Cream Cheese Sausage Dip

Sometimes I like to pretend like I don't sit around in my pajamas eating things like this and watching The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, but really I'm just lying to myself.  This dip is kind of a play off of the very Texas queso dip made with velveeta, but with this recipe you know exactly what the cheese portion of the recipe is made out of!  Hope you enjoy this as much as I do with or without the reality tv. 

Cream Cheese Sausage Dip

1 lb. spicy sausage

2 (10 oz.) cans rotel*

2 (8 oz.) pkgs cream cheese

*I like my dips kind of saucy instead of thick, use one can and then adjust from there.

In a large skillet cook the sausage until completely cooked through and browned over medium heat, drain the excess fat.  Add the rotel and the packages of cream cheese and stir over medium heat until the cream cheese is melted and everything is warmed through.  Serve with tortilla chips and enjoy!

-D

Chicken Taquitos

Here's the thing, I could eat tex-mex every day for every meal and never get tired of it.  I think proof of this is that my husband and I go to the same restaurant almost every Friday for their hatch chicken enchiladas.  These taquitos really intrigued me, they're definitely not the same thing you'd get out of a frozen box from your grocer's freezers.  The inside is creamy and spicy with just enough spice. 

Chicken Taquitos
from Annie's Eats

3 oz. cream cheese, softened
1/4 c. salsa
1 tbsp. fresh squeezed lime juice
1 tsp. chili powder
1/2 tsp. cumin
1/2 tsp. onion powder
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
3 tbsp. chopped cilantro
2 green onions, chopped
1 c. shredded Mexican cheese
2 c. shredded chicken
10 6 in. flour tortillas


Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.  Mix all ingredients except the tortillas in a large bowl.  Heat the tortillas slightly in the microwave so that they are easy to roll.  Fill each tortilla with about 3 tbl of filling and roll tightly.  Place seam-side down on a baking sheet, spray with cooking spray and sprinkle with salt.  Bake for 15-20 minutes until golden brown.

Enjoy!

-D

Pizza Rolls

Remember those glorious days of college when you could eat those pizza rolls and cheetos and not gain a single ounce????  I miss those days....  This is a grown up version of those frozen pizza rolls. The bread is soft and fluffy and the inside is full of cheese and pepperoni, delicious.  These would be great for a party as finger foods with a side of spaghetti sauce or as a late night snack with a movie, either way make sure you try these.

Pizza Rolls
from Annie's Eats

For the dough:

1/2 c. warm water (yeast is happy at no more than 110 degrees)
2 1/4 tsp. instant yeast
1 1/4 c. water
2 tbl. olive oil
4 c. bread flour
1 1/2 tsp. salt

Put the warm water into a medium sized bowl and sprinkle the yeast on top.  Let the yeast dissolve for about five minutes, it will form a frothy layer on the top of the water.  Add the rest of the water and oil.

In a stand mixer with the paddle attachment mix the flour and the salt together on low speed.  Add the liquid in a slow stream into the mixer bowl until the dough forms a shaggy ball.  Switch the attachment to the dough hook and continue to mix until the dough becomes smooth, about five minutes.  Put the dough into an oiled bowl and set in a warm place for about 2 hours to rise.  When the dough has doubled in size punch it down and divide into two pieces.  I froze half of it and then the other half I used for the pizza rolls.

For the pizza rolls:
4 oz. mozzarella cheese, cubed
Sliced Pepperoni
Olive Oil
Italian Seasoning
Grated Parmesan Cheese

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.  Grease a 9 inch pie plate.  Take the dough and break it into about 20 pieces.  For each piece put a piece of cheese and then two pieces of pepperoni.  Wrap the dough around the pepperoni and seal the seams at the bottom.  Place the roll seam side down in the pie pan and continue with the remaining pieces.  (We found that if you put the cheese in first and the pepperoni on the bottom near the seam then the cheese doesn't melt out).

Brush the tops of all the rolls with olive oil and sprinkle the Italian Seasoning and parmesan cheese over the top.  Bake them for 20 minutes or until the tops are golden brown.