A Guide to Quick, Delicious Cocktail Appetizers from John Wm. Macy’s CheeseSticks.
John Wm. Macy
In 1948, Margarita Sames threw a poolside party at her vacation home in Acapulco, Mexico. The Christmas party game was to create wild
I started making CheeseSticks almost forty years ago in a loft apartment in New York City. Friends and family were skeptical about my vision of building a CheeseSticks “empire”, but all agreed that the CheeseSticks were a fabulous snack. Customers have told us over the years that CheeseSticks and CheeseCrisps provide the perfect complement to cocktails at parties and family gatherings. I couldn’t agree more. A bouquet of CheeseSticks or a bowl of CheeseCrisps with drinks quickly rounds out a cozy setting for the family social hour or the impromptu get together with friends. And, with a little extra effort, the CheeseSticks and CheeseCrisps can be used to make a wide range of inventive, colorful and delicious appetizers.
concoctions behind the bar and let guests rate the results. Her society friends were so thrilled with her ‘unique’ cocktail that it
I hope you enjoy this collection of some of our favorite appetizer and dip recipes. They are good on their own, but truly hit their stride when matched with today’s most popular cocktails. As you make these recipes and experiment on your own with new ways to use our CheeseSticks and CheeseCrisps, we hope you will share your triumphs with us... to include in our next recipe collection.
quickly spread among the elite – from Hollywood to New York – bearing her name.
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John Wm. Macy’s
®
CheeseSticks Thirty years ago John Wm. Macy began the pursuit of his dream – to take his recipe for a unique snack he had developed and make it a national favorite! He had worked for several years in his New York City loft apartment to refine the recipe for his twisted sourdough cheese sticks. By June of 1985 he was ready to launch John Wm. Macy’s CheeseSticks with the opening of a small “bakery” on the Lower East Side of New York. Originally called Soon after opening, Balducci’s, a landmark New York City specialty food store, placed its first large order for CheeseSticks. The recipe was a success! Then, in 1988, a major NYC hotel asked John to create a new snack for its bar patrons. John added even more sharp Asiago and cheddar cheeses and extra seasoning to his original recipe to produce his “double cheese” cracker-shaped Asiago & Cheddar CheeseCrisps...and another success was born!
“El Draque,” meaning dragon, the Mojito is said to have originated in the
John Wm. Macy’s CheeseSticks has since moved across the Hudson River to its current location in Elmwood Park, NJ. Today there are five varieties of CheeseSticks: Original Cheddar, Cheddar & Scallion, Garlic Romano, Dijon Swiss, and Melting Parmesan. The Cheese˜ Melting Romano, Crisps line has expanded to four varieties: Asiago & Cheddar, Smoked Jalapeno, and Sesame Gruyère. John has also developed his delicious dessert snacks – Java Cinnamon, Madagascar Vanilla and Dutch Chocolate SweetSticks. After just one bite of any of John’s wonderful snacks you’ll agree... dreams do come true!
16th century. The English pirate Richard Drake named it for his friend, Sir Francis Drake, who was based in Cuba. After terrorizing the islands of the Caribbean and South America, he always returned to toast his success with “El Draque.”
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In the late 1920’s,
Cream Cheese and Olive Canapé Spread
while working in
1 box Sesame Gruyère CheeseCrisps 6 oz. cream cheese 1 cup stuffed olives 1/2 cup mayonnaise 2 teaspoons prepared mustard
Harry’s New York Bar in Paris, bartender
Place all ingredients in a processor bowl and whirl a few times; Chill for an hour; Spread on CheeseCrisps and serve.
Fernand Petiot created the original Bloody Mary. Asked about the name,
The Midnight Mix 1 box Melting Romano CheeseCrisps 4 oz. macadamia nuts 4 oz. shelled pistachios 4 oz. dried cherries
Combine ingredients in bowl and serve.
Petiot stated "one of the boys suggested we call the drink Bloody Mary because it
Chile Chicken Appetizers 1 box Asiago & Cheddar CheeseCrisps 1/2 lb. chicken cut into small pieces 1/2 cup scallions, julienne cut thin Thai garlic chili sauce (Thai garlic chili sauce can be found in most supermarkets’ Asian food section)
reminded him
A Quick Dip
of the Bucket
1 box Melting Romano CheeseCrisps 8 oz. container of roasted red pepper hummus 1/4 cup chopped red pepper
of Bloody Club in Chicago
Sauté and drain the chicken; Mix in the Thai Chili sauce to taste; Heat the CheeseCrisps in the oven for two minutes; Top the CheeseCrisps with a piece of scallion.
Serve hummus in a bowl with red pepper sprinkled on top; Place it on a round plate and arrange CheeseCrisps around the bowl on the serving plate.
and a girl there named Mary."
Greek Salad Dip 1 box Melting Parmesan CheeseSticks 1 container sour cream 1/2 lb. crumbled feta cheese Drained sun dried tomatoes Finely chopped cucumber, basil and olives to taste
Mix all ingredients the night before; Chill overnight; Serve with CheeseSticks on side.
Salmon Canapés with Dilled Honey Mustard 1 box Asiago & Cheddar CheeseCrisps 1 tablespoon red onion, finely chopped 3 tablespoons Dijon mustard & 1 tablespoon honey 1/4 lb. smoked salmon, cut into 24 - 1” squares 1/4 lb. cream cheese 24 sprigs fresh dill and 2 teaspoons chopped dill
The Bellini
In a small bowl combine onion, mustard, honey and chopped dill; Mix well and chill; Spread cream cheese on top of CheeseCrisps; Top with small dollop of mustard mixture; Top with 1” square of smoked salmon, rolled; Place small sprig of dill into rolled salmon and serve.
was first created by Giuseppe Cipriani in 1948, while tending bar at Harry's Bar in Venice, Italy.
Sweet Surrender 1 box Asiago & Cheddar CheeseCrisps I large Vidalia onion (any sweet onion will do) 6 fresh figs (dried, if fresh are out of season)
Sauté onions and half as many figs, until they caramelize; Cool to room temperature; Warm CheeseCrisps in oven for two minutes; Spoon mixture onto CheeseCrisps and serve.
His love for the Italian white peach moved him to search for the perfect cocktail,
Caviar on the Quick 1 box Sesame Gruyère CheeseCrisps Small jar caviar Container of cream cheese (or crème fraiche) Chives chopped into 1/2 inch pieces ^
Top each CheeseCrisp with one teaspoon of cream cheese or crème fraiche; Place a small dollop of caviar on top; Top with a piece of chive; Serve right away. ^
using it as the key ingredient. The simple mixture of pureed white peaches and
No Fuss Party Mix with a Kick 1 box Asiago & Cheddar CheeseCrisps 4 oz. wasabi peas 4 oz. whole almonds (spicy hot if available) 4 oz. whole cashews
Combine ingredients in a bowl and serve.
sparkling Italian wine, known as Prosecco, delivered the fresh taste he was looking for.
CheeseCrisps with Olives and Feta 1 box Melting Romano CheeseCrisps 1/2 lb. of crumbled feta cheese 1/2 lb. of chopped, pitted kalamata olives 1 jar of dried tomatoes, drained Finely chopped basil leaves to garnish
Save 2 tablespoons of finely chopped olives and dried tomatoes; Mix the feta with the balance of olives and dried tomatoes; Place CheeseCrisps in oven for two minutes to fully heat; Top with mixture and sprinkle on saved olives and dried tomatoes; Add garnish and serve.
It is generally accepted that the martini evolved from an older cocktail
Canapés of Smoked Salmon and Caviar 1 box Sesame Gruyère CheeseCrisps 1/2 lb. thinly sliced smoked salmon 1/4 cup crème fraiche Caviar as needed Chives chopped into 1/2” pieces ^
Cut smoked salmon into thin strips and place 2 across CheeseCrisp; Place dollop of crème fraiche on top with a depression in the middle for caviar; Fill center with caviar; Garnish with chives. ^
called the Martinez. But the “dry” martini is said to have originated in the Knickerbocker Hotel, in Manhattan, in 1912. The bartender Martini di Arma di Taggia perfected it and
Crispy Party Pizza Crisps 1 box Melting Romano CheeseCrisps Thin slices of fresh mozzarella cheese Small jar chunky tomato sauce 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese Optional: Diced peppers, diced onion or your favorite diced topping
Place small piece of mozzarella cheese on top of CheeseCrisp; Add small dollop of tomato sauce; Sprinkle Parmesan cheese on top; Add your optional topping; Broil in toaster oven for about three minutes and serve.
Spicy Sweet Cocktail Mix ˜ CheeseCrisps 1 box Smoked Jalapeno 6 oz. of raisins 4 oz. of honey roasted peanuts 4 oz. of whole cashews
Combine ingredients in bowl and serve.
often served it to John D. Rockefeller.
Maine Sardine Canapés
Certainly others paid
1 box Sesame Gruyère CheeseCrisps 3 cans Maine sardines (4 oz. each) 1/2 cup butter, softened 2 tablespoons prepared mustard Pimiento strips
attention to anything John D. did and it quickly spread beyond Wall Street.
Drain sardines and split in half, lengthwise, and then each strip in half again, widthwise; Combine mustard and butter; Place a piece of sardine on CheeseCrisp: Top with a small dollop of mixture; Top with pimiento strip.
The Ultimate Guacamole 1 box Original Cheddar CheeseSticks 3 tablespoons white onion, finely chopped 3 serrano chiles (including seeds), finely chopped 3 tablespoons cilantro, roughly chopped 3 avocados 1/2 cup finely chopped tomatoes
Place onion, chiles, cilantro and sprinkle of salt in a mortar and pestle; Crush to paste texture; Place avocado meat into pestle and mash well (leave some chunks); Stir in tomatoes; Salt to taste; Bowl the guacamole and serve immediately with a basket of CheeseSticks; Take a bow!
Sweet and Savory with a Crunch 1 box Sesame Gruyère CheeseCrisps 1/2 lb. brie Small jar peach preserves Fresh mint leaves
In the late Top each CheeseCrisp with a small slice of brie; Spoon 1/2 teaspoon of preserves on top of brie; Top with small piece of mint leaf.
nineteenth century, a New York socialite named Jenny Jerome asked a bartender
Herbed Bean Dip 1 box Original Cheddar CheeseSticks 1 - 16 oz. can of black beans 3 cloves garlic, minced 1 tablespoon fresh thyme, finely chopped 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, finely chopped Salt to taste
Boil the beans over high heat until tender; Drain beans and mash with olive oil until creamy texture; Mix in the garlic, thyme and parsley; Season with salt to taste; Serve cold in a bowl with a basket of CheeseSticks.
Combine crabmeat, cream cheese, Worcestershire sauce and horseradish; Spoon mixture into baking dish; Bake at 350˚until bubbles (about 10 minutes); Remove dish and sprinkle a dash of black pepper and squeeze lemon on top; Spoon into serving bowl and surround with CheeseSticks.
elected Governor, Samuel Tilden. Originally made with straight rye whiskey, that
Sauté mushrooms at high heat for a few minutes in butter; Mix mushrooms (cooled to room temperature) with cream cheese and onion; Salt and pepper to taste; Refrigerate overnight; Serve as spread over CheeseCrisps.
was the birth of the “Manhattan,” named after the club.
Gorgonzola and Pear CheeseCrisp 1 box Asiago & Cheddar CheeseCrisps 1/2 lb. of chopped walnuts 3 fresh pears 1 lb. Gorgonzola 1/2 red onion, finely chopped
to create a new of their newly
Cheese and Mushroom Canapés 1 box Sesame Gruyère CheeseCrisps 1/4 lb. mushrooms, sliced 1 tablespoon butter 8 oz. cream cheese 1 tablespoon grated white onion
Manhattan Club cocktail in honor
Crabmeat Dip 1 box Cheddar & Scallion CheeseSticks 1 - 8 oz. package softened cream cheese 1 - 6 oz. can of crabmeat, drained 1 tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce 3 tablespoons of horseradish 1/2 lemon
at the
Toast the walnuts in a pan; Mix in a bowl with the Gorgonzola; Spread onto the CheeseCrisp and sprinkle on a few pieces of red onion; Top with a thin slice of pear.
John Wm. Macy’s
®
CheeseSticks Start with John Wm. Macy’s CheeseSticks or CheeseCrisps, add delicious ingredients and a great recipe, and you have the perfect appetizer. It’s the same with cocktails. So, to help make your next party a memorable success, we have found the perfect recipes to accompany the most popular cocktails. Of course, like with our delicious snacks, why not create your own signature creations?
"A ‘cocktail’ is a
Bellini: Pour 1 oz. white peach puree (peach puree can either be made from ripe fresh peaches that have been peeled or you can use a commercial peach puree). Pour into a champagne flute, then add 5 oz. champagne.
stimulating liquor, composed of spirits of any kind,
Bloody Shame (Non-alcoholic): Pour 3 oz. V8® juice into tall glass, add 3 drops of tabasco sauce, stir with celery stalk. Sprinkle on pinch of salt and pepper. Not trying it would be a bloody shame! (Add 1 1/2 oz. vodka for a hard drink)
sugar, water and bitters - it is vulgarly called bittered sling
Cosmopolitan: Combine 1 1/2 oz. citrus vodka, 1 oz. triple sec, 1/2 oz. fresh lime juice, 1 - 2 dashes cranberry juice (for color). Shake and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Add lime wedge for garnish. Gin & Tonic: In ice filled highball glass, add 1 1/2 oz. gin and fill with tonic. Squeeze in lime.
Classic Muddlers
and is supposed to be an
Manhattan: Combine 1 3/4 oz. rye or bourbon (whiskey) and 3/4 oz. sweet vermouth. Stir in mixing glass with ice and strain into cocktail glass. Add 1 dash aromatic bitters (optional) and Maraschino cherry.
excellent electioneering potion." – The Balance, May, 1806 (This is the earliest known written reference to the term ‘cocktail.’)
Margarita: Rub the rim of a stemmed cocktail glass with lime juice and dip in salt. Combine 1 1/2 oz. tequila, 1/2 oz. triple sec, 1 oz. lime juice in an ice shaker. Shake all ingredients with ice, strain into the glass and serve. Martini: Combine 1/2 oz. dry vermouth with 1 1/2 oz. gin. Shake in an ice shaker and strain into Martini glass. Add olives or onions as a garnish. Mojito: Place 2 teaspoons of sugar, a large pinch (small handful) of mint and splash of soda water in a pint glass. Use muddler to lightly press mint and dissolve sugar until it smells of spearmint gum. Squeeze both halves of a lime into the glass, leaving one hull in the mixture. Add 2 oz. rum, stir and fill with ice. Top with soda water and garnish with mint sprig and serve. Whiskey Sour: Add 1 oz. fresh lemon juice, two dashes sugar, 1 1/2 oz. rye or bourbon whiskey, 1 1/2 oz. orange juice. Shake in iced cocktail shaker and strain into cocktail glass. Add lemon wedge and optional Maraschino cherry. Gold Medalist (Non-alcoholic): Blend 1/2 oz. Grenadine, 1 oz. coconut cream, 1 oz. lime juice (freshly squeezed), 1 oz. orange juice, 1 oz. papaya juice, 2 oz. pineapple juice, 1 oz. strawberry puree with 1/2 ripe banana. Garnish with orange slice and cherry. Serve in a wine glass.
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