Hot Chorizo and Cheese Dip

Hot Chorizo and Cheese Dip
(melskitchencafe.com)
*Note: if you aren’t familiar with chorizo, it is a pork sausage that is usually cured and requires cooking prior to eating. The outer casing is easily (and should be!) removed prior to cooking. Chorizo is usually located by the other sausage-type meats in the meat section of the grocery store and it can range from mild to spicy so choose the flavor that suits your taste buds best! In a pinch, I’m guessing that another spicy-ish pork sausage would work in place of the chorizo.
*Makes about 2 cups
1 tablespoon butter1/2 cup minced yellow onion8 ounces chorizo, casings removed and diced2 tablespoons all-purpose flour1 1/2 cups milk8 ounce cream cheese, softened1 1/2 cups (6 ounces) medium cheddar cheese, grated1 small can diced green chiles1/2 teaspoon salt
In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until translucent, about 2-3 minutes. Add the diced chorizo and cook, breaking up the chorizo into smaller pieces if you like, until it is cooked through, about 5 minutes. Pour off all but one tablespoon of fat from the pan. Add the flour and stirring constantly, cook for 1-2 minutes. Gradually whisk in the milk and combine well. Cook over medium heat until the sauce is thick, about 4 minutes. Add the cream cheese to the pot in tablespoon-size pieces and stir to combine as the cream cheese melts. Reduce the heat to low and add the cheese 1/4 cup at a time, stirring until each addition is melted before adding more. Stir in the green chiles and the salt.
Serve warm in a bread bowl or with tortilla chips.

Some much needed inspiration . . .

"God expects you to have enough faith, determination and trust in Him to keep moving, keep living, keep rejoicing. He expects you not to simply face the future, he expects you to embrace and shape the future - to love it, rejoice in it and delight in your opportunities. God is eagerly waiting for the chance to answer your prayers and fulfill your dreams just as He always has. But He can't if you don't pray and He can't if you don't dream. In short, he can't if you don't believe."
-Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

Believe Kate . . . just believe. . .

Quote

"Take Care of This Moment"
One of my goals for this new year is to 'take care of this moment' - to live in the present without anxiety for the future, fear of the unknown, or regrets of the past. I want to take advantage of this moment, this opportunity, to live - to love - to be loved . . . I hope to remember this as I explore new paths, cultivate friendships, and strive to achieve my dreams.

Kate's Chicken Enchiladas

1 pkg. chicken breasts
1 lg. can cream of chicken soup (family size)
16oz tub of sour cream
2 cans diced green chilis (drained)
1 med. yellow onion
1 lg. pkg. cheese (monterey/colby jack)
1 tbs. butter
Chili powder
8 flour tortillas

Boil chicken and shred with forks
Sautee finely diced onion in butter until translucent
When onion is almost translucent, add approx. 1 tbs. chili powder and stir well.
Set onion/chili powder aside
In lg. bowl mix can of cream of chicken soup with sour cream.
In a 9x13 glass baking dish - spread thin layer of cream soup/sour cream mixture
Remove approx. 2 cups of cream soup/sour cream mixture and put it in another bowl (This is used for the top)
With the remaining cream soup/sour cream mixture - add shredded chicken/diced green chilis and onion/chili powder + 1 more tbs. chili powder and 1 cup of cheese - mix thoroughly.
Evenly divide the chicken into 8 flour tortillas (placing the fold at the bottom of the pan)
Cover enchiladas with cream soup/sour cream mixture and cover 'heavily' with cheese *** that's how you like it :)
Bake for approx. 1 hr at 350 - until you can see cheese is melted - becoming golden brown - and enchiladas are bubbly.

White Chicken + Bean Soup with Lime

WHITE CHICKEN + BEAN SOUP with LIME
(recipes and more)
3 chicken breasts, cooked + cubed
2 (40z) cans green chilies
1 can hominy
1 can great northern beans
1 can white kidney beans
1 1/2 t. lime pepper or lemon pepper
1 t. cumin
1 clove garlic
1 cup chopped onion
2 T. olive oil
4 T. lime juice, plus one lime for garnish
1 can chicken stock
1 1/2 cups water
1 can white shoepeg corn

In small saucepan fill with water, drop chicken in + cook. In large pot saute the onion in the oil until translucent. Add the spices + garlic + stir. Add all canned ingredients, plus the water + stock. Bring to a boil then lower to simmer. When chicken is cooked, take out and cube then add to soup. Just before serving add the fresh lime juice and stir well.

Garnishes :: {any or all}
:: Sour cream :: Salsa :: Avocado :: Cilantro :: Crushed tortilla chips ::

Side dish ::
Flour tortillas brushed with a little EVOO, sprinkled with salt + pepper toasted in a skillet on both sides fill them with lots of cheese, tomatoes, cilantro + fresh {cooked} corn on the cob, cut them in wedges, serve with soup.

White Texas Sheet Cake

WHITE TEXAS SHEET CAKE
(recipes and more)
1 cup butter
1 cup water
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups sugar
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 cup sour cream
1 t. almond extract
1 t. baking soda
1 t. salt

FROSTING:
1/2 cup butter
1/4 cup milk
4 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1/2 t. almond extract
1 cup sliced almonds

Preheat oven to 350. In large saucepan, bring butter + water to boil. Remove from heat, stir in sugar, eggs, sour cream, almond extract, flour, baking soda + salt. Pour into large greased sheet pan. Bake for 20 minutes or until golden. Cool 20 minutes or more.

for frosting: In a large saucepan, combine butter + milk. Bring to boil. Remove from heat, stir in sugar + extract. Spread over cake. Sprinkle almonds over top.

:: have someone to share it with :: it's a GIANT sheet cake :: guarantee it will be GONE in 2 days or less...

Sour Cream Waffles

Sour Cream Waffles
(recipes and more)
1 3/4 cups flour
1 T. sugar
1 T. baking powder
1 t. salt
3 eggs
1/2 cup sour cream
1 cup milk
1 stick butter, melted
Whisk together dry ingredients, add eggs, sour cream and milk stir until combined. Stir in the butter. Cook. Enjoy! * Put applesauce on top.