Maybe you’ve spent enough time in the kitchen over the past two months whipping up festive holiday meals to think you deserve a vacation from KP duties.

But this delicious recipe is one that you can prepare in the same amount of time it would take to throw some pizza poppers in the over. And need I say that not only is it more delicious (and nutritious) but will make a great Super Bowl party dish. Much better than just serving chips and a dip!

First, this is all about fresh mozzarella, the often neglected relative of the “melting” kind that you use on pizzas, lasagna, and other Italian dishes.

Fresh mozzarella, while similar in taste, is creamy, soft and, in my opinion, much more delicious (and not used for melting). It’s usually sold either packed in a “brine” or wrapped tightly in the deli department. If you have an Italian (or gourmet) market in your area, you can probably get some home-made sliced to order. And that’s about as fresh as it gets!

Note about keeping fresh mozzarella: Since this cheese isn’t aged, it won’t keep as long as other varieties. If you have any left that’s not used in this recipe, keep it covered and in a water “bath” that you replace about every other day. But once you start using fresh mozzarella, it’s doubtful you’ll have any leftovers for too long.

Fruit-and-herb-marinated mozzarella recipe

Serves around seven

• 1 ½ to 2 pounds of fresh mozzarella
• 1 (15 or 20 oz.) can of mandarin oranges, drained
• 1 (15 or 20 oz.) can of pineapple tidbits, drained
• 3 to 4 tablespoons Wild Oats organic olive oil
• ¼ teaspoon Wild Oats organic crushed red pepper
• ½ teaspoon Wild Oats organic thyme
• Ground pepper to taste

Cut mozzarella into cubes and combine in a serving bowl with the mandarin oranges and pineapple.

In a small bowl, mix the olive oil, and herbs, and then drizzle that over the mozzarella and fruit, toss lightly and sprinkle with ground pepper.

Cover, and let it marinate at room temperature for 30 to 60 minutes.

Serve with thick slices of warm, crusty bread, and enjoy! It’ll be a winner no matter which team wins.