WRAL reporter Brian Shrader and our own Lisa Prince feature seasonal recipes in their Got to Be Good Cookin’ segment using ingredients grown and available right here in North Carolina.
Gail Fuller of Raleigh took home a blue ribbon at the N.C. State Fair for this Cheesy Pecan Cranberry Crisps recipe. The delicious holiday appetizer won over the judges in the N.C. Pecan Growers Association’s recipe contest. Usually, the press office gets to sample leftover entries from the State Fair specialty cooking contests. This one, however, was so good that there were no leftovers for us to try.
The crisps are a mixture of Asiago cheese, toasted N.C. pecans and cranberries made into a dough with flour, butter and a pinch of cayenne pepper. The combination of sweet and nutty flavors and the richness of the cheese should be a favorite for anyone who enjoys cheese straws at their holiday gathering. Lisa says each batch makes 40 to 50 crisps.
The holidays wouldn’t be complete without decorations, specifically N.C. Christmas trees. You can find trees at choose-and-cut farms, roadside stands and farmers markets across the state. To find a location near you, go to www.ncfarmfresh.com.