Favorite Football Feast Ideas from Cabot Creamery

Just in time for the Great Football Feast known as the Superbowl, my friends at Cabot sent a couple of recipes to tantalize us all. Cabot Creamery is a co-op owned by the Vermont dairy farmers who make some of the world's best cheddar. Living in Minnesota, so close to the artisan cheese-crafters of Wisconsin, I have to qualify "world's best cheddar" with "some of."

Of course, Cabot must be pretty darn good to get me out of my local focus to write about cheese a region away.Cabot Creamery is a stand-out among co-ops. Not only do they produce quality cheese, promote local production and uphold the co-op principles, they also do a bang-up job at marketing. Their ads are fun and their e-newsletter is bursting with exciting recipes and pairing that fit the season. I always look forward to their e-newsletter that anyone can subscribe to.

Having recently jumped into the beer scene I was delighted to discover that they have a useful beer and cheese pairing beer and cheese pairing tool on their website. Here are a couple of my favorite Cabot recipes just in time for the Superbowl,

Habanero Cheddar and Black Bean Spread

Makes about 2 cups

1 (15-oz.) can black-eyed peas or black beans, drained
2 tbsp. olive oil
1 1/2 tbsp. fresh lime juice
1 1/2 tsp. ground cumin
4 oz. Cabot Habanero or Chipotle Cheddar, grated (about 1 cup, lightly packed)
salt to taste

1. In medium bowl, combine black-eyed peas or black beans, oil, lime juice and cumin; mash coarsely with potato masher (mixture should hold together but some beans should still be visible).

2. Gently stir in cheese; taste and season with salt if needed. Serve in red or yellow shells, surrounded by oven-crisped triangles of tomato or spinach flatbread or crackers.

5-Point Spread
Makes about 1 1/2 cups

8 ounces Cabot Sharp or Extra Sharp Cheddar Cheese*, grated (about 3 cups)
4 ounces cream cheese
1/3 cup dark beer
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
Large pinch cayenne pepper
Thin-sliced rye or multi-grain bread or crackers

1. Combine first five ingredients in food processor or
blender; process until smooth and creamy.

2. Serve with bread or crackers.

*Or flavored Cabot Cheddar, such as Roasted Garlic or Horseradish