Jalapeño Corn Dip

Very addicting recipe. You’ve been warned.

Ingredients:

1 pint (16 oz.) sour cream

1 cup mayonnaise

2 cans (11 oz.) Mexicorn, drained

3 oz. pickled japapeños (nacho), diced (approx. 1/2 cup, don’t pack down)

1 Tbsp lemon juice

2 tsp creole seasoning (Tony Chachere’s)

1 bunch chopped green onions

4 cups shredded mild cheddar

Directions:

Combine all ingredients into large bowl and chill overnight. Serve with Townhouse crackers or Fritos. Single recipe fills four (4) 16oz or eight (8) oz containers.

Creamy Confetti Corn with Bacon

8 slices bacon, chopped
2 – 12oz. packages frozen corn kernels, white or yellow
1/2 cup chopped onion (white, yellow or red)
1/2 cup finely chopped red bell pepper
1 – 8oz. package cream cheese, cubed (light or regular)
1-2 Tablespoons milk or cream
1 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper
4 green onions, green parts finely chopped (discard white)

Directions:
In a large nonstick skillet, cook the chopped bacon until golden and crisp. Scoop the bacon to a paper towel lined plate and discard all the grease except for a thin coating on the pan.

Add the corn, onion, and red pepper, and cook over medium heat, stirring every so often, until the vegetables are tender and the corn is heated through, 6-8 minutes. Add the cream cheese and milk, stirring until the cream cheese melts and the mixture is evenly combined.

Stir in the sugar, salt and pepper. Add more salt to taste if needed. Stir in the green onions.
Serve warm topped with the reserved bacon.
This dish can be made up to 2 days ahead of time. Scoop the creamy corn mixture into an oven-safe dish, sprinkle with the bacon and cover with a lid or plastic wrap. Store in the refrigerator. When ready to eat, heat the corn dish in a 325 degree oven for 15-20 minutes until heated through.

Recipe from Mel’s Kitchen Cafe

The Ultimate Stuffed Zucchini

4 medium zucchini, washed
2 Tablespoons olive or grapeseed oil
2 medium red potatoes, cut into 1/4-inch cubes or smaller
1 medium yellow or red onion, chopped fine
4 large cloves garlic, finely minced
3 medium Roma tomatoes, seeded and chopped
1/3 cup shredded fresh basil leaves or 1 tablespoon dried, or Italian Seasoning
6 ounces Monterey Jack cheese, shredded (about 1 1/2 cups)

Prep: chop potatoes, tomatoes, onions and garlic first, then preheat oven while scooping out zucchini

1. Adjust one oven rack to upper-middle position and second oven rack to lowest position, then place a rimmed baking sheet on each rack and heat oven to 400 degrees or Hi Broil.
2. Meanwhile, halve each zucchini lengthwise. With a small spoon, scoop out the seeds and most of the flesh so that the walls of the zucchini are about 1/4-inch thick all the way around. Season the cut sides of the zucchini with salt and pepper, Misto lightly with olive oil. Set the zucchini halves cut-side down on the hot baking sheet that has been preheating on the lower rack.
3. Meanwhile in a bowl, Misto the potatoes with olive oil, salt, ad pepper to taste, and spread in a single layer on the hot baking sheet that has been preheating on the upper rack.
4. Roast the zucchini until slightly softened and skins are slightly wrinkled, about 10 minutes while simultaneously roasting the potatoes until they are tender and lightly browned, 12 to 14 minutes.
5. When the zucchini has finished baking, remove it from the oven and using tongs, flip the zucchini halves over on the baking sheet and set aside.
6. While the zucchini and potatoes are roasting, heat the remaining tablespoon oil in a 12-inch skillet over medium heat until shimmering, about 2 minutes. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and beginning to brown, about 10 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the tomatoes and cooked potatoes; cook, stirring occasionally, until heated through, about 3 minutes.
7. Off the heat, stir in the basil, 1/2 cup cheese, and salt and pepper to taste.
8. Divide filling evenly among the zucchini halves on the baking sheet, spooning about 1/2 cup into each, and packing it lightly; sprinkle with remaining cheese.
9. Return the baking sheet to the oven, this time to the upper rack, and bake the zucchini until heated through and cheese is spotty brown, about 6 minutes. Serve immediately!

Notes: (11-19-12) Big C ate 2, little C even ate 1. Red onions were a little too strong; use yellow or white. Cut potatoes a little smaller so they fit inside the zucchini. Use less oil in skillet – could almost taste a little too much last time.

Bestest Chili-Bacon Beans

Great side dish for a BBQ (like we just had today!).  And of course, anything with bacon captures my heart 🙂  Makes enough for a crowd!  I doubled this recipe recently, and would probably do a little *less* bacon next time (GASP!).  But even with 20 people, I had tons of leftovers for a week. I’ll stick with a single batch next time, and when it’s gone — it’s gone!

1 large can (28oz) Bush baked beans (or 2 regular 16oz cans)
1 small can butter beans
1 small can kidney beans
1/2 cup ketchup
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 Tblsp. vinegar
3 Tblsp. hickory smoke flavor (“Liquid Smoke”)
1 lb. bacon, cut into bite-sized pieces and fried
1 lb. ground beef, cooked & drained
1/2 cup onion, diced and browned

1. Cook bacon on a cookie sheet lined with aluminum foil.  Broil until crisp.  Dry on paper towels (Or fry bacon in a pan and drain grease.  I just find the cookie sheet method less messy and faster).
2. Cook onion & ground beef together.  Drain grease.
3. Add all ingredients together and

a) bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 45 minutes OR

b) combine all in a crockpot, put on low, and cook for 2-3 hours.

Source: Debbie Van Dusen