quinoa, cooked/simmered in salted boiling water until tender, strained and cooled completely (in a pinch coarse bread crumbs or panko would work)
1 tbsp kosher salt
1 tbsp cracked black pepper
2 tbsp chili powder
2 tbsp Italian seasoning
1 tsp onion powder
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Creamy Smoked Cheddar & Bacon Stuffed Sweeties
Stuffed Sweeties:
1 lb Sweeties mini peppers, halved lengthwise
1 tub cream cheese
1 cup white cheddar, grated (aged gouda also work well)
1 cup bacon, cooked crispy and diced into ¼-inch pieces
3 tbsp green onions, thinly sliced
1 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tsp cracked black pepper
Maestro Red Pepper Jelly:
4 Maestro red peppers, diced into ¼-inch pieces (Crescendo peppers are a great alternative)
½ cup honey
1 tsp chili flakes
2 tbsp salt
1 tsp cracked black pepper
Preparation
Windset Farms Cheesy Vivo Tomato Snackies
Method:
Mix all the ingredients together in a large bowl until well combined.
(Optional) Let the mixture sit overnight in the refrigerator to marinate. This allows the ingredients to meld together, resulting in tighter and more flavorful patties.
Form the mixture into 2 inch wide by ½ inch thick ‘bite size’ patties.
To Pan Sear:
In a pre heated non stick fry pan oven medium heat, add 2 tbsp olive oil in the pan, lay the patties in the pan and sear for 2 minutes, flip the patties over and cook for another 2 minutes until golden brown
To Simmer:
Form the mixture into 2-3 inch meatballs, gently simmer the meatballs in tomato/marinara sauce. Cover the pan/pot with a lid to keep them intact. Avoid cooking at a high heat, as they may crumble.
Serving Suggestions:
Pair with your favorite cooked pasta and garnish with lots of fresh parsley and parmesan
Serve over a bulgur wheat/tabbouleh salad: Toss cooked bulgur with chopped mini Fresco cucumbers and Cameo or Yum Yum tomatoes. Dress with red wine vinegar, extra virgin olive oil, salt, and pepper. For an extra salty punch, add your favourite olives.
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Creamy Smoked Cheddar & Bacon Stuffed Sweeties
Method:
Stuffed Sweeties:
Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C).
In a mixing bowl, combine the cream cheese, smoked cheddar, crispy bacon, green onions, cayenne pepper, and cracked black pepper until well blended.
Spoon the mixture into the halved Sweeties peppers, ensuring they are generously filled.
Arrange the stuffed peppers on a baking sheet in a single layer.
Bake in the preheated oven for 25–35 minutes, or until the tops are golden brown and bubbling.
Serve immediately with a dollop of Crescendo Red Pepper Jelly.
Maestro Red Pepper Jelly:
Combine the diced red peppers, honey, chili flakes, salt, and cracked black pepper in a pot.
Cover the pot with a lid and simmer over medium heat for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Remove from heat and let the mixture cool slightly.
For a smoother texture, puree the jelly with a hand blender until desired consistency is reached.
Serve alongside the stuffed Sweeties as a flavorful accompaniment.