HEARTY BEEF, BEAN AND CHEESE DIP

You know you're wanting a different hearty dip to serve for the big game on Sunday. I understand we can't use the term "Super Bowl" for parties or whatever, so I'm sure there's a football game on Sunday that a lot of people like to watch in between all the great commercials. (We have recorded it and fast forwarded through the game to watch the commercials!) Oh well.

This is a WONDERFUL dip and goes great with the Frito Scoops. You almost need a chip that sturdy to dip it.

Hearty Beef, Bean and Cheese Dip

1 lb ground chuck
1 medium onion, chopped
2 (8 oz) pkgs cream cheese, softened
1 (15.5 oz) can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 (4.5 oz) can chopped green chiles
1 cup sour cream
2 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp chili powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 (8 oz) pkg shredded Monterey Jack cheese with peppers
1 (8 oz) pkg shredded sharp Cheddar cheese, divided

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease a 2-quart baking dish.

In a large skillet, combine ground chuck and onion; cook over medium-high heat until beef is browned and crumbles. Drain well. Stir in cream cheese, beans, and chiles. Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until combined. Remove from heat. Stir in sour cream, cumin, chili powder, salt, Monterey Jack cheese, and 1 cup Cheddar cheese.

Spoon mixture into prepared baking dish. Sprinkle with remaining Cheddar cheese. Bake 30 minutes, or until hot and bubbly. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley, if desired. Serve with corn chips.

Gala Pecan Spread

Well, it's New Year's Eve and that puts me in the mood for snacks! Wait, I'm ALWAYS in the mood for snacks!! If you're looking for one last thing to take to a New Year's Eve party or something just to snack on, this is a wonderful and fairly quick little snack. It's actually more like a hot dip. It's one of the things we have for Christmas.

Gala Pecan Spread

8 oz cream cheese
5 oz smoked dried beef (we use 2- 2.5 oz jars Armour Dried Beef)
2 Tb onion flakes
1/4 cup chopped green peppers
1/2 tsp garlic salt
1 cup sour cream (8 oz)

Topping: 1/2 cup chopped pecans and 2 Tb melted butter

Soften cream cheese and blend with a dab of milk. Cut dried beef into small pieces and mix into cream cheese with peppers, onion flakes and garlic salt. Fold in sour cream and put into an 8" pie plate. Sprinkle with topping, and heat in 350 degree oven for 20 minutes. Serve hot with crackers.

Recipe from: Faye Whitfield

Notes: Our favorite crackers to eat with this dip are Wheat Thins, Ritz, and Triscuit. Another plus about using the jars of Armour Dried Beef - you get a free juice-size glass!

Rye Party Sandwiches

Whenever we have Christmas at my in-laws, you can guarantee that a few specific finger foods will be there. Rye Party Sandwiches, Sausage Balls, Gala Pecan Spread, homemade beef logs, homemade caramels, spiced peanuts, candied nuts, and peanut butter balls. I'm sure there are more that I am forgetting, but those are the ones we know will be there. This year, my in-laws are preparing to leave for Africa in a few weeks for a 3-month stay. Therefore, they are making the rounds to us kids and bringing peanut butter balls for everyone. Hmmm. I should probably be posting the recipe for the peanut butter balls. (The grandkids associate Christmas at Grandma's with peanut butter balls. She keeps them in her freezer so throughout the day, we see kids raiding her freezer.)

I've been craving the Rye Party Sandwiches for a couple of weeks now (left side of the picture), and they are really good right out of the oven. Don't be afraid to try these if you don't like rye bread. I don't care for rye bread, but the cocktail rye bread is small (2 1/2" x 2 1/2"), thin, and light. You can't tell there's rye in there.

Hope you like these. I think I'll get the filling made today so that all we have to do is warm it up and spread it on the bread -- pop them in the oven, and EAT!

Rye Party Sandwiches

1 lb hot sausage

1 lb regular sausage

1/2 cup finely chopped bell pepper

Fry and drain.

Add to sausage mixture:

1 pound melted Velveeta Cheese

1 Tb. Worchestershire sauce

1/2 tsp. garlic powder.

Heat until thoroughly heated (it's easier to spread). Spread mixture on Cocktail Rye Bread. Bake at 350 degrees for 12 minutes.

Recipe from: Faye Whitfield

Notes: I prefer Jimmy Dean sausage. There's less fat, more flavor. The Cocktail Rye Bread is usually found in the specialty bread section of your grocery store. I was actually able to find it at the Walmart Supercenter this year.