Blue Polka Dot Cheese Mines in the Whole on the Cheese

Have a hankering for ravioli, but also want something light and flaky too? Then theseFried Pepperoni Ravioli and Pepperoni Polka Dot Bread are calling your name. You won't be disappointed with these cheesy appetizers. They were made using Hormel Pepperoni as part of a sponsored post for #CollectiveBias. #PepItUp

If you open my pantry on any given day you will find packages of Hormel Pepperoni piled in the corner. My husband snacks on pepperoni like most people snack on chips. So when I was offered an opportunity to host a party and serve some fun pepperoni filled dishes, he was excited.

For our little gathering, I fried up a batch of homemade pepperoni ravioli which were devoured quickly. My husband mentioned later as I was cleaning up that he'd like me to make some more at another time, meaning he wanted a batch all to himself.I also made a loaf of one of my favorites quick breads that has a crispy Parmesan cheese crust.

To make it fun and festive for my party I created polka dots using two different sizes of Hormel pepperoni.

Everyone thought it looked really cool and the entire loaf was gone by the end of the evening. That's always a good sign.

To round out my menu, I also made some slow cooker rigatoni speckled with pepperoni minis and my sister supplied a salad and my mom brought some fruit. For dessert I served my Chocolate Polka Dot Pound Cake Semifredo.

As I was shopping around for decorations for this little shindig, I happened upon a set of party ware featuring red and black polka dots. As soon as I spotted them I was reminded of pepperoni. I covered my kitchen island with the tablecloth and arranged my food and party ware so that everything was easy to reach.

Although my kitchen is filled with more dishes than most big families own, I tend to use a lot of paper plates, napkins, bowls, and cups at my parties. I just don't love doing dishes, plus this was a casual evening so I didn't see any need to get fancy.

We all enjoyed our dinner then spent the evening watching a movie together. I can't remember the last time we did that. It's been years.When the movie ended, we sat around for hours talking and enjoyed some dessert. We don't get to see my brother and nephew very often, so it was really nice spending time together. My nephew is the youngest kid in our family, and as you can see he isn't little anymore. He's as tall as his dad.

I was happy to have hosted a fun little party for my family and was even happier that everyone liked all my food.

Mini pepperoni speckled parmesan cheese loaf is great for any occasion!

Course: Bread

Cuisine: American

Keyword: parmesan bread, pepperoni bread

Servings: 1 loaf

1/4 cup finely grated Parmesan Cheese
3 cups all purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 cups whole milk
1 large egg
3/4 cup sour cream
3 tablespoons melted unsalted butter plus more to grease pan
3 ounces Parmesan Cheese shredded (about 1 cup)
1 bag Hormel pepperoni minis and 1 pillow pack of Hormel Original Pepperoni

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Stir together grated Parmesan Cheese, flour, baking powder, and salt.
Whisk together milk, egg, and sour cream
Combine wet and dry ingredients, add melted butter, and stir until a ball forms.
Grease a 9x5 loaf pan.
Sprinkle 1/2 of the shredded Parmesan cheese over the bottom of the pan.
Layer bread dough with rows of pepperoni.
Sprinkle on remaining cheese.
Bake for 55-65 minutes until golden brown on top and toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Cool for 10 minutes in pan, remove, then cool completely before slicing.

How to make Polka Dot Pepperoni Parmesan Quick Bread

Whisk together grated Parmesan Cheese, flour, baking powder and salt. Pour milk, egg and sour cream into a bowl. Stir until well combined. Add dry ingredients and butter. Stir just until the dough forms a ball.

Grease the bottom and sides of 9 x 5 loaf pan. sprinkle half of the shredded Parmesan cheese over the bottom of the pan.

Spread some of the bread batter over the cheese creating a half inch thick layer.Arrange a row of mini pepperoni down one side of the pan. Spoon a bit more bread batter next to the mini pepperoni row then arrange a row of original pepperoni down the other side of the pan putting batter in between small groups of 8 to 10 pepperoni.

I tried to make sure my rows of pepperoni where at different heights to make the polka dots in my bread more random looking.

Cover all that pepperoni with more batter and arrange another two rows of pepperoni on top.

Cover with the remaining bread batter then sprinkle the remaining Parmesan cheese over top.

Bake for 55 to 65 minutes until the top is dark golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center of the bread comes out clean.

Just a note, the pepperoni oil will ooze out into the bread pan and may bubble over. You might want to put a baking pan under the loaf while it bakes. Mine was fine, I didn't need it, but you might.

Allow the bread to cool for 10 min. in the pan before removing it to a cooling rack. Cool completely before slicing.Now on to pepperoni recipe number 2.

Fried won tons filled with a blend of three Italian cheeses and pepperoni are fun appetizers for any party.

Course: Appetizer

Cuisine: American

Keyword: fried ravioli, fried wontons

Servings: 48 wontons

Author: Beth

oil for frying
15 ounces ricotta cheese
1 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1 egg plus 1 more for egg wash
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 packages round won ton wrappers
1 package Hormel Pepperoni Minis
1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
optional: paremesan cheese bread dipping herb mix or some fresh Italian herbs
hot marinara sauce for dipping

Heat oil to 350 degree Fahrenheit.
Mix three cheeses with 1 egg and salt.
Spoon a heaping teaspoon of cheese mixture onto a won ton wrapper.
Arrange 6-8 pepperoni mini on top of cheese.
Whisk 1 egg with 1 teaspoon water.
Brush egg wash over one won ton wrapper.
Set over top of a cheese filled wrapper.
Pinch edges to seal.
Repeat.
Fry, flipping over once, until golden brown.
Drain on paper towels.
Sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese and herbs if using.
Serve with hot marinara sauce.

How to make Fried Pepperoni Ravioli

Heat oil to 350 degree Fahrenheit.

Stir together the ricotta, mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses. Beat 1 egg and pour into cheese along with the salt. Stir to combine. Beat the second egg with a teaspoon of water to create your egg wash.

Scoop a heaping teaspoonful of the cheese onto a won ton wrapper. Top with 6-8 pepperoni minis. Brush egg wash over another won ton wrapper, and place it over the cheese topped one. Pinch the edges of the two won ton wrappers together to seal them well. Repeat.

Fry, flipping over once, until golden brown on both sides.

Remove from the hot oil, set on paper towels to drain, immediately sprinkle some grated Parmesan cheese over top. If using also sprinkle on Parmesan Herb mix or fresh Italian Herbs.

I made these fried ravioli, took pictures, refrigerated them overnight, then right after my guests arrived, I heated them in a 350 degree oven for about 10 minutes and served them with hot marinara sauce.

Fried food is always best just out of the fryer, but my family seemed to really enjoy them even after being reheated.

My husband has requested that although he had to share his pepperoni with party guests, that I repeat this menu soon,

If you'd like to make this fun party food, you might like to have a coupon. Click here to save $1.00 on the purchase of any two (2) HORMEL® Pepperoni .

For more inspiration, check out Hormel's recipe pages on Facebook or follow them on Twitter@HormelFoods.

Fun Party Recipes