Cougar Gold is 75. To celebrate, we’re asking fans of WSU’s famed signature canned cheddar to share their favorite original recipes.
It’s not too late to participate. Send yours to wsm@wsu.edu.
A crab love supreme
My absolute favorite receipt for Cougar Gold is called Crab Supreme. Split a sourdough English muffin and slather on Miracle Whip generously. Layer on gobs of fresh Dungeness crab. Cover with slices of Cougar Gold. Broil in oven until the cheese melts and starts to slightly brown. Heaven is now on your plate and ready to eat! Can’t be beat.
from Rod Swanson (’68 Chem.)
Thanksgiving green bean casserole
from Jason Bushman (’09 Arch.)
Here is my favorite Cougar Gold recipe. I make it every year for Thanksgiving.
Ingredients
3 cup fresh green beans*
4 to 6 strips thick-cut bacon, diced into 1/8- to ¼-inch cubes
2 cups fresh small portobello mushrooms, cut into quarters
½ cup red wine
1 tablespoon minced garlic
Salt and pepper, to taste
½ cup flour
1 tablespoon Johnny’s Seasoning Salt
½ tablespoon garlic powder
1 Walla Walla sweet onion, sliced into thin strips
Oil, for frying
1½ cups Cougar Gold cheese, grated
1 cup Crimson Fire! cheese, grated
1 to 2 cans cream of mushroom soup
½ cup milk
½ cup heavy cream
Boil green beans for 5 to 10 minutes, then blanch in an ice bath, pat dry, and set aside. Pan fry bacon until crispy, then dry off on a paper towel, and set aside. Sauté mushrooms in red wine with red wine, garlic, salt and pepper until cooked, then set aside.
Add flour to mixing bowl along with Johnny’s Seasoning Salt, garlic powder, and pepper to taste. Whisk to combine. Coat onion strips with flour mixture, then deep-fry until crispy and set aside.
Add cream of mushroom soup, milk, and heavy cream to a casserole dish. Stir to combine. Add mushrooms, fried onions, green beans, cheese, and half of the bacon. Mix until combined.
Bake in a 350-degree oven for 25 minutes or until bubbly. Remove casserole from oven, top with remaining bacon, return to oven and bake for 5 more minutes.
* Over the years, I have started using the Costco frozen shoestring green beans. I thaw them out first.
Note: Canned fried onions can be used in place of the Walla Walla sweet onion, flour, Johnny’s Seasoning Salt, garlic powder, and oil for frying.
Baked Cougar Gold Brat Tailgate Dip
from Sara Kvitek, Green Bay, WI
Nothing says football like brats and cheese, and here in Green Bay, WI, we are experts in all of these! Having been given a tin of Cougar Gold by my aunt Joan Helm, a Washington State alum, I was impressed by the flavor of this cheese. I was looking for a way to use my Cougar Gold and created this tasty tailgate dip!
Ingredients
2 grilled bratwursts – cut into small pieces
½ tin of Cougar Gold crumbled
2 cups of shredded cheese
1 cup ranch dressing
Directions
Preheat oven at 350.
Combine ingredients into bowl.
Transfer to 8×8 baking dish
Bake for 30 minutes
Remove from oven and let sit for 10 minutes
Serve with pita chips or crackers. Feel free to mix up this recipe by using other types of sausage or shredded cheese.