Nachos

Who doesn't love a good plate of nachos? Dress them up as much or as little as you like.

This is my version and it is super yummy!

You will need a heat proof platter about 12"-14" in diameter.
Fill that with tortilla chips.
Preheat your oven to 300 degrees Fahrenheit and put the chips in to warm while you get the toppings ready.


Topping Ingredients:

1/4 lb. ground beef
salt
pepper
cumin powder
chili powder

Cheese Sauce-
1 Tablespoon butter
1 Tablespoon flour
dash salt
dash pepper
1/2 to 3/4 cup milk
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

2 Tablespoons sliced black olives
1-2 Tablspoons sliced jalapenos or serranos
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup salsa

Brown the meat and season with salt, pepper, cumin, and chili powder.
Set aside but keep warm.
Make the cheese sauce. Melt the butter in a small saucepan over low heat. Add the flour, salt, and pepper and let it bubble for a minute.
Watch so it doesn't burn.
Add 1/2 cup milk and stir til it thickens.
If it thickens too much add the other 1/4 cup milk.
Once it bubbles, stir in the cheddar cheese until smooth.
Take the platter of chips put of the oven.
Pour the cheese sauce over the chips.
Sprinkle the meat over.
Follow with the olives and peppers.
With a small spoon, dollop sour cream over the nachos.
With another small spoon, drizzle the salsa  over everything.

Southwestern Dip

This dip is super easy to make. Just put everything into a bowl and stir. There ya go.

Ingredients:

1-1/2 cups sour cream
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon garlic salt
1/4 teaspoon dried minced onion
1/4 teaspoon paprika
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1(4 oz.) can chopped green chilies, drained or 1/4 cup chopped fresh chili

In a bowl add the sour cream, mayonnaise, and spices.
Stir thoroughly.
Mix in the chilies and cheese.
Chill for 2-4 hours in the fridge to blend the flavors.

Serve with tortilla chips.

Makes a little over 2 cups dip.

Chipotle Dip

This is a great dip this is definitely not for the tame of heart. If you have ever eaten chipotle peppers, you will realize this dip has a pretty good kick to it.
Chipotles are red smoked jalapenos. They have good heat with a smoky flavor.

I eat this mostly with tortilla chips, but I also use it as a topping for my chicken sandwiches.

If you can't find ground chipotle pepper, Penzey's Spices is a great place to find it.


Ingredients:

2 cups sour cream
1 cup mayonnaise
1-2 Tablespoons chipotle powder
4 teaspoons garlic powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup lime juice

In a medium-small bowl, mix all of the ingredients.
Start off with the lesser amount of chipotle powder and add more if you want.
For best flavor, cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving.

Makes about 3 cups dip.

Sour Cream Chocolate Cake

This cake is awesome. It is very moist. I love to serve this frosted with sour cream chocolate frosting.

This cake is so simple to put together. Just put everything in a bowl and beat it up.

You will need 2( 8" or 9") round cake pans or 1 (13"x9") cake pan, greased and floured.
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

Ingredients:

2 cups flour
2 cups sugar
3/4 cup sour cream
1/2 cup shortening
1 cup water
1-1/4 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
2 eggs
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

Put everything into a mixing bowl and beat, with a mixer, on low speed for one minute.
Scrape down the sides.
Beat on high speed for three minutes.
Pour the batter into the pan or pans.
Bake for 40-45 minutes until cake tests done when checked with a toothpick.
Cool and frost.

Chocolate Sour Cream Frosting

I make this frosting to go on my sour cream chocolate cake.

I recommend you use a mixer to beat the frosting. You can do it by hand. However, using a mixer causes the frosting to be lighter and fluffier than it will if done by hand.

Ingredients:

8-1/3 Tablespoons butter, softened
9 Tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
3 cups powdered sugar
1/2 cup sour cream
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Mix the butter and the cocoa powder.
Add the powdered sugar and stir in.
Stir in the sour cream and vanilla extract.
With a mixer, beat everything until it is smooth and spreadable.

This will frost a 13"x9" cake or will frost and fill a 8" or 9" double layer cake.

Definitely Not From The Store French Onion Dip

I love French Onion Dip. I think just about everyone does.It seems that way, anyway.
Here is a yummy recipe for a French Onion Dip that is worlds away from the kind you buy at the store.
It is so good!
If you want to cut the fat use fat free mayonnaise and sour cream.

Ingredients:


2-1/2 cups sour cream

1 cup mayonnaise

1/4 cup chopped onion- choose a mild such as yellow or even green onions.

a 1.4 oz. package dry French onion soup mix

1/2 teaspoon dried minced onion

Mix all the ingredients together.
Chill until serving.

You will get a nice bowl of dip that should see you through a bag of chips.