Recipes that appear in Idea Alley have not been tested by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.
Becky Peebles contributes this "serving suggestion" for when you need to feed a large group of varying ages.
Stack-Ups
1 large pot of cooked white rice
1 large pot of your favorite homemade chili OR 1 large skillet of seasoned taco meat
1 recipe Ro-Tel Cheese Dip (recipe follows)
Desired toppings such as shredded lettuce, chopped tomatoes, chopped onions, sour cream
Layer in this order on a dinner plate: rice, chili, cheese dip and toppings.
It's hard to beat the ease and simplicity of this basic cheese dip. To vary the flavor, try using the different combinations of Ro-Tel and Velveeta such as Mexican-Style Ro-tel with white Velveeta (Queso Blanco) or hot Ro-Tel and cheddar Velveeta.
Ro-Tel Cheese Dip
1 (10-ounce) can original Ro-Tel tomatoes and green chiles, undrained
1 pound Velveeta, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
Stove-top method: Combine undrained tomatoes and Velveeta in medium saucepan. Cook over medium heat 5 minutes or until Velveeta is melted completely and mixture is blended, stirring frequently.
Microwave method: Combine undrained tomatoes and Velveeta in 1-1/2-quart microwave-safe dish; cover. Microwave on 100 percent power for 5 minutes or just until Velveeta melts, stirring after 3 minutes. Remove from microwave; stir until mixture is blended. Caution: Dish will be hot; use hot pads. For a double recipe, microwave on 100 percent power for 8 minutes or until Velveeta melts, stirring after 5 minutes. Drain one can of tomatoes if a thicker dip is preferred.
REQUESTS
• Stove-top quiche for Peebles. "I remember that it was supposed to be a restaurant recipe and that it contained tomatoes, eggs and maybe sausage," writes Peebles. The recipe is from the 1980s, and may have appeared in this column.
• Burger seasoning like that on the "hubcap" hamburgers served in the late 1950s and early 1960s at The Leopard Den in Malvern for Terry Greer.
Send recipe requests, contributions and culinary questions to Kelly Brant, Idea Alley, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, P.O. Box 2221, Little Rock, Ark. 72203; email:
kbrant@arkansasonline.com
Please include a daytime phone number.
Food on 06/17/2015