Creamy queso

We tried a new queso (aka cheese dip) recipe last week and fell in love.  This is a creamy queso with no chunks, so my pickiest daughter was especially pleased she didn't have to dig around any tomatoes or peppers.  I don't have a photo because this recipe actually comes from a YouTube cooking channel called Cooking Today.  Recipe credit to Amy Hannon, who lives in Northwest Arkansas - she owns a precious store called Euna Mae's, a blog of the same name, and this cooking channel where she shares some delicious recipes!

EUNA MAE'S CREAMY QUESO
1lb Mexican Velveeta (I used regular because its what I had)
4 oz cream cheese
½ cup half and half or whole milk (I used skim)
Juice of one can of Rotel tomatoes (yes, just the juice!  Rreally push down on the tomatoes in the can to get all the juice out)
2-3 tsp juice of jarred jalapenos (again, just the juice!)
½ tsp garlic powder
½ tsp cumin
½ tsp chili powder

Combine all ingredients in a pan over low heat, stirring until melted. Taste and season to taste, adding more milk or liquid to get desired consistency.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VBYVItFLZk

Hot pimeinto cheese

I've posted this easy pimiento cheese recipe on the blog before - it's one of my favorite snacks, and a go-to recipe for parties and potlucks.  But it wasn't until a visit to a truly Southern restaurant in South Carolina did it cross my mind to serve pimiento cheese hot instead of cold.  Genius, right??  It's like a fancy queso dip- I just broil it in the oven for a few minutes and it gets hot and melty and DELICIOUS.

Pimiento cheese

Since the Bachelor finale was an hour longer than usual, I made this easy pimiento cheese to accompany my usual sweet snack. This recipe has been on my to-make list for a few weeks - she had me at pepperjack cheese, one of my favorites! I made a pimiento cheese recipe from Southern Living earlier this year, but Robert and I agreed that we prefer this version- we like the spicier cheese and no nuts. I served it with Ritz crackers, but it would make a great sandwich, too!

Black bean hummus

My notoriously picky toddler has hummus on her approved foods list, so I tried this recipe from Cooking Light made with black beans. If I told her it was black beans she wouldn't have touched it, but hummus was the magic word. Simple to make, and everyone loved it- young and old!

Black bean dip, mac and cheese, and Snickerdoodle pie

Last night was the inaugural party on our new and improved screened-in porch. We served black bean dip for a starter, Adirondacker burgers (a repeat) and the Pioneer Woman's macaroni and cheese for the main dish, and Snickerdoodle pie for dessert! Everything was delicious, and the thunderstorms didn't ruin our good time!

Pizza dip

My contribution to the Super Bowl party this year was cheesy pepperoni dip, a recipe I saw on another food blog called Noble Pig. I omitted the black olives (personal preference) and followed the rest of the recipe as is. Hot, cheesy, and yum!