Emotional sentiment to OLD BAY:

I’ve been devouring OLD BAY since I was old enough to crack my first Maryland crab, which in my family was very young because if you didn’t learn fast, the crabs were gone fast! The Baltimore side of my family has always been passionate about OLD BAY, Maryland pride and crab & corn cookouts during the summer. I’ve always associated OLD BAY Seasoning with comfort and coziness, not to mention a delicious unique flavor you can’t get anywhere else! Did I mention my dogs name is OLD BAY? (Yes, i’m very serious about this seasoning!)

Not only did I enjoy OLD BAY in Maryland, but as I was being raised in Greece I would bring a can of OLD BAY Seasoning with me to sprinkle on octopus, fava beans and even my grandmas parmesan pasta! My family in Greece loved when I brought them cans of ‘Maryland’s finest’, they had never seen a product with so much flavor all in one, that worked on various different dishes!

My love for Baltimore has grown exponentially over the years, and I am so lucky to have been partially raised in a city with such immense pride for their local cuisine and seasonings - it has shaped me and this blog into what it is today - a delicious depiction of my life experiences and boy has OLD BAY played a huge part!

I hope you enjoy the following crowd pleasing cozy cheesy OLD BAY Queso con Summer recipe!

Recipe:

Queso con Summer (that also doubles as a mac and cheese sauce!)

Yield: 1 large bowl of Queso, or one large batch of Mac and Cheese (two portion sizes)

What you’ll need:

1 cup of raw cashews
1 cup of roasted butternut squash
2 cloves of garlic
1.5 cup of filtered water
1 tablespoon of ghee or Olive oil
1 tablespoon of OLD BAY seasoning
2 tablespoon of nutritional yeast
¼ cup of fire roasted tomatoes
1/4 slightly charred green pepper
¼ of a Jalapeño
optional: one tablespoon turmeric

How to:

Roast the green pepper in the oven for 3 minutes on broil OR char over open flame - only use 1/4 for sauce
Marinate butternut squash in a pinch of OLD BAY, and some olive oil on 425 degrees for 35 to 40 minutes
Once everything is roasted, add it into a food processor with:
- Cashews, water, ghee or olive oil, OLD BAY seasoning, nutritional yeast, Jalapeño
Blend on high until it’s reached your desired creamy consistency

For Mac and Cheese:

- Crab a cozy blanket, sit on your comfiest couch with your best book - cook your preferred pasta and pour sauce over top, mixing well until fully combined and creamy - the ideal guilt free mac and cheese!

For Queso:

Invite friends over, sit outside with an OLD BAY rimmed Margarita, and dip some of your favorite veggies or chips into this deliciously creamy, sin free, queso!

I hope you enjoy the OLD BAY seasoning recipe, not only are they fantastic on seafood but I dare you to incorporate OLD BAY into other dishes as well!

Want to win a season’s supply of OLD BAY Seasoning and Swag? Craft your own creation, or use this recipe, snap a photo and enter the #OldBayYourWay photo contest!

And as always, follow OLD BAY on their social channels for more recipes, ideas and fun! Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest !

Check out my daily stories and posts on my Instagram!

OLD BAY SEASONED MAC & CHEESE