Taco Dip

We don't do a lot of warm dips around our house, but we are always scrounging for snacks while watching the Olympics or football or soccer.

I had this planned for Sunday night, but we had a filling mid-day dinner so I made it for lunch today, while friends were over. Food is always better when you can share with friends.

Taco Dip

Ingredients:

1/2 lb. ground beef
1 can refried beans (I used one with jalapeños)
1 packet of taco seasoning
8 oz. sour cream
2 C shredded cheddar cheese (Katie used 4 cups!)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a skillet brown the ground beef over medium heat, drain. Mix beans, cooked ground beef and taco seasoning. Spread bean mixture in the bottom of a 9x13 baking dish. (I used an 8x11 glass dish.) Spread the sour cream on top of the beans and then top with cheese.

Bake for 25-30 minutes until cheese is bubbly. Serve with Frito Scoops.

Recipe Given By: unknown

S - Lisa's Salsa

This is a wonderful restaurant-quality salsa. We just can't make it enough at our house - so yummy! Thanks for sharing, Lisa!

Lisa's Salsa

Combine:
3-4 jalapenos
1 chopped white onion

Blend together in food processor or blender:
2 – 15 oz. cans diced tomatoes
2 – 15 oz. cans stewed tomatoes

Add:
2 T. sugar
¼ C cider vinegar
1 t. salt
½ t. pepper
3 t. fresh cilantro, chopped
1 T. oregano

Mix all together and store in refrigerator.

Serving: 1batch
Recipe Given By: my friend, Lisa (with permission)
Hints: You can make it as mild or as spicy as you like depending on the jalapenos. We use 3 jalapenos without the seeds for a mild version. We also do not blend all the diced tomatoes; we leave one can as is so it had a little more texture.

Salsa (Mark's)

I don't have a picture to share with you since I am actually on a computer-free vacation. (Love those scheduled posts.) Anyway, I've shared Lisa's Salsa with you which is more like a salsa you'd find in a restaurant. Mark's Salsa is really Pico De Gallo. I can taste the saltiness of the chips and the tang of the tomatoes just thinking about it.

Salsa (Mark’s)

Ingredients:

2 -3 tomatoes
¼ C water
1 garlic clove
Salt to taste
1 small sliced onion
1-2 yellow chilies
Cilantro – 1 small sprig

Chop and mix all ingredients to taste.

Serving:
Recipe Given By: Martha Martens

Pizza Spread

We usually eat one large meal on Sunday afternoon and then get the munchies during the early evening hours. This is a quick and easy snack to whip up and then put into the fondue pot. At our house it gets rave reviews and we're always thinking of other people we can share this recipe with as we chat and eat around the table.

Pizza Spread

Ingredients:

1 lb. ground beef
1 jar (26 oz) marinara or spaghetti sauce
1 t. dried oregano
4 C (16 oz) shredded mozzarella cheese
1 loaf Italian or French bread, cubed or sliced

In a saucepan, cook beef over medium heat until no longer pink; drain. Stir in marinara sauce and oregano. Gradually stir in cheese until melted. Pour into a fondue pot or small slow cooker to keep warm. Serve with bread.

Serving: 8-10
Recipe Given By: Quick Cooking

Sausage Wonton Stars

My daughter (away at college) came home last week and this is her favorite appetizer. I made it the afternoon she returned to school so she could take some back with her for snacks.

Sausage Wonton Stars

Ingredients:
4 boxes of small wonton cups
1 lb. bulk pork sausage
2 C (8 oz.) shredded Colby cheese
½ med. green pepper, chopped
½ med. red pepper, chopped
2 bunches green onions, sliced
½ C ranch salad dressing

Set wonton cups on a cookie sheet. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large skillet, cook sausage over medium heat until no longer pink; drain. Stir in cheese, peppers, onions and salad dressing. Spoon a rounded spoonful into each wonton cup. Bake for 6-7 min or until heated through.

Serving: 4 dozen
Recipe Given By: Quick Cooking N/D ’01, p. 30