Retro Southwest-Warm Bacon and Green Chile Dip, Groovy Baby!

Witten by sandy on February 6, 2010 in Party Food and Snacks, Uncategorized

If you’re looking for a last minute recipe for your Super Bowl party (or any party for that matter), dust off your fondue pot and get ready for the perfect retro dip.  Warm bacon, gooey cheese, green chiles and it’s easy to put together… what could be better than that?

Our mom served this dip at parties when we were kids.  When the party started and the guests arrived, we skipped off to bed with fingers crossed, hoping that some of the dip would be left for us to eat in the morning.

A chafing dish or fondue pot is important for keeping this dip warm.  Look for one in an antique or thrift shop.  If you are lucky, you might find one in burnt orange or avocado green.

Make sure you have a enough sternos to last the whole night! Oh, behave!

I haven’t tried this recipe with fake bacon.  In fact, I don’t know anything about fake bacon.  I just spotted Lolo’s post of a delicious looking salad using Tempeh on Vegan Yum Yum that made me think of trying it.  If any of you have tried it, I’d love to hear your suggestions and tips on how to cook it.

Warm Southwest Bacon and Green Chile Dip

1 pound bacon, diced, cooked and drained

1 can diced green chiles

1 can stewed tomatoes (14 oz)

1 pound cheddar cheese, grated

2 tablespoons diced, fresh tomatoes (optional)

1 tablespoon diced green chile or jalapeno (optional)

Dice the bacon into 1/2 inch pieces and fry until crispy.  Be sure to separate the bacon with a wooden spoon while it is frying.

You can use the microwave, but be sure cook in small batches and cover with paper towels.

Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels.

In a sauce pan, simmer the green chiles and tomatoes together on medium high for three or four minutes.

Stir in the bacon and return to a simmer.

Reduce the heat to very low.  Stir in the cheese until melted.  Be careful to keep the heat on low or the cheese will curdle.

Transfer the dip to a fondue pot or chafing dish.  Garnish with fresh diced tomatoes and green chiles if desired.

Serve with tortilla chips or stay retro with my favorite, Fritos.

I found these fondue pots and chafing dishes online, the vendors have both online stores as well as actual retail stores so you can pick one up easily.  Valentine’s Day is coming up and they are great for serving a romantic meal or chocolate dessert!

Sur La Table

Macy’s (on Sale!)

Bed Bath and Beyond

Walmart

Target

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Southwest Chicken Spring Rolls are a great way to kick off your Super bowl party

Witten by sandy on January 21, 2010 in First Courses, Southwest Pantry, Uncategorized

Southwest Chicken Spring Rolls are perfect for the Super Bowl

Southwest Chicken Spring Rolls are perfect for the Super Bowl

Southwest Chicken Spring Rolls are perfect for your Super Bowl party!  I love to sneak Southwest flavors into unexpected places and spring rolls are one of my favorite ways to do that.   Your guests will love these crunchy little packages, they’re just right for casual parties or any type of buffet.

The Super Bowl  always seems to draw  my family together for a fun afternoon with out the formal “stuffiness” of  other holidays.  And yes, to my family with three men and one girl (me), the Super Bowl has become sort of a holiday.  I always serve these  Southwest Chicken Spring Rolls because they can be made in advance and fried up quickly while the game is on.  They hold well on a buffet without a warming dish and make a great scoop for guacamole, salsa or sour cream.  The best thing about them is that they are so quick and easy, I have time to watch the game!

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Ceviche – Perfect for any party!

Witten by sandy on December 15, 2009 in First Courses, Light and Healthy, Party Food and Snacks, Uncategorized

Party sized Ceviche

Large Ceviche with Tortilla Chips

Large Ceviche with Tortilla Chips

‘Tis the season for parties!  Lots of parties!  Ceviche makes a great appetizer or first course for any type of gathering.  Just change the way you present this light, seafood dish and ceviche is at home at fancy holiday parties, black tie New Year’s Eve dinners, the Super Bowl and yes, ceviche is even perfect for the dreaded corporate office party (shiver).

My favorite ceviche is a combination of the freshest shrimp, bay scallops and calamari you can get your hands on.  Toss it with diced southwest ingredients in a citrus marinade and spoon it into martini glasses for a little glitz.  If your party needs to serve more guests, stretch your budget as far as you need to by adding more vegetables and serve with corn chips.

Ceviche is anything you need it to be.

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