Southwestern Cheese Appetizer Food

CHEESY SOUTHWEST APPETIZERS

Steps:

• Cut cheddar and monterey jack cheeses into small triangles. Top each cracker with some cheddar cheese, monterey jack cheese, bell pepper, jalapeno pepper and olives. Place on baking sheet.
• Broil 4 to 5 inches from heat for 1 to 3 minutes or until cheese begins to melt.

SOUTHWESTERN PINWHEELS

Steps:

• In small bowl, combine cream cheese, shredded cheese, green onion, salsa, cilantro and cumin.
• Mix until combined.
• Spread cheese mixture over tortillas.
• Place a layer of spinach over cheese.
• Roll tightly and then wrap in plastic.
• Chill at least 1 hour or up to 8 hours.
• Cut crosswise into 1-inch pieces.
• Place on a serving platter with the cut side up.
• Garnish each pinwheel with cilantro sprig. Cover and chill up to 1 hour before serving. Before serving, add a dollop of salsa to the top of each pinwheel.

SOUTHWESTERN CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• 1. Preheat oven to 325F. Stir together crushed chips and butter, and press into a 9-inch spring form pan.
• 2. Bake for 15 minutes.
• 3. While the crust is baking, beat cream cheese and eggs in a large bowl at medium speed until well blended.
• 4. Stir in co-jack cheese and the chilis and pour over crust. Bake for 30 minutes. Cool completely.
• 5. Spread sour cream over cheesecake and sprinkle with the toppings. Chill 1-2 hours.
• 6. Remove cheesecake from pan after chilling. Let sit a bit before serving or you will break your chips!

SOUTHWESTERN CHILE CHEESE FONDUE

Steps:

• 1. In large bowl, toss the Monterey Jack and cheddar with the cornstarch to coat.
• 2. In large skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add onion and bell pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, til onion is softened but not browned, about 5 minutes. Stir in the tomatoes, chile peppers, and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, til most of the moisture evaporates, about 5 minutes. Pour in the light cream and cook, stirring til sauce just reaches a boil. Reduce heat to low.
• 3. Break cream cheese into small pieces and gradually stir into the hot chile tomato sauce til melted and smooth. Gradually stir in the shredded cheese mixture, letting each addition melt before adding more. Stir in the lime juice, cumin and cayenne. Taste, adding salt if needed.
• 4. Transfer to a fondue pot, preferably ceramic or enameled cast iron. Sprinkle the cilantro and scallions over the top and serve at once. Regulate the heat under pot if possible so that the cheese fondue remains warm, not hot.

SOUTHWEST CHEESE SOUP

Steps:

• In 4-quart Dutch oven, mix all ingredients except cilantro.
• Cook over medium-low heat, stirring frequently, until cheese is melted and soup is hot. Garnish each serving with cilantro.

SOUTHWESTERN CHEESE APPETIZER

Steps:

• Whisk together first 3 ingredients until mixture is blended; stir in diced red peppers and next 6 ingredients.
• Set marinade aside.
• Cut block of cheddar cheese in half lengthwise.
• Cut halves crosswise into ¼-inch thick slices.
• Repeat procedure with Monterey jack cheese and cream cheese.
• Arrange cheese slices alternatively in a shallow baking dish, standing slices on edge.
• Pour marinade over cheeses.
• Cover and chill at least 8 hours.
• Transfer cheese to a serving plate, and spoon remaining marinade over top.
• Serve with assorted crackers or even tortilla chips.

SOUTHWEST APPETIZER CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Place tortilla chips in a large Ziploc bag.
• Finely crush chips with mallet or rolling pin to measure 2/3 cup.
• Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
• Combine crushed chips and margarine; press onto bottom of 9-inch springform pan.
• Bake 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, process cottage cheese in processor or blender until smooth.
• Beat cream cheese and cottage cheese in large bowl with and electric mixer on med. speed until well blended.
• Add eggs, 1 at a time, mixing well after each addition.
• Stir in cheddar cheese and chilies.
• Pour mixture over baked crust.
• Return to oven; bake 60 minutes.
• Combine sour cream and dip in small bowl; mix thoroughly.
• Remove cheesecake from oven and carefully pour sour cream mixture evenly over top.
• Return cheesecake to oven; bake 10 minutes more.
• Remove cheesecake from oven.
• Let stand at room temperature to cool slightly.
• Loosen cake from rim of pan; cool completely before removing rim.
• Refrigerate cheesecake until ready to serve.
• Just before serving, top with the tomatoes, green onions and olives.
• Cut into wedges to serve.
• Note: The 8 oz. cans of jalepeño cheddar dip are found, usually, on the rack in front of the tortilla chips, and potato chips.

CHEESY SOUTHWESTERN STAR DIP

Steps:

• 1. In a bowl combine cheese, mayo, ½ c olives, chiles, garlic powder and hot pepper sauce. Transfer to a couple of 9 inch round pans or a 9x13 Bake uncovered at 350 for 20 minutes, or until hot and bubbly.
• 2. Sprinkle tomato, and remaining olives, and green onions on top in a star pattern. Serve warm, with tortilla chips, Frito's, Naan chips, really any heavy duty chip will work and taste wonderful!

REDNECK SOUTHWESTERN CHEESE DIP

Steps:

• 1. Brown ground beef, sausage and onion in skillet. May be made ahead of time and frozen.
• 2. Place all ingredients in large crock pot and heat on medium until cheese is melted and all ingredients are mixed together. Stir frequently.
• 3. Be sure to put crock pot on Low or Warm after cheese melts so dip doesn't burn.
• 4. Place chips in large bowl or basket next to the crock pot.
• 5. Provide a large spoon for guests to put dip on small plates so folks won't dip chips into the crock pot. Warning: this won't stop some of 'em.
• 6. This will become your most requested appetizer at any large gathering.

SOUTHWESTERN CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325.
• Stir together chips and margarine and press into a 9-inch springform pan.
• Bake for 15 minutes.
• Beatg cream cheese and eggs in large bowl at medium speed until well blended.
• Stir in the co-jack cheese and the chilis and pour over crust.
• Bake for 30 minutes.
• Cool completely.
• Spread sour cream over cheese cake and sprinkle on toppings.
• Chill 1-2 hours.
• Remove from cake pan after chilling.
• Let sit out to"soften" a little or you'll break your tortilla chips!
• before serving.
• Serve on platter surrounded by tortilla chips and celery sticks.