This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Frontera Wines for IZEA. All opinions are 100% mine.
Kick up your game day menu with this Fromage Fort (Wine and Cheese Dip) and Merlot Meatballs!
Anyone who knows me knows that whenever I host a party, I’m usually making untraditional dishes! I have this need to try new things and have all my friends and family act as taste testers! So this past weekend when we had our friends over for the game, instead of making something traditional like my Baked Buffalo Chicken Dip, I decided on a dip that is actually SUPER traditional, but not here in the states! Fromage Fort! Which is actually a traditional French cheese spread made with white wine, Fromage Fort means ‘Strong Cheese’, and that is something it most definitely is!
So one of the things I REALLY love about the recipe is that it’s traditionally made with leftover cheese. I know I’m not the only one who has partial blocks and bags of cheese in the fridge that need to be used up, and this is just the way to do it! All you need is a pound of whatever variety of cheeses you want and a white wine like Frontera’s Chardonnay and you’re minutes from an incredible dip!
I happened to have almost a full block of Parmesan in the fridge and some remnants of shredded swiss, I wanted something sharp to accompany them, so I want with a nice aged cheddar. I added basil to my dip, but parsley is also a great option. A little less than a tsp of horseradish and a clove of garlic helps give it a zing and bring this dip to life! The wine both smooths out the dip and gives it a bold finish with some serious depth of flavor! What’s also nice is that this is a dip that’s served at room temp, so it’s going to contrast nicely with both hot and cold dips at the party!
Fromage Fort - Wine and Cheese Dip
Ingredients
- 1 lb. leftover cheese at room temperature. I used a mix of Parmesan, Sharp Aged Cheddar, and Swiss.
- 1/2 cup Frontera Chardonnay
- 3 tbsp unsalted butter softened
- 2 tbsp fresh basil or parsley
- 3/4 tsp horseradish
- 1 clove garlic
- Salt and Pepper to taste
Instructions
- Remove any rinds from the cheese and grate or chop cheese into small cubes.
- Add all ingredients to a blender or food processor and blend until creamy and smooth, scraping down the sides as needed. I usually add half of my wine in with the rest of the ingredients and the other half after the first round of blending.
- Serve immediately or store in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. Cheese will harden up in the fridge and soften as is comes back down to room temperature.
- Serve with fresh cracked black pepper.
Sometimes I go a little over the top with my parties, but in this instance, I really just wanted to keep it low key but with bold flavors! Did you see the Citrus Sangria I posted yesterday? That was a huge hit, who says you need beer to enjoy the game, wine and sangria are perfect for football Sunday!
And game days are never completely with something cooking in the crock pot! I’m a HUGE fan of cocktail meatballs and decided that rather than making my traditional sauce with cranberry and chili sauce, I wanted to make something from scratch! These Merlot Meatballs are made with a balsamic vinegar and Frontera Merlot wine reduction that’s laced with garlic and honey for a flavor profile that will blow your traditional game day sauces out of the stadium!
These Merlot Meatballs have so much body to them, the sauce is out-of-this-world-good! I seriously could have put it on ice cream… okay, maybe that’s not true, but you get the idea! I owe it all to the Frontera Merlot wine, it’s an award-winning wine made with exceptional quality at a value price point! The 1.5-liter bottles make it so you can have some to cook with and plenty to serve on game days! Seriously, skip the beer and start prepping for a wine infused football Sunday you’ll never forget!
Right now, Frontera Wines are hosting a Game Day Photo Contest for a chance to win ,000.00! Snap a picture of your guests enjoying wine during your Game Day Party for a chance to win Big Bucks! Visit www.Facebook.com/FronteraWine for more details. And don’t forget to visit the Simply Delicious wine cocktail recipes from Frontera – all are easy to make and use simple ingredients that are inexpensive pantry staples: www.fronterawines.com/cocktails!
Merlot Meatballs
Ingredients
- 1 26 oz. bag of bite-sized Italian or Swedish meatballs
- 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
- 1 cup Frontera Merlot wine
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tsp soy sauce
- 1/3 cup honey
- 10 tbsp unsalted butter cubed
- 1 tsp corn starch
- 1 tsp water
Instructions
- Turn on the slow cooker to low heat and add the meatballs so they can begin thawing.
- Add the balsamic vinegar, Frontera Merlot, garlic, soy sauce, and honey to a saucepan over medium-low heat and bring to a boil.
- Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 20 to 25 minutes.
- Then add the cubes of butter to the mixture, stirring constantly to thicken as the butter melts.
- In a small prep dish, stir together the corn starch and water until starch dissolves, then stir into sauce.
- Cook for another 2 to 3 minutes, stirring constantly, then pour sauce over the meatballs in the slow cooker.
- Cover slow cooker and cook on high for 1 1/2 to 2 hours or until meatballs reach an internal temperature of at least 160 degrees F.
Tracy says
I make these meatballs all of the time. So easy! And they’re gone sometimes before I have a chance to eat a few! So…I definitely set a few aside for myself. When I double the recipe, I do let them go a little longer. Also, I like them a little “stickier and add a little extra honey! Thanks for this!!!
Marg says
I always make my own meatballs. Why do they have to be frozen?
Rebecca Hubbell says
That’s just what I use.
Becky says
I get raving comments every time I make these … awesome recipe!
Rebecca Hubbell says
So glad everyone loves them, Becky!
Rebecca Spencer says
For the merlot meatballs, are the frozen meatballs cooked or raw?
Rebecca Hubbell says
Most frozen meatballs that I come across are precooked. But they should be frozen to start this recipe.
Ashley Reinhardt says
The merlot meatballs came out amazing!! Great balsamic/wine taste. Got lots of compliments on them. Will definitely be making them again. Thanks for the recipie ?
Rebecca Hubbell says
I’m so glad you loved them, isn’t that sauce amazing? Great on steaks and chicken too!
Jill Beyer says
Can you make the sauce ahead of time and pour over meatballs the next day in the slow cooker?
Rebecca Hubbell says
Hi Jill, I’m not sure as I’ve never done it that way before.
RS says
Have you tried these with any other wines, like a Cab? Or is merlot best for meatballs?
Rebecca says
I have not, the merlot sauce is a sauce that is traditionally served over steaks, I’m sure a Cabernet would work just fine, but I would be hesitant to use a white wine.
Marci says
Do you have a preference between Italian or Swedish meatballs? Wondering what which type is preferred with the sauce? And do you always start with frozen meatballs? Thanks in advance 🙂
Rebecca says
Hi Marci, The type is personal preference really, as long as they’re small, cocktail party meatballs you should be good. And yes, always frozen.
Chris says
I was wondering if I could leave them in the crockpot on low all day? I need them by 5:00 and not enough time before because I will be at work.
Rebecca says
Hi Chris, I would not as this sauce with separate after several hours.
Barb says
Wondering if 10TB of butter (in the meatball recipe) is a typo? That’s a lot of butter….???
Rebecca says
The amount of butter is correct.
Kate says
Hi there,
I want to make these ahead of time for my party and let them sit on low for 5 to 6 hours in crockpot. Do u think that’s dine or will it dry out?
Rebecca says
Hi Kate,
That’s too long for them to sit out, the sauce could separate after that long of a time.
Rebecca
Joann says
No meatballs???
Rebecca says
Hi Joann,
There are actually two recipes in this post, scroll down to find the recipe for the meatballs 🙂
Rebecca
Whitney says
The recipe for the wine and cheese dip is posted twice and nothing for the merlot meatballs. Looking for the meatball recipe, please.
Rebecca says
Hi Whitney,
The recipe is there. It just pulled the other recipes name, all fixed now!
Mary says
Where’s the recipe & directions for the Merlot Meatballs??
Rebecca says
Hi Mary,
You should be able to see it now.
Rebecca