Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Bavarian Sliders with Kayem Minis

I can't lie, one of my favorite packages to receive in the mail is the Box O' Meat from Kayem Foods.  As the official hot dog provider for both the Boston Red Sox and the New England Patriots, they definitely evoke a feeling of fandom from me, and with their natural casings creating a perfect snap in their dogs, my fan feeling grows even more.

We are, of course, in the midst of the holiday season and as such Kayem sent over a Box O' Meat with a recipe to check out for upcoming holiday parties and football viewing gatherings.  I ended up enjoying the recipe far more than I had anticipated (as I helped myself to seconds).  They had selected the Bavarian Sliders for me to check out and with the mix of a salty pretzel roll, tangy sauerkraut, tender mini franks and nutty Jarlesberg Cheese, these little guys were addictive!  They are a perfect addition to a football party to keep one hand available for high fives and the other filled with a delicious snack.

Bavarian Sliders with Kayem Minis
Serves 12
Prep and Cook Time:  20 Minutes

24          Kayem Minis Beef Cocktail Franks
2½ tbsp  butter, unsalted
1½ cups  sauerkraut, low sodium
¼ cup     white wine (optional)
4 oz        Jarlsberg Cheese, thinly sliced and cut into 1 ½ square pieces
1 tbsp     Dijon mustard
12          Soft pretzel mini buns, sliced in half

Directions:
Preheat broiler
Melt 1/2 tbsp of butter in a small sauté pan and lightly brown the cocktail minis over medium heat.  In a separate pan, heat the sauerkraut with the wine.
Meanwhile, melt the remaining butter and brush the tops and bottoms of the pretzel buns.  Place on a baking sheet and lightly brown under the broiler.  Note:  watch carefully so they don't burn.
To assemble, brush pretzel bottoms with Dijon mustard.  Top with sauerkraut, 2 minis each and a slice of cheese.  Place under the broiler, allowing the cheese to melt and bubble.
Finish with the pretzel bun tops and serve immediately!

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