Queso

I don't know if any of you will be having a Super Bowl Party this year, but find an excuse to make this queso because it's delish! (In case you haven't noticed I have developed a taste for Ro*Tel tomatoes lately.)

1 lb Velveeta, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1 can (10 oz) RO*TEL Diced Tomatoes & Green Chilies, undrained
about 1/3 lb or more (depending on your desire for meat) cooked and drained Jimmy Dean ground pork sausage

Mix ingredients in a 2 quart saucepan over medium heat until cheese is melted, stirring frequently. It scorches easily so be careful.

Serve with tortilla chips and feed your friends who will then become your new best friends simply because you fed them this dip.

Super Easy (and delish) Tortilla Soup

Who wants to eat the crumbled up tortilla chips at the bottom of the bag? They're too small to dip but you don't want to toss them... well this soup is your solution. (Do I sound like an infomercial?) I got this recipe from good ol' Martha Stewart.

The only changes I made were that I used RoTel tomatoes with green chilis in place of the diced tomatoes and I added some shredded chicken breast. The RoTel tomatoes definitely gave it a kick but that's the way we like it here in the Masias house. Enjoy!

Ingredients

Serves 4.

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 2 cans (14 1/2 ounces each) diced tomatoes in juice
  
• 2 cans (15 ounces each) black beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 can (14 1/2 ounces) reduced-sodium chicken broth
• 1 package (10 ounces) frozen corn kernels
• Coarse salt and ground pepper
• 1 cup crushed tortilla chips, plus more for serving (optional)
• 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice, plus lime wedges for serving

Directions

1. In a large saucepan, heat oil over medium. Cook garlic and chili powder until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add tomatoes (with juice), beans, broth, corn, and 1 cup water; season with salt and pepper.
2. Bring soup to a boil; reduce to a simmer. Add tortilla chips; cook until softened, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in lime juice, and season with salt and pepper. Serve soup with lime wedges and, if desired, more chips.

Cafe Rio Salad

So those of you have lived in Utah probably know the restaurant Cafe Rio. Nate and I love it. So I found these recipes for some components of their salad. The dressing is my most favorite. However, it is all delicious. Hope you all enjoy.

Café Rio Creamy Tomatillo Dressing

1 (.4oz) packet Buttermilk ranch salad dressing mix

2 tomatillos

½ bunch of cilantro

1 garlic clove

1 lime, juice of

1 jalapeno

1. Mix buttermilk dressing as directed on package (mine calls for 1 C. buttermilk and 1 C. mayo).
2. Combine all other ingredients and mix in a blender until creamy and smooth.
3. Seal in airtight container in refrigerator.

Café Rio Lime Rice

4 T. butter

2 ½ C. rice

4 ½ C. chicken broth

1 ½ tsp. salt

Juice from 4 limes or 4 T. lime juice

4 T. chopped cilantro

½ tsp. cumin

Dump in rice cooker until done. If you don’t have a rice cooker just add it all to a pot and stir occasionally until all liquid is absorbed.

Salad

Melt some shredded cheese on a flour tortilla in oven and place in bowl. Top with lime rice, black beans, lettuce, tomatoes, tortilla strips, guacamole, chicken (I just cook it with some taco seasoning or a little adobo), fresh cilantro, and tomatillo dressing.

Cake Balls

So I haven't made these myself I have only participated in eating some and let me tell you they are delicious.

Make a devils food cake (from a box). Break or cut the cake and put it in a large bowl. Take a tub of cream cheese frosting and mix it into the cake. You should have a glob of cake goop. Then roll it into desired size (about bite size). Decide what kind of chocolate you want to cover them in (dark, white, milk). Melt the chocolate to cover the cake balls. Now like I said I have never made them myself. I am not sure if it is better to dip and then set on wax paper or to try to pour the melted chocolate over them. I think probably dipping. I had some this Christmas that were dipped in white chocolate and then topped with crushed oreos. Mmmmmm delicious.

Now I just have to have an occasion that I can make them for or else I will consume them all myself.

Thanks Shell, for posting so many recipes.

Seasoned Rice

We made this recipe the other day to go with our shishkabobs. It was amazing! (We halved it and still had a lot of rice. This is a huge recipe.)

Ingredients

2 c. white rice
½ c. butter
2 tsp garlic powder
½ c. soy sauce
1 large white onion, diced
1 c. parsley, finely chopped
1 tsp cayenne pepper (add more for hotter rice)
4 c. chicken stock
2 tbsp paprika
½ tsp salt
½ tsp black pepper

Directions

In skillet, melt butter, add rice and let brown 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally until lightly browned.
Once rice is cooked, add rest of ingredients and bring to a boil for 5 minutes.
Turn down from boiling and simmer for 15-20 minutes or until rice is soft.
Makes 6 cups of rice (approx. 8 servings)

Homemade Marshmallows

Ingredients

Makes 24

Vegetable oil, for brushing
4 envelopes unflavored gelatin (3 tablespoons plus 1 1/2 teaspoons)
3 cups granulated sugar
1 1/4 cups light corn syrup
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar

Directions

Brush a 9-by-13-inch glass baking dish with oil. Line with parchment, allowing a 2-inch overhang on the long sides. Brush parchment with oil; set aside.
Put granulated sugar, corn syrup, salt, and 3/4 cup water into a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat, stirring to dissolve sugar. Cook, without stirring, until mixture registers 238 degrees.on a candy thermometer, about 9 minutes.
Meanwhile, put 3/4 cup cold water into the bowl of an electric mixer; sprinkle with gelatin. Let soften 5 minutes.
Attach bowl with gelatin to mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. With mixer on low speed, beat hot syrup into gelatin mixture. Gradually raise speed to high; beat until mixture is very stiff, about 12 minutes. Beat in vanilla. Pour into prepared dish, and smooth with an offset spatula. Set aside, uncovered, until firm, about 3 hours.
Sift 1 cup confectioners' sugar onto a work surface. Unmold marshmallow onto confectioners' sugar; remove parchment. Lightly brush a sharp knife with oil, then cut marshmallow into 2-inch squares. Sift remaining 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar into a small bowl, and roll each marshmallow in the sugar to coat. Marshmallows can be stored in an airtight container up to 3 days.

Recipe found on Marthastewart.com

Broiled Tilapia Parmesan

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
• 1/4 cup butter, softened
• 3 tablespoons mayonnaise
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 1/4 teaspoon dried basil
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/8 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/8 teaspoon celery salt
• 2 pounds tilapia fillets

Directions

1. Preheat your oven's broiler. Grease a broiling pan or line pan with aluminum foil.
2. In a small bowl, mix together the Parmesan cheese, butter, mayonnaise and lemon juice. Season with dried basil, pepper, onion powder and celery salt. Mix well and set aside.
3. Arrange fillets in a single layer on the prepared pan. Broil a few inches from the heat for 2 to 3 minutes. Flip the fillets over and broil for a couple more minutes. Remove the fillets from the oven and cover them with the Parmesan cheese mixture on the top side. Broil for 2 more minutes or until the topping is browned and fish flakes easily with a fork. Be careful not to over cook the fish.

Recipe found on Allrecipes.com

Pear Honey

Ingredients

• 8 cups peeled, cored and chopped pears
• 1 cup unsweetened pineapple juice
• 8 cups white sugar

Directions

1. Place chopped pears into a large pot, and pour pineapple juice over them to prevent them from browning. Stir in sugar, and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Stir frequently to prevent scorching. When the pears are at a full boil, reduce heat to medium, and cook until the mixture is the color and texture of honey. The longer you cook it, the thicker it gets. Cooking time is usually 2 to 3 hours.
2. Ladle into hot sterile jars, filling to within 1/4 inch of the top. Wipe rims with a clean damp cloth, and seal jars with lids and rings. Process in a boiling water canner for 10 minutes, or the amount of time recommended by your local extension for your area.

RECIPE FOUND on allrecipes.com

I'll try not to delete this blog too. Boooohoooo. :(

New Blog

So Michelle had a recipe blog that she had up and running for our family. Well unfortunately she accidentally erased it with her gmail account. So with Michelle's permission, I took the liberties of starting another. However, all the yummy recipes we have posted thus far are gone, so if you want to repost any that you had put up feel free. Please label each recipe with the type or genre in which it would be found (like in your recipe book). Also please post any new ones. I am always looking for something delicious to make.

Love you all,

Nicole