Pineapple Cheeseball

This is a really yummy cheeseball.  The flavors are so different and unexpected and it's very addicting.  It doesn't really have a name; I'm just calling it the pineapple cheese ball.  Anywho, it would be a great appetizer for all the holiday parties coming up!

Ingredients:

8 oz. cream cheese, at room temperature
8 oz. shredded sharp cheddar cheese
small can crushed pineapple, drained (8 oz. I believe)
½ green bell pepper, diced small
2 green onions, chopped small
4 oz. diced pimento, drained
1 teaspoon seasoned salt

Combine all ingredients and chill in refrigerator.  It gets even better the longer it sits.  You can shape it into a ball or serve in a bowl with good snack crackers.

Source

Jalapeno Pimiento Cheese

Once you make your own pimiento cheese, you just can't go back to the packaged stuff.  It's not even close to the real thing. 

Pimiento cheese is one of those staples you should always have in your fridge for when unexpected company shows up at your door.  It's great for a tasty snack or appetizer.  And as a grilled pimiento cheese sandwich...oh yum!

Inspired from Southern Living, July 2009

Ingredients:
2 blocks sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
4 ounce jar diced pimientos, drained (I think next time I will use a 7 ounce jar)
½ cup mayonnaise
2 jalapenos, seeded and diced
2 tablespoons finely diced onion
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Salt and Pepper to taste

Directions:
1.  Combine all ingredients in a medium sized bowl and mix well.
2.  Place in bowl of food processor and pulse 5 or 6 times to desired consistency.

Ahhh…the first batch of salsa this summer!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What I used: all from the garden, except for the lime and vinegar of course!

3 tomatoes (I like the skin peeled off)

2 baby red onions

2 jalapenos

3 cloves of garlic

juice from 1 lime

splash of red wine vinegar

season with salt, pepper, and garlic powder

Just mix it all up in the food processor!

Salsa Chicken Salad

This is such an easy dip and it’s something different from your regular salsa or cheese dip.  Perfect snack for a summer picnic or party….or just for lunch like me.

Source:  Paula Deen, The Lady and Sons Too!

Printable Recipe

Ingredients

2 cups cooked and shredded chicken

16 oz. sour cream

16 oz. chunky salsa

½ packet Ranch dressing mix

1 cup shredded pepperjack cheese

8 oz. container water chestnuts, chopped

Mix all ingredients together, chill in the fridge for a couple hours.  Serve cold with tortilla chips or as tortilla roll-ups.

Chicken Enchilada Dip

So, I have a bajillion jalapenos from my Papa's garden and I'm trying to find some more recipes for them!

I've already made the Jalapeno Cheese Grits for Easter.  And I always use them in fresh salsa and pico, but I'm waiting on fresh tomatoes before I make those. I also made a good Jerk Chicken marinade last week with a couple of them, but forgot to blog it.  So I guess I'll have to make it again!  Oh they're also good stuffed with cheese, wrapped in bacon and grilled.  But a few of them burned my mouth!

So if anyone has some ideas to use up jalapenos, send them my way please!

When I was thinking about what I could make with them tonight, this Chicken Enchilada Dip was the first thing that came to my mind.  I think I took it from someone's blog, but I don't remember whose.  So whoever you are, send me an email and I can credit you!

The jalapenos are not too hot in this, they won't burn your mouth.  Promise.  It's all covered in CHEESE to cool it down.  SO GOOD!

Printable Recipe

Ingredients:

8 oz. cream cheese
1/2 cup Tabasco spicy mayo (or add a few drops of Tabasco to regular mayo)
16 oz. shredded cheddar cheese
1 can diced green chiles
2-3 jalapenos, finely diced (remove ribs and seeds)
Half a bundle of green onions, chopped (you can sub a red onion too)
1 tsp. of Cajun seasoning
1 tsp. Garlic powder
1 lg. can of all white meat chicken

Mix all ingredients together and spread in a serving dish. I put mine in the oven on 375 for about 30 minutes, just long enough for the cheese to get melty and bubbly! Serve with tortilla chips.