Meat and Cheese Roll-Ups

Thank you Tillamook for sponsoring this post. For a limited time this fall, try Tillamook's Extra Sharp White Cheddar Slices! Available at Costco.

These delicate roll-ups are the perfect accompaniment to your upcoming Fall gatherings.  They are easy to make and elegant alongside any spread.

It's a familiar scene. You've planned out an elaborate dinner party, invited all the familiar faces, and seemingly everything is going according to plan. The dinner turned out delicious, the guests were content and happy, and just as you sat down…everyone got up to leave.

It's a situation I've put myself through more than once, and it's the 'problem' where tackling today.

To start off, let's begin with one of the best ways of actually pleasing your guests, and then work our way back from there. Simply put, few things are as foolproof for impressing guests as a well thought out, well presented, and of course delicious, appetizer spread. It's the introduction to the main meal, and the 'ice breaker' for the event's socialization. Whether it's an elaborate antipasto that takes as much effort as the entrée, or simple 'bites' over drinks, this is perhaps the surest way of heightening your event's atmosphere, while showing your guests that you really went the extra mile for their enjoyment.

Now, while I've covered the aforementioned antipastos before, just recently in fact, what about simpler alternatives? What about those times when want to put together something nice for your guests, but also want to actually 'enjoy' your guests company without having to stand for hours in the kitchen? That, of course, is where today's appetizer spread comes in. Today's Roll-Ups serves quite well during the fall, and even possibly as 'cocktail' bites for New Year's, Halloween, or even Christmas Day parties. Delicious, fresh tasting, and looking like they took meticulous effort, these are crowd pleasers to the core - but are also a deceptively simple, time saving alternative to more elaborate antipasto recipes.

Now, to start things off, we begin with good quality cold cuts, and for the cheese I'll be using Tillamook Extra Sharp White Cheddar Slices, which are conveniently available at Costco in two pound bags for a limited time this fall through November. Tillamook is my cheese of choice for this recipe for the simple reason that it's made with just three simple ingredients before being aged, naturally, for fifteen months to achieve its signature sharpness and flavor - making it the perfect complement to my Cold Cut Roll-Ups.

From there, we begin with the Roast Beef Roll-Ups. To start, we lay out a slice of roast beef, top it with the Tillamook cheese, and then spread a whipped cream cheese over the cheese. In the center of the cream cheese we place a few fresh cilantro leaves, a bit of fresh dill, some green relish, and thin slices of fresh English cucumber. Then carefully roll the roast beef as depicted below, and secure it closed with a couple of toothpicks. Then slice the roll through the middle as pictured below, and then slice off the 'rough' ends on either side to achieve a clean, 'crisp' look as shown below.

We then do the same for the ham, layering on the Tillamook cheese followed by the whipped cream, but this time we use fresh basil, tomato relish, sliced avocado, and red onion. Then roll, secure with toothpicks, and slice as before.

Again, we follow the same process for the Turkey, layering on the Tillamook cheese followed by the whipped cream, but this time we use fresh chives, pimentos, green relish, and carrots. Then roll, secure it closed with toothpicks, and slice.

Meat and Cheese Roll-Ups

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• Author: Living the Gourmet
• Total Time: 20 minutes

Print Recipe

Ingredients

Units USM Scale 1x2x3x

• 8 oz. Whipped cream cheese
• Tillamook Sharp Cheddar Cheese Slices
• 1/2 lb. sliced Roast Beef
• 1/2 lb. sliced Turkey Breast
• 1/2 lb. sliced Ham
• English cucumber - sliced into thin sticks
• Carrots - sliced into thin sticks
• Red onion - sliced into thin strips
• Avocado - sliced into strips
• Fresh cilantro - stems removed
• Fresh basil leaves - stems removed
• Fresh green onions - chopped
• Fresh dill
• Sliced pimentos
• Tomato Relish
• Green Pickle Relish

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Instructions

Assembly:

1. Place a slice of roast beef, top that with a slice of Tillamook Sharp Cheddar Cheese, spread the whipped cream cheese on the cheese.
2. In the center of the cheese place a few fresh cilantro leaves, a bit of fresh dill, a bit of relish and fresh English cucumber. Place this along the center of the cheese, but do not overfill.
3. Carefully roll the slice of roast beef and secure with a toothpick or two. Slice the roll in the middle and slice each end to make a nice smooth appearance.
4. Continue this procedure with the rest of the cold cuts, alternating the cilantro leaves for the basil leaves and the fresh dill. Alternate the relish and the ingredients in the middle with the carrots, onions, cucumbers, etc..
5. You are only limited by your imagination with these roll-ups; however, the whipped cream cheese must be over each slice of the Tillamook Cheddar Cheese to hold the ingredients in place.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4-6

And just like that, you've got a delicious, simple to assemble starter using only fresh, natural ingredients that your guests are sure to love thanks to Tillamook Extra Sharp White Cheddar Slices.

Enjoy with Love!

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of CLEVER and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.