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.

ALOUETTE SOUTHWESTERN PINWHEELS

Steps:

• Mix Alouette® Spinach Artichoke Spreadable Cheese and avocado together to create a smooth paste.
• Evenly spread a layer of paste to cover each tortilla.
• Cover each tortilla with 4 slices of turkey breast.
• Place 4 roasted red pepper filets on top of turkey slices.
• Evenly divide small diced onion over entire length of tortillas.
• Roll each tortilla jelly-roll style and secure with toothpicks at ¾ inch intervals and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
• Remove from refrigerator and slice into ¾ inch pinwheels.
• Note:.
• For a colorful touch use Sundried Tomato and Spinach Flour Tortillas.

SOUTHWESTERN PINWHEELS

Steps:

• In a bowl, combine cream cheese, shredded cheese, scallion, salsa, cilantro and cumin and mix well.
• Spread mixture evenly over the two flour tortillas- be sure to reach to the ends.
• Place a single layer of the baby spinach leaves evenly over the crem cheese mixture.
• Roll the tortillas tightly.
• This step is important and will give the"pinwheel" look to your appetizers.
• Wrap each roll in plastic wrap, and chill for at least an hour, or up to 8 hours.
• After rolls are chilled, unwrap and cut each one in half.
• Begin from the smooth half, and cut roll into 1 inch circles.
• You should get 4 to 5 circles from each tortilla half depending on how well you tortilla"ends" hold together.
• Arrange your pinwheels cut side up on your serving platter.
• Cover and chill for up to one hour before serving.

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.

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.

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 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.