The king of appetizers and yet the easiest of them all! Queso aka Chili Con Queso, in Spanish means Cheese or Chili with Cheese. Don’t be alarmed if you are not too fond of chillies…just skip it and it’ll be just as good! The wonderful part about this starter is that it is easy to make and does not have to be babied…people will just folk around it! It is a perfect appetizer for parties (big or small) & Holidays!
Happy Holiday!

Ingredients:

Velveeta Cheese – 16 oz, cubed
Cilantro (Coriander Leaves) – handful, finely chopped
Diced Tomatoes with Green Chilies – 10 oz can

Method:

1. Cube the Velveeta and add to the crockpot.
2. Add in the Cilantro and the Diced Tomatoes Can along with the liquid.
3. Turn the crock pot on high and allow the cheese to melt for a couple of hours, mix occasionally.
4. Once the cheese has melted, turn the crock pot down to a ‘low’ or ‘warm’.
5. Serve in the crock pot with tortilla chips.

Tips:
1. When you are in a rush…use the microwave to melt the cheese. Mix every minute.
2. Don’t have a can of diced tomatoes…use Salsa!
3. Don’t have Salsa…chop tomatoes, green chillies, Cilantro and a dash of salt!
4. Made too much and have left overs? Don’t want to throw and waste? Freeze in a clean freezer safe container till the next party! Defrost at room temperature and heat and melt. Freshen it up with some freshly cut cilantro and no one will guess….shhhh!

Other Interesting Indian Appetizers

The king of appetizers and yet the easiest of them all! Queso aka Chili Con Queso, in Spanish means Cheese or Chili with Cheese. Don’t be alarmed if you are not too fond of chillies…just skip it and it’ll be just as good! The wonderful part about this starter is that it is easy to make and does not have to be babied…people will just folk around it! It is a perfect appetizer for parties (big or small) & Holidays!
Happy Holiday!

Have a party coming up for which you need an appetizer recipe to feed a crowd? Seven Layer Dip (7 Layer Dip) is your answer. Make it ahead and serve this Mexican inspired dip with warm tortillas or chips. Don’t let the name (7 Layer) stop you. Go ahead and add an eighth layer (jalapenos) or ninth layer (salsa). It’s a sure fire crowd pleaser! (more…)

Other Interesting Indian Appetizers

Egg Rolls have a universal appeal and element of surprise once you bite into this delicious cylindrical shaped wonder! Stuff them with vegetables, noodles and /or cooked and shredded meats and you can do wonders with it. Egg Rolls sometimes known as Spring Rolls are just worth the effort.

Egg Rolls have a universal appeal and element of surprise once you bite into this delicious cylindrical shaped wonder! Stuff them with vegetables, noodles and /or cooked and shredded meats and you can do wonders with it. Egg Rolls sometimes known as Spring Rolls are just worth the effort.

Prep Time: 20 min
Cook Time: 10 min
Serves : 6 pcs.

Ingredients:

Egg Roll Wrappers – 1 pkt
Sesame Seed Oil or Vegetable Oil – 1 tbsp
Minced Ginger – 1 tbsp
Shredded Cabbage – 2 cups
Shredded Carrots – 1/2 cup
Green Onions / Spring Onions – 3, thinly sliced
Corn Starch – 1 tsp
Soy Sauce – 1 tbsp or to taste

For Sealing:
Water – 1 tsp
Corn Starch – 1 tsp

Oil – for deep frying

Method:

1. Heat the Oil in a wok. If using Sesame Oil, allow it to reach a smoking point. Do that burn the Oil if using Vegetable Oil.
2. Add in Ginger and cook for 30 seconds.
3. Add in the Cabbage, Carrots and Spring Onions.
4. Increase the heat to a maximum, toss and cook till the vegetable till they are cooked but not limp (approx 3 min).
5. Lower the heat.
6. Mix 1 tsp of Corn Starch in the 1 tbsp of Soy Sauce.
7. Add the mixture to the Vegetables.
8. Mix well, turn off the flame and take it off the stove.
9. Allow it to cool down to room temperature before we start rolling the egg rolls.
10. Divide the mixture into equal portions.
11. Mix 1 tsp of Corn Starch in 1 tsp of cold Water and mix for sealing the Egg Rolls.
12. Take an Egg Roll Wrapper and place it diagonally so it looks like a diamond shape in front.
13. Place 1 part of the mixture in a line a little below the pointed edges.
14. Take the pointed edge facing you and start wrapping over the mixture.
15. Wrap the edges on the side to envelope the mixture.
16. Start rolling till only the top edge is left.
17. Seal the top edge with the carn starch and water mixture.
18. Continue wrapping till it’s all done.
19. Prep all the egg rolls.
20. Preheat the Oil for deep frying on medium heat.
21. Place the Egg Rolls gently in the Oil.
22. Cook till they are golden in the bottom side and then roll over to cook on the other side.
23. Once done, take out gently and place then on a paper towel.
24. Serve hot with some Chili Sauce or Duck Sauce.

Tips:

1. Shred some cooked and shredded meat (chicken, pork, beef, shrimp)
2. Add some noodles or different vegetables…experiment!

Other Interesting Indian Appetizers

In an event that you can only have one and only one Mexican dish, make sure it’s a dessert, especially if you can lay your hands on a Tres Leches Cake! There are just no words to describe this cake that just melts in the mouth. Mexican desserts are just the greatest whether you have a sweet tooth or not – churros, flan, Tres Leches to name a few.
We really want you to go ahead dig into this one without a worry in the world.

Detailed Recipe for Tres Leches Cake.

In the event that you can only have one and only one dish, make sure it’s a dessert, especially if you can lay your hands on a Tres Leches Cake! As delicious as this dessert is, there seems to be some dispute over it’s origin. Some historians believe that it originated in Nicaragua, some say Mexico. One thing is sure…there are not enough words to describe this cake that just melts in your mouth. Latin desserts are just the greatest whether you have a sweet tooth or not – churros, flan, Tres Leches to name a few.
We really want you to go ahead dig into this one without a worry in the world.

Prep Time: 30 min + overnight refrigeration
Cook Time: 45 min
Serves: 20-24 pcs.
Ingredients:

For the Cake:
All Purpose Flour (Maida) – 2.25 cups
Baking Powder – 1.5 tsp
Salt – 3/4 tsp
Eggs – 4
Sugar – 1.5 cups
Vanilla – 1.5 tsp
Cold Water – 3/4 cup

For the Milks:
Evaporated Milk – 2, 12 oz cans
Sweetened Condensed Milk – 2, 14 oz cans
Heavy Whipping Cream – 2, 1 pint cartons/ 16 oz / 2 cups

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 325 F/ 162 C.
2. Break Eggs into a bowl and whisk till the Eggs are light and fluffy.
3. Meanwhile also sift Flour, baking Powder and Salt and keep aside.
4. Mix the vanilla to the Cold Water and keep aside.
5. Once the Eggs are done, add a little bit of Sugar at a time and keep whisking.
6. Then add in the Flour mixture and Vanilla & Water mixture to the Eggs and keep beating.
7. Keep adding a little at a time till both the mixtures finish.
8. Keep whisking till the batter is smooth and has no lumps.
9. Grease and prep a 13X9 inch baking dish.
10. Pour the batter into the baking dish and bake for 45 min in the middle of the oven.
11. For the Milks: mix 1 can of Condensed Milk, 1 can of Evaporated Milk and 1 pint of Heavy Cream.
12. Insert a toothpick in the middle, if it comes out clean it is done.
13. Once baked, while it is still cooling, poke holes in the cake every 1/8th of an inch apart.
14. While still hot, pour the Milks over the cake allowing it to seep in through the holes and letting the cake absorb the Milks.
15. Cover the cake and refrigerate the cake overnight.
16. Next day repeat the process: mix another batch of milks and pour more over the cake.
17. Allow the Cake to absorb as much as possible and cover and chill till ready to serve.
18. At the time of serving pour a spoon or two of the Milks, top with some Cool Whip and a Strawberry.
19. Sit back and enjoy the compliments!

Other Interesting Indian Desserts

Sometimes we come across a vegetable that needs very little frills to make it an attractive and tasty dish, Asparagus is top on that list. Here will have prepared the Asparagus with garlic (lots of it) and salt and no other spices and the results are absolutely amazing. The flavor of the Asparagus, the simplicity of the dish and the eye appeal make this a great hit. (more…)

Sometimes we come across a vegetable that needs very little frills to make it an attractive and tasty dish, Asparagus is top on that list. Here will have prepared the Asparagus with garlic (lots of it) and salt and no other spices and the results are absolutely amazing. The flavor of the Asparagus, the simplicity of the dish and the eye appeal make this a great hit. (more…)

Other Interesting Indian Fusion

We love asparagus but it can be a little pricey at times. Find out how to get the most out of your asparagus and help to reduce waste with this Tip Tuesday video. (more…)

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