Crock Pot Chile con Queso

Chile con queso, often described in North America simply as queso, is an appetizer or side dish of melted cheese and chili peppers. It's typically served in Tex-Mex restaurants as a dipping sauce for Tortilla Chips.

As Texans, we eat a lot of Queso. We all have our favorite recipes. It's almost like a staple food for us at parties and family gatherings. This recipe is an adaptation of Chile con Queso that was shared with me by my niece, Heather. Thank Heather.


1 - 32 oz. block of Velveeta Cheese , cubed
1 - 8 oz. package of Cream Cheese, cubed
1 - 10 oz. can of Rotel Tomatoes
1 - 10.75 oz can of Cream of Mushroom Soup
2 - 4 oz. cans of Diced Green Chiles
1 pound of Ground Beef or Sausage or a combination of both. ( I use a vegetarian Ground Beef and Soyrizo)

Brown the Beef or Sausage in a skillet on medium heat and set aside.

Place the Velveeta and  Cream Cheese in the Crock Pot.
Add the Rotel Tomatoes and Cream of Mushroom Soup.
Stir well.

Heat on low for 30 minutes.

Add meat , stir to combine and continue cooking for 30 minutes.
Stirring occasionally.

Serve with Tortilla Chips or Flour Tortillas.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!

Hot Chocolate, Hot Cappuccino and Homemade Instant Hot Chocolate Mix

It's cold, rainy and dreary outside. We may even get sleet or ice. It's the perfect time for Hot Chocolate.
We always have home made Instant Hot Chocolate Mix in the pantry. Today my wife found these miniature marshmallows, perfect for a mug of Hot Chocolate.

Home Made Hot Chocolate:

This is our favorite Hot Chocolate.

3 C Whole Milk

3 C Half and Half

Heat to simmer

Add 2 C Chocolate Chips ( I prefer Ghirardelli)

Stir until the Chocolate melts

Add 2 TBS Vanilla

(if you want to kick it up a notch and make it Tex - Mex, add 1/8tsp Ground Cayenne Pepper)!

Serve Hot!

Enjoy!

Peace in the Kitchen!

This makes a hot, instant, Homemade Cappuccino drink.

2 C non dairy coffee creamer

1 C instant dry milk

1 1/2 TBS Chocolate Nesquik

2/3 C instant coffee ( I use Medaglia D'Oro instant espresso)

3/4 C sugar

3/4 C Confectioner's sugar

1/4 tsp cinnamon

1/8 tsp nutmeg

a dash of vanilla

Mix all but the vanilla

Store in a sealed container

Use 3 rounded TBS of the mix per cup of hot water

Add a dash of Vanilla to each cup of Cappuccino.

Enjoy!

Peace in the Kitchen!


Instant Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix:

This recipe is from a newspaper clipping in the 70's. My wife has had it since then and she adapted it. I've never known a time when we haven't had a container of it in our Pantry. It's a Winter Staple at our house.
Here's a photograph of the original recipe and my wife's note as she figured out the taste that she wanted.

Here's my wife's version:

1 pound of Powdered Sugar
1 - 30oz. box of Nestle's Quick
12 ounces of a non dairy creamer
1/2 of an 8 quart box of Instant Milk

Combine all ingredients well.
To serve, add 1/2 C of the mixture to a mug and add boiling water.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!

Homemade Hot Chocolate:

This is just another version.

1 1/2 C Whole Milk
1/2 C Heavy Cream
2 tsp Confectioner's Sugar
1/2 tsp Medaglia d'Oro Espresso Coffee Powder
8 oz. Bittersweet Chocolate, chopped

In a saucepan on medium heat:
Milk
Cream
Sugar
Coffee Granules
Whisk well.
Simmer, don't boil.

Remove from heat.
Add:
Chocolate
Whisk until it melts.
Return to simmer if necessary.

Serve topped with a Dollop of Whipped Cream.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!

Christmas Stout Loaf Cake and Guinness Stout Layer Cake

In many European Countries Stout Cake is a very Traditional Christmas Dessert.
I like to make recipes from other countries for Christmas.

This recipe comes from The  National Baking Society.
My choice of Stout is Guinness. You can use your favorite Stout Beer. The darker the beer, the darker the cake and that's the end result you're looking for.

Here's what you'll need:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees
1 - large Loaf Pan, brushed well with Pan Release Mix (recipe is at the beginning of the next recipe)

Stout Cake:

4 C Flour

2 tsp Baking Soda

1 tsp Cinnamon

1 tsp ground Ginger

1/2 tsp ground cloves

2 1/4 cups dark Brown Sugar

1 large Egg

1- 12 oz. bottle of  Stout Beer

In a large bowl:
Sugar
All Spices
Whisk well.

Add:
Egg
Whisk again.

Add:
Flour
Mix well to incorporate it.

Add:
Beer in a steady stream while stirring to incorporate.
Pour the batter into the pan.
Bake 40 - 50 minutes, until a toothpick in the center comes out clean.
Remove to a rack and cool for 15 minutes.
Invert the cake to the rack and cool completely.
Serve plain or with Butter.

Tightly wrap the cake in plastic wrap and store at room temperature.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen, and a pint!

Guinness Layer Cake

Here's what you'll need:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
3 - 8" X 2" Cake Pans or 2 - 9" X 2" Cake Pans brushed with Pan Release Mix. (equal amounts of Crisco, Vegetable Oil and Flour) I start with 1 C of each mixed well and refrigerated in a jar. I always have it available for all of my baking needs.

Cake Ingredients:

2 C Guinness Stout Beer
4 sticks (32 TBS) of Butter, cubed
1 1/2 C Dark Cocoa Powder
4 C Flour
4 C Sugar
1 TBS Baking Powder
1 1/2 tsp Salt
4 Large Eggs
3/4 C Sour Cream

Icing Ingredients:

1 pound of Semi Sweet Chocolate, roughly chopped
2 C Heavy Cream
1 tsp Vanilla
2 TBS Medaglia d'Oro Espresso Coffee Powder

Cake preparation:

In a saucepan on medium heat:
Guinness
Butter
Heat until the butter is completely melted.
Remove from heat
Add:
Cocoa Powder
Whisk until smooth.
Set aside to cool to room temperature.

In a large Mixing Bowl:
Flour
Sugar
Baking Powder
Salt
Whisk well.
Set aside.

In a large mixing bowl:
Eggs
Sour Cream
Whisk well.

Add:
Beer mixture.
Mix well by hand.

Add:
Flour mixture.
Beat on slow speed with an electric hand mixer .
Divide the batter evenly among the pans.

Bake the 8" pans for 35 minutes.
Bake the 9" pans for 45 minutes.
Bake either of them until a toothpick in the center comes out clean.

Icing preparation:

In a heatproof glass bowl:
Chocolate

In a saucepan on medium heat:
Heavy Cream
Simmer until warm.

Add to the Chocolate
Stir well until smooth.

Add Vanilla and Espresso Powder.
Stir until combined well.
Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2 hours.
Stir a few times.

Assemble the cake, layered with icing and topped with icing.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!

Texas Cowboy Cake

I live in Texas, this cake is very appealing to me. The general concept behind this recipe was that it contains only ingredients a ranch would have readily available. That may be true , or it may be a tall tale! Either way, I like the story and I believe it to be true! I've added a few comments here and yonder......

Texas Cowboy Cake:

3 C sugar
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
3/4 tsp ground cloves
2 C water
1 C strong brewed coffee
1 box (15oz.) raisins
1 box (8oz.) dates, chopped
3/4 C (1 1/2 sticks) butter
4 1/2 C flour
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 TBS baking powder
3/4 tsp salt
1 C chopped pecans
1 C pecan halves , or enough pecans to decorate the tops of the cakes, as per the recipe directions!
1/2 C light corn syrup
2 TBS bourbon or rum (optional)

Combine the first 8 ingredients in a saucepan and bring to a low boil on medium heat, stirring constantly.
Reduce heat and simmer 5 minutes.
Remove from heat to cool

Sift together:
flour
baking soda
baking powder
salt

Once cooled to lukewarm, slowly stir the liquid spice/fruit mixture into the dry ingredients.
Pour batter into 2 -  9"X 5" loaf pans that have been well greased. ( I use my Pan Release Mix found on the Blog under Tips, Hints and More) , you can either butter them or spray with a vegetable cooking spray. The Pan Release Mix is a guarantee that the cakes will release, that's my Cowboy guarantee!

Arrange pecan halves in a decorative pattern on top of the batter in each pan.
Bake at 300 degrees for 1 hour.
Remove from the oven for the next step.

With a brush, gently apply a coat of corn syrup ( the bourbon or rum may be added to the syrup at this time, as an option), over both of the cakes, utilizing all of the syrup. Ye Haw, cowboys add the booze!
Probably Jack Daniels Tennessee Whiskey, I'm just sayin !

Return the cakes to the oven and continue to bake an additional hour, until a toothpick comes out clean in the center.

Cool completely on a wire cooling rack.

Serve the cake slices drizzled with additional bourbon or rum along with whipped cream.
( or you might consider making the whipped cream with the addition of the booze)!

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!

Creamy Cheddar Cheese Grits / Ree Drummond, The Pioneer Woman

I just watched an episode of the Pioneer Woman. I love Grits. Texans love Grits.
I like this recipe a lot. The addition of vegetables gives the Grits additional flavor.
I use a vegetarian Chicken or Vegetarian Beef Stock.
I'm not sure how many of my readers eat grits, but I would recommend starting with these.
I also have  recipes for Smoked Gouda Cheese Grits. Texas Cheese and Chile Grits. Smoked Gouda Cheese Grits Souffle and Creamed Grits Casserole. Try them, you might love them!
I simply re posted Ree's recipe.

1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon oil
2 jalapenos, diced
1 whole onion, diced
1 whole red bell pepper, diced
4 cups stone-ground grits
8 cups low-sodium chicken (or beef) broth
2 cups half-and-half
2 cups grated Cheddar
Directions
Heat the butter and oil in a pan and add the jalapenos, onions and bell peppers. Cook until softened, 5 minutes or so.

Pour in the grits, followed by the broth and 3 cups water. Stir, and then bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, and then cover and cook for 30 to 40 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Add the half-and-half. Stir, and then cook until the grits are tender, another 20 to 30 minutes. At any time, add more broth if the grits look like they need more cooking liquid.

Remove the grits from the heat and stir in the cheese. Serve immediately.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!

Mini Tartlets

Mini Tartlets:

I just saw this recipe on The Chew.
I've adapted it to utilize one of my recipes.
Check out my Scalloped Apples Recipe to fill these Tartlets.
Another Option would be to use pears in place of the apples to make Scalloped Pears and fill the Tarts. I reposted the recipe here.
I bought some Vegetarian Mincemeat at a local market and I'll make mine with the Mincemeat for Christmas.
This is very simple to do.

Here's the recipe.

1 (8oz.) package of Pillsbury Crescent Rolls.

Lay the dough on a floured surface and use a floured rolling pin to roll the dough to 1/4" thick.
Pinch the seams together and roll.
Cut into 2" squares.
Tuck squares into the cups of a mini muffin tin.
The corners will stick up.

Fill the cups with your choice of filling mentioned above.
Bake at 350 degrees for 10 -12 minutes. The edges will turn golden brown.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!

This is a Thanksgiving Favorite in our Family!

It's great any time of the year.

I wanted to recreate the flavor of Apples that we used to get at Luby's Cafeteria when I was a kid. I loved them and they always had them around Thanksgiving. I knew they weren't baked so I created this microwaved version. They are exactly as I remembered them.

10 C peeled, cored and sliced tart apples (about 8 med. apples), of course it depends on the size of the apples.

This is the preparation stage of the apples.

After they're coated with the sugar and spices they are dotted with butter.

They are then microwaved with a cover slightly ajar.

This is the final product.

1/3 C Sugar

2 TBS Cornstarch

1 tsp Cinnamon

1/4 tsp ground Nutmeg

2 TBS Butter

Raisins and Pecans (optional)

Place Apples in a 2 1/2 Quart Microwavable Baking dish with a cover

Combine Sugar, Cornstarch,Cinnamon and Nutmeg in a small bowl

Sprinkle ove the Apples and toss to coat well

Add Raisins and Pecans if desired

Dot with pieces of Butter

Cover and microwave for 15 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes.

Enjoy!

Peace in the Kitchen!

Dallas Morning News Taste Section 11/20/2013

I didn't post anything from the paper last week. I was surprised to find that there were no recipes, only a list of stores where you could buy food for Thanksgiving.  I realize that not everyone cooks and purchasing your Thanksgiving Dinner has become very easy. The menus for a complete dinner have certainly improved for those needing to buy it.
However, today I read a recipe that I liked. It's from a restaurant in Dallas called Slow Bone BBQ. Anyone who knows Texas, knows that we have some great food at our BBQ restaurants. There are also a large variety of vegetarian sides for those that do not eat meat. I'm impressed with the entire meal I can get at a BBQ restaurant. Another favorite BBQ Restaurant here is called Hard 8. Their sides and desserts are impressive.

Whenever any recipe calls for salt. I use French Sel de Mer that I  have mixed with dried Rosemary, that I grow and dry myself. I gather it in bundles, tie it with string, hang it in the garage to dry. Once it's dried, I pulse it in a coffee grinder that I only use for herbs.

Here's my pick of the week:

Slow Bone Cauliflower and Brussels Sprout Gratin:

2 1/2 C heavy cream
1/3 C chopped shallots
1 TBS  chopped fresh sage leaves
Kosher salt to taste
2 TBS olive oil
1 C bread crumbs
1 1/2 TBS chopped fresh parsley
1 1/2 pounds small-medium brussels sprouts, trimmed and quartered if medium sized), halved if they are small. (I bought a 2 pound bag and used it all)
1 medium head of cauliflower, trimmed and cut into 1" florets.
2 C grated parmesan cheese, divided

Butter a 9"X13" baking dish
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Combine cream, shallots and sage leaves in a large saucepan.
Bring to a boil.
Reduce the heat and simmer until the mixture is reduced to about 2 1/2 C, this should take about 10 minutes.
Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Remove from heat and set aside to cool.

Heat oil in a large skillet on medium heat.
Add breadcrumbs and stir until beginning to brown, about 2 minutes.
Transfer to a bowl and set aside to cool.
Stir in parsley.
Sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper.

Arrange half of the vegetables in the buttered dish.
Sprinkle with half of the parmesan cheese.
Arrange remaining vegetables over the first layer.
Sprinkle with remaining cheese.

Pour cream evenly over the casserole.
Cover with foil.
Bake for 50 - 60 minutes.
Remove foil.
Sprinkle casserole evenly with bread crumb mixture and return to bake uncovered for an additional 15 minutes, or until bread crumbs are browned.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!

Basic ingredients.

The Cream Sauce cooking.

This is after its baked for 1 hour.

The final dish after the Bread Crumbs have browned.