Tex - Mex Pull Apart Bread

I live in Texas and Jalapeños are a staple in our refrigerators and freezers. I also have plenty of jars of Pickled Jalapeño Slices in the Pantry.
This recipe uses a Jar of Nacho Slices.

Tex - Mex Pull Apart Bread:

1/2 C butter, melted

1 1/2 C Shredded 4 Cheese Mexican Blend

1/2 C Shredded Mozzarella Cheese

1- (10-12 ounce jar) of Pickled Jalapeno Nacho Slices, drained

1 tsp Dried Cilantro or Dried Coriander Seeds

6 Green Onions, sliced. Use all of the onion.

2 - 12 ounce tubes of any refrigerated biscuits, each biscuit cut into quarters.

Combine the first 6 ingredients in a large bowl, mix well

Fold in the biscuit pieces until well combined.

Place the mixture in a Bundt Pan ( your choice of design). coated with vegetable spray

Bake for 30 minutes in a preheated 350 degree oven.

Invert onto a serving platter and accompany with your favorite Salsa for dipping.

Enjoy!

Peace in the Kitchen!

Gruyère Fondue

I lived in Switzerland in the early 70's. It's where Fondue was created. If you're old enough, you either still have , or had, one of the 60's-70's Avocado Green or Harvest Gold Fondue Pots. We still have ours.

Gruyère Fondue

1 Clove of Garlic, crushed
1 1/2 C Dry White Wine ( a good French Sauterne)
1 pound of Gruyère Cheese, cubed
1 tsp Nutmeg
1/4 C Kirsch 
French Country Bread, cubed. You can use a Baguette too.

Rub the inside of a saucepan with the Garlic. Discard any remaining pieces.

Add Wine and bring to a boil.

Reduce heat to medium low and stir in the Cheese with a wooden spoon, until melted. 
Do not allow it to boil.

Cook for about 20 minutes, it will begin to thicken.

Add:
Nutmeg
Kirsch

Transfer to a Fondue Pot or Chafing Dish.

Serve by dipping cubed bread into the cheese with Fondue Forks.
Stir frequently while serving.
Add additional wine if it begins to thicken too much.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!

Vegetarian Tex - Mex Casserole

Here's a great tasting  Casserole that's Vegetarian. I make it with the addition of a package Meatless Ground Beef, that's been sautéed in 2 TBS of Vegetable Oil before adding it to the Casserole. You can opt out of the Meatless Ground and only use the Vegetables.

Baked Tortilla Chips are the best.

This is my choice of Salsa when I don't have any of
my own homemade available.

This is one of my favorite Tex-Mex Recipe Cheeses.

Here's what you'll need:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
1 - 9" X 13" Glass Casserole Dish.

1 TBS Vegetable Oil
1 Yellow Onion, diced
2 Cloves of Garlic, minced.
1 Green Bell Pepper, diced
1 - Red Bell Pepper, diced
1 C Corn
1 - 15 oz. can of Black Beans, drained
1 - 15 oz. can of Pinto Beans, drained
1 - 15 oz. can of Red Kidney Beans, drained
1 tsp Chili Powder
1/2 tsp Paprika
1/2 tsp Cumin
1/4 tsp Cayenne Pepper
2 C of your favorite Chunky Salsa
8 C of Broken Tortilla Chips
1 1/4 C Shredded Cheddar Cheese
1 1/4 C Queso Quesadilla Cheese

Garnishes:
Avocado
Diced Green Onion
Nacho Jalapeños
Diced tomatoes

In a Skillet on Medium High Heat:
Oil, until Hot.
Onion
Garlic
Sauté for a few minutes until clear.

Add:
Green Bell Pepper
Red Bell Pepper
Corn
Stir well.
Sauté for 5 minutes.

Add:
Black Beans
Pinto Beans
Kidney Beans
Chili Powder
Paprika
Cumin
Cayenne
Salsa
Stir well.
Cook for a few minutes.

In the Casserole Dish, Layer in the following order:
Half of the Tortilla Chips
1/2 of the Bean Mixture
1/2 of the Meatless Ground
1/2 of the Cheddar Cheese
1/2 of the Queso Quesadilla Cheese
Remaining Tortilla Chips
Remaining Bean Mixture
Remaining Meatless Ground
Remaining Cheddar Cheese
Remaining Queso Quesadilla Cheese

Bake for 30 minutes.

Serve Hot topped with your favorite Garnishes.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!

Easter Cookies that are Easy and really Cool!

There's no need for a recipe here. These cookies are so easy.

Here's what you'll need:

Buy some basic Sugar Cookies and Frosting.
Buy some Jelly Beans.
Buy some Coconut, Food Coloring and Zip Lock Bags.

Place Coconut in several different bags, for different colors of Coconut.
Add a few drops of food coloring and a few drops of water to each bag.
Shake to disperse the color evenly.

Frost each Cookie with Icing.
Top each Cookie with about a TBS of Coconut.
Top the Coconut with a few Jelly Beans.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!

Tex - Mex Tortilla Roll Up Appetizers

This is just a variation of a Tortilla Roll Up. There are many other recipes with different ingredients. You can customize them to your own personal taste.

8 oz. Sour Cream
8 oz. Cream Cheese, room temperature.
1 - 4.5 oz. can of Green Chiles, drained.
1 - 4.5 can of Chopped Black Olives, drained.
1 C Shredded Cheddar Cheese
1 tsp Adobo Seasoning
5 - 10" Flour Tortillas

In a Mixing Bowl with an Electric Hand Mixer:
Sour Cream
Cream Cheese
Mix until well combined.

Fold in by hand:
Chiles
Olives
Cheddar Cheese
Adobo Seasoning

Divide the mixture equally among the Tortillas.
Spread evenly.
Roll tightly.
Wrap each in Plastic Wrap.
Refrigerate for 2 hours.

Just prior to serving:
Slice to desired size.

Serve with your favorite Salsa.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!

Chocolate, Oats and Walnut Bars

My sister in law made these for a family gathering in Kansas. Some of the best recipes are the ones that come from family members. They're the recipes that we hand down from one generation to another. These are delicious and the perfect Bar to take to a family gathering or a church event.
I've researched these Bars and I can't find any definition for the name that they are traditionally known for, so I simply all them Chocolate, Oats and Walnut Bars.

Here's what you'll need:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
A 15" X 10" X 1 "  Rimmed Sheet Pan. Lined with Foil extending over all sides by 2".
You'll be able to lift the uncut Bars out of the Pan to a flat surface, slide them onto the surface and cut into squares.
A Stand Mixer with a Paddle Attachment.

16 TBS Butter,  room temperature,divided.
2 C Brown Sugar
2 Large eggs
4 tsp Vanilla, divided
2 1/2 C Flour
1 tsp Baking Soda
3 C Quick Cook Rolled Oats
1 - 14 oz. can Sweetened Condensed Milk
2 C Milk Chocolate Chips
1 C Chopped Walnuts


In the Stand Mixer with Paddle Attachment:
14 TBS Butter
Beat for 30 seconds.

Add:
Sugar
Beat until well combined.

Add:
Eggs
2 tsp Vanilla
Beat until well combined.

In a Mixing Bowl:
Flour
Baking Soda
Whisk Well

Add:
Oats
Mix just until combined.
Set Aside.


In a Saucepan on Low Heat:
Remaining Butter.
Sweetened Condensed Milk
Chocolate Chips
Heat until Chocolate is melted and stir to combine well.

Remove from Heat.
Fold in Walnuts
2 tsp Vanilla
Stir to combine well.


Remove 3 1/2 C of the Oats Mixture and Press it into the Foil Covered Pan.

Spread the Chocolate Mixture over the Oats Mixture.

Drop Dots of the remaining Oats Mixture evenly over the Chocolate.

Bake 25 minutes.
Remove Pan to a Rack to Cool Completely.

Use the Foil to lift it out of the Pan to a flat surface.
Slide the Bars onto the surface.
Cut into Squares.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!

Hobo Bread from Greenfield Village, Dearborn, Michigan

I grew up in Michigan. We often visited the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village in nearby Dearborn. It was part of our education too. We had many field trips there as elementary school kids. My parents took us there every year. I was fascinated every time I went.

At Greenfield Village you can experience firsthand the sights, sounds and sensations of America's formation, where over 80 acres are filled with resourcefulness and ingenuity.
Three Hundred years of American perseverance serve as a living reminder that anything is possible.
Visit the Lab where Thomas Edison had his lightbulb moment or visit the Workshop where the Wright Brothers taught us to reach for the sky.
You can take a ride in a Model T car or walk through four vintage working farms.
You can visit Colonial Artisans and explore the place where the American can-do spirit will inspire you.
At a Taste of History in Greenfield Village they serve Hobo Bread. It can be served with Honey Mustard, Turkey Breast, Cheddar Cheese and Red Onion.
At the Michigan Café in the Henry Ford Museum, they serve Cherry Chicken Salad made with Fresh Greens, Candied Walnuts, a Hard Boiled Egg, A slice of Red Onion and a piece of Hobo Bread served with their House Michigan Maple Tarragon Dressing.
You can toast a slice of Hobo Bread and serve it with Cream Cheese, Muenster Cheese or fresh Parmesan Cheese.
It's always served Hot so that the Cheese toppings will melt.
I hope you make this vintage Bread and think about it's history or maybe someday you can visit Greenfield Village. It's a walk through American History.

Here's what you'll need:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
A 9" X 5" Loaf Pan coated with a Vegetable Cooking Spray.

1 C Raisins, soaked in 1 cup of Boiling Water for 1 hour. Retain the excess water.
2 C Flour
3/4 C Granulated Sugar
1/2 tsp Salt
2 tsp Baking Soda
1 tsp Vanilla
3TBS Butter, melted
1/2 C Chopped Walnuts

In a Mixing Bowl:
Flour
Sugar
Salt
Baking Soda
Whisk well.

Add:
Soaked Raisins + the Water.
Vanilla
Butter
Stir by hand until well combined.

Fold in:
Walnuts

Spoon the Batter into the Pan.
Bake 45 - 50 minutes.
a toothpick in the center should come out clean.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!