Queso Blanco Cheese Dip

Here is the serious question: are you allowed to cheer for a different team then your favorite team? I'm just asking. Now, I always cheer for the Denver Broncos but they will not be heading to the Superbowl. Then I cheer for my husband's favorite team which is the Dallas Cowboys. Well, my husband's friends tell me I can't cheer for his team since they aren't my favorite. Then I made the mistake of posting Go Patriots! They told me I can't cheer for the Patriots either. Well, I disagree with their logic. Since we have four children, then I would only be allowed to cheer for one child. Right? Well, I will cheer for the team I want to take home that Superbowl ring this weekend even if it isn't my beloved Broncos. If you are heading to a Superbowl party, you really should make this dip. It is cheesy and easy. My kids couldn't get enough of this recipe.

Queso Blanco Dip
1 Tbsp vegetable oil
1/4 cup white onion, diced
4 Roma tomatoes, seeded and diced
12 oz. white American cheese, shredded
6 oz. Pepper jack cheese, shredded
1/4 to 2/3 cup half and half

Directions:

1. In a medium saucepan, heat the oil over medium low heat.
2. Add the onion and tomatoes. Cook for a few minutes.
3. Add the American cheese, Pepper jack Cheese, and the 1/4 cup half and half. Stir until mostly melted.
4. Add additional milk until the desired consistency.

Recipe adapted from Confections of a Foodie Bride. 

One year ago..................................I made Baked Sweet and Sour Chicken.
Two years ago................................I made Hash Brown Potatoes.
Three years ago...............................I made Mushroom Burgers.

Did you already know..................
-The NFL team with the most revenue is the Dallas Cowboys.
 -In 1989, Jerry Jones purchased the Dallas Cowboys franchise for $150 million.
-In 2014, the average NFL team is worth over $1.4 billion.

Italian Ranch Dip

What is your favorite condiment? I like salsa. My husband would pick mayonnaise. My children would pick ranch. I have at least talked them into trying lite ranch which they liked. I tried this twist on the ranch dip and they liked it a lot. The best part was the vegetables I had for them to dip into their new dip. It helps to put the vegetables in cool little dishes.

Italian Ranch Dip
2/3 cup buttermilk
1/3 cup light sour cream
1/2 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp salt

Directions:

1. In a medium bowl,mix all the ingredients together. 
2. Serve with desired vegetables.

Recipe adapted from Healthy Recipes Kids Love cookbook.

Did you already know.....
-In the 1950s, Steve Hensen served his dressing at his ranch in California.
-The name of the ranch was Hidden Valley Ranch near Santa Barbara.
-He would give his dressing as a gift to his guest and it became very popular so they began selling it in packets.

Rotel Dip

Do you have any recipes you have been making forever? I say forever because I have been making this recipe dip for longer than my oldest daughter has been welcomed to this world. I have been making this recipe before there was the internet. If you are wondering my age, I will say I'm 29. Just remember, I am 29 right now and I was 29 last year. Next year, I will be 29 again.

I received this recipe from an Air Force friend. I did some research and I could not find this recipe on the Rotel website. I did find it posted on several other sites. This is my oldest daughter's favorite dip recipe.

 Rotel sausage dip

1 (10 oz.) can of Rotel
1 1/2 (12 oz.) package of cream cheese
1 package of Jimmy Dean or pork sausage
chips, crackers, vegetables, or other items for dipping

Directions:

1. Drain the can of Rotel.
2. In a microwave safe bowl, microwave the cream cheese and Rotel for one minute.
3. In a skillet, cook the sausage thoroughly.
4. Add the cream cheese and Rotel to the skillet. 
5. Cook the mixture for about 5 minutes.
6. Let cool for a few minutes and serve.

Recipe adapted from Kelly but unknown original source.

 Did you already know..................
-Rotel is diced tomatoes with green chili peppers.
-In 1943, Carl Roettele with his wife opened his canning factory in Texas.
-Mr. Roettele named his product Ro-tel because he didn't think no one would be able to pronounce his name.
-ConAgra Foods now own Rotel.

Buffalo Chicken Dip

I love hot and spicy foods. My two youngest children have no problem eating spicy foods. I call my youngest daughter spicy girl. Our two older children would rather I hold off on the hotness. It is funny to watch them try to eat a spicy dish and appear to be cool especially when their younger siblings have no problem. 

My husband loves spicy foods and request any type of dish with Buffalo chicken. My husband doesn't cook much but he will make this recipe. When I make this dish, I add a little more heat but you can always adjust the Buffalo sauce depending on how spicy you are feeling.

Buffalo Chicken Dip

8 oz. package of reduced fat cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup reduced fat ranch salad dressing

3/4 cup Frank's Redhot Buffalo Wing Sauce

1/2 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded

1/2 cup cheddar cheese, shredded

2 cups cooked chicken, shredded

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Add the chicken, cream cheese, ranch, and Buffalo sauce to a deep baking dish. Mix well. 
3. Add half the cheeses and combine. 
4. Spread mixture evenly on the dish.
5. Top the dish with the remaining cheese.
6. Bake between 20 or until mixture is heated through.
7. If the cheese is not golden, place under broiler for a few minutes.
8. Serve with chips, crackers, or vegetables.

Recipe adapted from Frank's Redhot.

For work, I have been to Buffalo, NY several times. The last time my friends talking me into going to the Anchor Bar. The wings were good and I would go back!

Did you already know............
-The owner of the Anchor Bar in Buffalo, NY is credited for creating the Buffalo wings.
-On Oct. 30th, 1964, owner Teressa Bellissimo fried up some chicken wings and dipped them in a buttery, spicy hot chile sauce for her son and his college friends for a late snack.(There are several other versions on how Teressa Bellissimo created the dish but this version is from the Anchor Br website.)
-When in Buffalo, Buffalo chicken wings are called chicken wings.

Onion Dip

Since it is football season, we invited several friends over to watch the game. My husband loves chips and dips. He thinks it is a food group.

So, we were at the store purchasing the necessities for our guest like chips, beer, and soda when my husband asked about making an onion dip.  I said it sounded good except for chopping all the onions.On this day, my husband offered to chop up the onions for me. He informed me that he wouldn't cry since he was so tough. I didn't argue with him. If you are going to make this dip, find a tough man to chop the onions.

Tough men

I will not show you any photos of whether or not my husband cried. I will assure you that I didn't cry at all.  It is hard work. I have heard if you wear goggle you will not cry. My husband is too cool to wear goggles. He would rather cry.

Warning: even the tough will cry while making this dish.

I seem to always cry when I chop onions, While I'm crying, I say loudly, "Why me? Why?" Instead of feeling sad for me, the kids find this very amusing.
 

Onion Dip
2 Tbsp olive oil 
2 1/2 cups medium onions, diced
1/2 tsp  salt 
1 1/2 cups sour cream 
1 cup mayonnaise 
1/2 tsp garlic powder 
1/4 tsp ground white pepper 
1/2 tsp salt

Directions:

1. Heat a skillet over medium heat and add oil.
2. Add the onions and 1/4 tsp salt in the hot pan.
3. Cook the onions until caramelized, about 18 minutes. Make sure to stir over the onions may burn.
4. Remove from heat and allow the onions to cool.
5. In the serving bowl, combine the sour cream, mayonnaise, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
6. Once the onions cool, add the onions to the sour cream bowl.
7. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
   

Recipe adapted from Alton Brown.

My three tough guys

Did you already know…………

-White pepper and black pepper are from the same berry.

-White pepper is from a fully ripe berry.

-It is milder in taste than black pepper.

-If making a white sauce or dip, use white pepper instead of black so no specks are detected.