I love recreating something that we once ate in a restaurant. As you may remember, we did this a few months ago with one of John’s favorite Italian dishes. Today, we’re doing it with one of his favorite appetizers. Recreating a dish is the same as recreating that memory. It keeps it fresh and while you eat, you’re transported back to that moment.Taste and smell are really powerful senses that I believe transcend time. You remember the first time you tasted or smelled things and when you taste or smell them again, it recalls those moments. Whether it’s an ex’s perfume or cologne or a delicious dish baking in the oven, it evokes a memory. Since John has a few more years of living under his belt than I do, he has more memories that I’m not a part of. It’s not sad, it’s just the truth.

Therefore, the best thing we can do is revisit his favorite dishes and incorporate them into our lives together – not erasing the memory; just enhancing it! These sticks were just as good as he remembered them to be, and I enjoyed sharing in his memory. Even if you don’t love smoked cheese, give this one a try – the smokiness really recedes when I baked them so it was a pleasant taste, not overpowering! A great spin on mozzarella sticks, just in time for those big football games!

Smoked Gouda Sticks
Serves: 12 (12 sticks)
1 pound smoked gouda block
1/2 cup flour
2 eggs
1 cup italian-style breadcrumbs
1 tablespoon garlic powder

Cut the gouda into sticks (about 6 inches long and 1/2 an inch wide and deep). Take out 3 separate bowls. In the first, place the flour. In the second, place the eggs and whisk them until they are well-combined. In the third, combine breadcrumbs and garlic powder.

Take a smoked gouda stick and roll it in the flour, covering every surface. Dip the stick into the egg, again covering every surface. Finally, coat the stick in breadcrumb mixture. Arrange the breadsticks on a cookie sheet and freeze at least 30 minutes until firm.

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Spray a cookie sheet with cooking spray and transfer the sticks to it. Spray the tops with cooking spray. Bake for 10 minutes, flip them over, and continue baking another 5 minutes, until golden. Serve immediately with marinara sauce if desired.