Jalapeño Ranch Dip

Chuy's Mexican Restaurant has a Creamy Jalapeno Ranch Dip they will bring you at the table to go with chips, but you have to ask for it!  I started liking  Ranch dressing a couple of years ago, if it's homemade.  I still don't like the bottle stuff .  This dip basically starts out like your making ranch dressing but you add green chilies, jalapenos, cilantro, salt, garlic powder and lime juice.  You could easily use it for salad dressing, if it's too thick just add a little more milk.  Just make sure you put it in the fridge for at least an hour before serving so the flavors can mix.

I buy my ranch dressing dry mix at Sam's Club.  It comes in a plastic container and can be found over by the regular dressings.  The packets at the grocery store cost about $1.89 and makes 2 cups of dressing.  The container at Sam's is $7.98 which make 2 gallons!!  You only make the amount you want at a time.... like 1 1/2 Tbsp is what is in the little packet.

 

 

Ingredients

3/4 cup Hellman's Mayonnaise

3/4 cup milk

1 (1ounce) packet hidden valley ranch dressing mix

1 (4 ounce) can green chilies 

1/2 cup salsa verde I often get Herdez in the bottle 

1 jalapeno or more depending on your taste for hotness

3 Tbsp cilantro

1 tsp salt

1 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp lime juice

 

Add everything to a blender and mix until smooth.  Pour into a bowl and let sit for at least an hour before eating.    serve with chips



 

Hot Ham Sandwiches

I had these not long ago and oh are they delicious!!!  It seems weird to pour liquid on top of these but because you baked them they do not get soggy.  Each sandwich has a buttery taste with each sweet savory bite!

These would be great for the Superbowl game or any gathering.  They are also great for lunch with Lay's Potato Chips!  They are kinda look small in size but really 2 are enough for most women and 3 for most men, they are pretty filling.

Make sure and check them after 15 minutes so the tops don't get to brown.  The recipe says 20 to 30 minutes but I found after about 15 to 20 minutes they were done!

I often use Turkey instead of ham both work.

I added all it to many poppy seeds

I buy these at Sam's Club or Costco, you get 24 for like $3.50 and at the grocery store you get 12 for anywhere from $2.99 to $3.50.

I also buy this at Sam's, I really like Castle Wood products! I also buy their 

              Hickory Smoked Turkey and it's hard for me to buy any other brand!

I used colby jack cheese but you can use any kind of cheese, provolone cheese is also good on these.

                    Line a 9X13 baking pan, the recipe calls for 12 sandwiches but I
have 15 in here.  I added a little more of everything to cover all 15.
               

   In a small sauce pan combine butter, brown sugar, mustard, Worcestershire and poppy seeds.

Bring to a boil and pour over sandwiches.  Note I forgot to put poppy seeds in the sauce so i sprinkled them on.  Next time I will put them in the sauce ;)   

Like I said I should have added the poppy seeds in the sauce.

Have you ever been to Penzey's?  It's a great store all about spices!  They are popping up everywhere!

I added more poppy seeds than I should have but they were still delicious!!!

Hot Party Ham Sandwiches

1 dozen Hawaiian Rolls

½ lb sliced deli ham- I use honey ham or turkey 

½ cup butter

2 Tbsp brown sugar

1 Tbsp yellow mustard

1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce

1 Tbsp poppy seeds

Preheat oven to 350

Split each diner roll in half.  Make a sandwich of the ham and cheese and the Hawaiian rolls.  Arrange the sandwiches in a 9X13 pan.

In a small sauce pan combine butter, brown sugar, mustard, Worcestershire and poppy seeds and pour over sandwiches.

Bake for 20-30 minutes, or until the tops are brown and crispy and the cheese is melted. 

Pineapple Cream Cheese Dip

So I have mentioned I do not really care for Cream Cheese but I LOVE this dip!  Anytime I make it people can't stop eating it!  Last week I catered an event and forgot to take this lovely dip with me for the cheese table (I had plenty of other things... thank goodness).  So the next night I went over to a friends house for dinner so I took some with me... All my friends were like get that away from me!!!  It's so addicting! 

Make sure you really get all the juice out of the crushed pineapple if not it's becomes soupy and won't hold up...but if that happens just add some more cream cheese till the liquid is gone!  Also it’s very important to let it sit in your fridge for at least 4 hours or overnight.  It doesn’t even taste the same until it’s able to marinate with the green onion and pineapple.

When I make this for a wedding I will triple the recipe then shape the dip into a pineapple shape.  I take whole almonds and cover it in rows...  Since I'm doing a wedding I usually have fresh pineapple so I cut the top off and cut into half so it can lay flat... Then just line club crackers around or leave it as is!

NOW the trick to this dip is you have to make it the night before or at least 4 hours before!  It does not have the same taste in the beginning!  The flavors have to blend together!

I do this often and have used whole almonds, pecans but I think I like the sliced almonds best!

The topper in this picture needs to be straightened.

Pineapple Cream Cheese Dip

2 pkg of soften cream cheese

1 can of crushed pineapples drained well - sometimes I use 3/4 of the can

¼ cup chopped green onion

¼ cup green pepper (optional)

In a bowl mix with mixer,  pineapples with cream cheese then add green onion and green pepper.  Sometimes I don’t use the whole can, I start with half then add if I think it needs it.  If there is any liquid it is harder firm up…I gage it to see how it looks… should not be at all soupy. Draining is key and sometimes even if you think you got the juice out there it is!  So start with a half  the can then keep adding. 

Just fyi I stopped adding green pepper years ago it’s just how I like it most but it is good with it.

Let this set in the fridge for at least 4 hours or over night!  Keeps well in fridge for about 2 weeks!  Cut the top of your pineapple in half so that it lays flat. 

Serve in a bowl or you can make a cheese ball by shaping

 into a ball in saran wrap and place in  fridge for an hour then roll into

pecans or sliced almonds.

Or you can shape dip in the shape of a Pineapple then outline with

Almonds and the top of a pineapple for decoration. Use a top of a

pineapple cut in half so it lays down easily.  

Serve with crackers...club crackers go very well with this!