spring is (officially) TOMORROW.
this is not a drill.
spring is tomorrow, and my birthday’s in 14 days, and passover is in one month, and it’s the most glorious time of the year.
which is one reason why i found myself sticking jagged matzah pieces into cream cheese this morning.
but there are two other reasons.
the first: trader joe’s everything but the bagel seasoning. now listen. if you’ve never had this stuff, you need to run — run — to your local tj’s and pick it up. heck, pick 2 up. heck, pick 83 up, because it. is. heaven.
you can probably tell what it is just by looking at it (or by reading its un-subtle name), but if you’re lost — this is essentially a mixture of all the spices and seeds and seasoning things they throw on everything bagels.
the third reason i threw these guys together, though, is probably the best and most important reason: because of friendsover.
friendsover is a holiday that doesn’t exist yet, but will exist someday very soon, because i plan on inventing it.
i’m sure the basic concept is fairly self-explanatory. but i promise i’ll try to document all of my friendsover planning adventures and misadventures right here on the blog anyway. so, more to come on that front soon.
in the meantime, though, i do think these little matzah bites would be perfect as appetizers for a less-traditional friendsover seder (appetizers on passover is, after all, a little sacrilegious), or as a snack or brunch bite during the remaining days of the holiday. they’re simple and no-fuss with just four ingredients, they’re delicious, and they’re downright adorable. what more could you ask for?
i’ve included a little how-to below, so i hope you’ll try them out — and, as i mentioned, be sure to stay tuned for all the friendsover content coming your way.
p.s. quick bagel poll. everything? plain? sesame?!
mini everything bagel matzah bites
makes 20-25
what you’ll need:
- 1 1/2 oz. (8-oz.) blocks cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 2 pieces matzah, broken into small pieces
- 1 2.3 oz. bottle Trader Joe’s Everything but the Bagel Sesame Seasoning Blend
what you’ll do:
- in a medium bowl, stir together the cream cheese and cheddar until they’re well-combined. use your hands (wet them first to make them less sticky!) to shape the cheese mixture into about 20 extra-extra-small balls, and place them to a parchment–lined plate or baking sheet. refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
- pour 1/2 bottle of everything but the bagel seasoning into a medium bowl, and roll each ball in the seasoning blend individually.
- stick a matzah piece into each cheese ball, then plate as pictured and wait at least 45 minutes before serving so the cheese isn’t cold!