Tailgating Dip and Super Queso Dip with Brats

Since the Packers aren’t in the Super Bowl this year (don’t get me started), this year’s game will be all about eating great snacks with a few commercials thrown in. I considered putting together a New York or New England menu, but  realized that just because our team’s not playing doensn’t mean we need to eat Chowder. So, I put together a menu that consists of Wisconsin classics with a few healthy options, too. That way you won’t feel guilty about dessert!

Vegetable Crunch Dip with Romaine Scoops

What says Wisconsin more than brats and cheese? So, I thought why not put them together. Inspired by Reuben dip, I created a Crock-pot brat dip that takes minutes to prepare called Taste of Wisconsin Tailgating Dip. Rather than have the brats in the dip, I put them on the side for dunking. The dip includes all the things you’d find on a brat: mustard, beer, onions and sauerkraut. It’s a true Wisconsin fondue!

For another hot dip recipe, try our Super Queso Dip made with our Brennan’s Pilsner Jalapeno Cheese Spread. Serve with sliced brats, tortilla chips and fresh veggies.w

A healthier option is Vegetable Crunch Tip with Baby Romaine Scoops. I first had this dip on a trip to California last year to visit our produce growers. We visited T&A after a very, very

long van ride with no snacks. I wondered if I would like this dip as much when I wasn’t starving. Turns out I do. You can serve it already in the lettuce leaves or serve with the lettuce on the side. Either way delicious and very fast to make.

Of course, salsa and Guacamole are synomous with football snacks. Rather than a traditional tomato based salsa, I made one with blood oranges and Cara Cara Navel Oranges. So yummy and colorful! The key to this tasty

Cara Cara and Blood Orange Salsa with cut Pretty Belle Navel, Blood Oranges and Cara Caras for color comparison.

recipe is knowing how to segment oranges. After that, it is a snap.

Super Fruit Dip

Finally for the afor mentioned dessert, I made a super easy fruit dip with cream cheese, mascarpone, vanilla and a little sugar.  I paired it with our Florida Strawberries, 900 Series Grapes, Honeygold Pineapple and blueberries. When you dip strawberries in, it tastes like strawberry cheesecake! Coincidently, chocolate brownies also pair well with it. Let your kids make little skewers and dunk them in. At least they’re eating fruit, right!

I hope that you put together a fun menu for game day, try some of these recipes and enjoy watching the ads, and perhaps a bit of football, too!

OK, it’s January. Lucky for us the Packers are in the playoffs, so there is still that hint of celebration in the air (GO PACKERS!). But football is just Sunday, what about the rest of the week?  Why not add a little zest to your meals with a burst of citrusy tangerine flavor?

Tangerines are a type of mandarin, like satsumas and clemintines (no seeds). The name tangerine comes from Tangier, Morroco which is the port that shipped the first batch of tangerines. No wonder! Besides being tangy, sweet and  loaded with vitamin C,  they’re easy-to-peel!

So, give these recipes a try.  You can ward off scurvy and enjoy some delicious meals. A double bonus!

Cocktail course (That is a course right?):  Frozen Tangerine Margaritas

Salad: Radish, Arugula and Red Onion Salad with Tangerines

Entree: Tangerine-Glazed Ham with Baby Carrots.  Don’t just reserve ham for the holidays!

Entree: Tangerine Chicken

Breakfast: Citrus Salad with Gingered Yogurt

Dessert: Flambeed Tangerines with Vanilla Ice Cream

I hope that you give some of these recipes a try and and some zest (:)) to your winter!

New Year’s Eve: Open until 6pm

 New Year’s Day: Closed

Rose Bowl Monday January 2: 8am- 9pm

Have a safe and happy New Year’s from all of us at Brennan’s!

Hard to believe that Christmas is over. What a whirlwind day! Luckily there are still more celebrations to come with New Year’s, The Rose Bowl and hopefully the SB (sorry, I  don’t want to spell it out and jinx it).  So, here are my picks for “cheers” sparklers and big RED wines.

Cooper Station Zinfandel

This California Zin is the perfect wine for hearty game day faire. It opens with concentrated blackberry aromas. Flavors of rhubarb, strawberry and vanilla with lingering hints of toast and smoke make this wine a great match for grilled or roasted meats, pizza, sausages, ribs, hambugers, jambalaya and chili.

La Corte Prosecco

A light, aromatic and crisp bubbly with overtones of citrus, especially lemon, melon, almonds and honey. Yummy in wine cocktails like Orange Cream Mimosas or a Pomegranate Bubbly Cocktail. Perfect with hors d’ouevres like an anti-pasto platter. I am keeping my fingers crossed that we will all need a little extra Sparkling wine left after New Year’s to toast a Bucky win on the 2nd.

Polkadraai Road Shiraz/Cabernet Sauvignon

This South African Hermitage- styled blend offers exceptional fruit that is complemented by white pepper, spices and a subtle smokiness. Ripe fruit and acid blend with big tannins for a complex and rich red wine with a long finish. Great with ribs or ribeye.

Casali Viticultori Lambrusco Amabile Frizzante

Frizzante means slightly sparkling, and Amabile means semi-sweet. So this Lambrusco is effervescent much like a Moscato d’ Asti, but not as fully sparkling like a Prosecco.  So, this semi-sweet Italian red is packed with aromas and flavors of plums.  A wonderful match for pizza, BBQ and red-sauced pasta dishes.

Have a safe and Happy New Year’s! Go Badgers!

We wanted to take a moment to say, “Thank you for shopping at Brennan’s! We are truly honored to be a part of your holidays.”

Holiday Hours

Christmas Eve: 8:00am – 5:00pm

Christmas Day: Closed

New Year’s Eve: 8:00am- 6:00pm

New Year’s Day: Closed

From the Brennan’s Family to You and Yours… Season’s Greetings!

Have you ever been making your shopping list for a party and realize you need 7 packages of cream cheese? I have. Of course we love cheese at Brennan’s, but we also happen to sell some awesome fruit. So, we came up with four festive appetizers that feature seasonal fruit: Pretty Belle Navel Oranges, Kiwi, Pineapple and D’Anjou Pears and visited Amy Carlson at NBC15 to show them off. All the recipes are available on our recipe tab. Bon Appetit!

Our Holiday Gift Guide is available in stores or check it out here to see our fantastic selection of Wisconsin Cheese Boxes, Fruit Baskets, Specialty Wine Wine Baskets and More!  Our Cheese Gift Boxes can also be purchased online. Tis the season!

It seems like Persimmons are kinda of an under appreciated fruit, and I have my theories why. First of all, they look a little odd. In particular, Fuyu Persimmons look like squashed tomatoes. Second, it isn’t easily apparent how to eat them. Do you eat them like a peach or do you have to peel them? So, here’s the scoop on Fuyu Persimmons.

Persimmons have a long history dating back to ancient China, and there are  many different varieties. Today one of the most popular varieties is the California Grown Fuyu, similar to the Israeli-grown Sharon Fruit. Persimmons are an

Fuyu Persimmons look like squashed tomatoes

excellent  source of vitamin A, a good source of vitamin C and rich in fiber. The peak of their season is in November, so there isnt’ a better time to try them than now!

How do you eat them you ask? All you have to do is wash Fuyus, remove core and leaves, and slice or eat whole.

How do you select Fuyu Persimmons? Select ripe persimmons only if you plan to eat them immediately. Otherwise, buy firmer fruits and allow them to ripen. Ripen persimmons at room temperature in a paper bag with an apple or banana. Store them in the refrigerator when ripe. Be sure to eat the fruit as soon as possible because overripe persimmons quickly turn to a mushy texture.

How to Use Fuyu Persimmons

• Add firm Fuyu persimmon slices to salads. Slice Fuyu and spread with lime juice, salt, and chili powder. Eat with a slice of low fat cheese.
• Mix cubed  with grapes, pomegranate seeds, cubed apple, and sliced kiwi for a colorful fall salad.
• Top hot or cold cereal with cubed pieces of bright orange Fuyu.
• Make salsa with a twist add chopped Fuyu, onion, tomatillo, cilantro, and chili Serrano and mix together.
• Start your morning off right! Add chopped or blended Fuyu persimmons to your pancakes, waffles, and French toast.
• Have an instant persimmon sherbet! Simply cut off a piece of the pointed tip of the fruit, tightly wrap the fruit, and freeze for up to three months. Defrost the fruit in the refrigerator for about four hours, scoop the fruit, and enjoy!

If you haven’t tried Fuyu Persimmons, we hope you do! Let  us know how you Fuyu!

Looking for a velvety smooth red wine packed with dark fruit and mocha flavors? Then Cooper Station 2009 Petite Sirah is the wine for you. It comes from a new winery for us in California and offers a terrifc value at only $9.99.

CS Petite Sirah is a deep crimson color with aromas of sweet spice and mocha. The aromas are echoed on the palate along with ripe blackberry and black plum flavors. Terrific all alone or pair with Aged Cheddar or Aged Swiss. Enjoy with rich pasta dishes, roasted meats and grilled sausages.

Thierry Villard

This week we have 2 wine visits, both at our Madsion locations. First, Thierry Villard from Villard Esate Winery in Chile will be visiting us early in the week to spotlight his wine collection from Chile’s Casablanca Valley. The Casablanca Valley is the Sonoma of Chile with warm days and cool nights producing wonderful Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Thierry’s wines reflect his French heritage and training along with Chile’s New World style.

Thierry is here for a very short time and will only able to visit our Madison locations this time.

Tuesday 10/25

11:00am – 2:15pm University Avenue

3:00pm – 5:30pm- Watts Road

Lauren from Spurgeon Vineyards will be sampling our Wisconsin Cellars Collection this weekend at Watts Road and University. Try our N.T.S and N.T.D White, Raspberry Wine, Riesling and more paired with Wisconsin Cheeses. Join Lauren and our wine selectors for a day this Saturday.

Saturday 10/29

10:30am- 1:30pm- University Ave

2:30pm – 5:30pm- Watts Road