Maria Hunt, also known as The Bubbly Girl, is the author of The Bubbly Bar, the ultimate guide to entertaining with sparkling wine cocktails. One of her favorite sayings, it's always better with bubbly! is true to my heart.

"Champagnes and sparkling wines are my passion and I want more people to pair these joyful wines with every day meals and especially when entertaining".

We are honored as Maria shares with Seduction Meals one of her favorite recipes: Champagne Brie Spread which she tells us pairs well with any brut sparkling wine with crisp acidity, such as cava, Prosecco, or brut champagne. "This decadent appetizer created by Fleming's Steakhouse isn't served at the restaurant any more, but they were kind enough to share the recipe." Thank you Maria!

Champagne Brie Spread
Makes 1-1/2 cups spread

Ingredients:

• 8 ounces brie, cut out of the rind
• 6 ounces cream cheese
• 3 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese
• 3 ounces brut champagne
• 1 teaspoon white pepper
• 1 teaspoon butter, cut in pieces
• 2 teaspoons chopped Marcona almonds
• 2 teaspoons snipped fresh chives
• 6 or 7 Morello (brandy-soaked cherries), cut in half
• 1 teaspoon sun-dried tomatoes
• Assorted crackers

Directions:
In the bowl of an electric mixer with the paddle attachment, combine the brie and the cream cheese. Mix on low speed for 3 to 4 minutes, until smooth. Add the Parmesan cheese, champagne, white pepper and butter. Continue to blend for 5 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and mix for another 3 minutes.

Divide the spread into 5-ounce ramekins. Chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes or until just set. Remove from the refrigerator just before serving, and let the spread warm up slightly. Garnish one of the ramekins with almonds, one with chives, one with cherries and the fourth with sun-dried tomato. Serve with assorted crackers.

Check out her book: The Bubbly Bar