Easy Cream Cheese Sausage Mexican Dip

I thought this recipe looked similar to my "Not your average Rotel Dip" but with cream cheese.  This recipe was actually even easier than that one, and I think I like it even better.  It was a hit both times I've made it!  This would be perfect for a super bowl party!

Easy Cream Cheese Sausage Mexican Dip
From: Our Best Bites
Prep time: 5 Min
Cook Time: 10 min

Ingredients:
1 8 oz block cream cheese
1 cup jar Salsa
1 12 oz pkg Jimmy Dean breakfast sausage

Directions:
1.  Brown sausage in a large pan.  Drain fat if necessary.

2.  Add the cream cheese and salsa to the pan with the sausage and heat through until creamy. Serve hot with tortilla chips. (I transferred mine to a crock pot to keep warm for a party).

Bowties with Sausage, Tomato, & Cream

When I got married, I received a bunch of recipes at my showers (like a lot of people do), I've tried a bunch of them, and this one we had earlier this summer. It is from our family friend Joan DeWilde, who is a great cook, much better than myself, and if you try this recipe, you will see why. The only reason I waited so long to try it is because I was convinced it was going to be difficult... but it wasn't!


Bowties with Sausage, Tomato, & Cream
From: Joan DeWilde

Ingredients:
2 Tbs Olive Oil
3 cloves Garlic (crushed)
1 lb Sweet Italian Sausage (Take meat out of skin)
1/2 tsp Hot Pepper Flakes
1/2 cup chopped Onions
28oz. can Crushed Tomatoes
1 1/2 cup half & Half
1/2 tsp salt
16 oz Bow Tie Pasta

Directions:
1. Cook Pasta according to package

3. Saute Sausage & Pepper Flakes (approx 7 min)

4. Add Onion & Garlic - Saute another 7 min.

5. Add Tomatoes, salt, and Cream

6. Simmer Until Sauce Thickens (approx 4 min)


7. Pour over Cooked Pasta. Serve with Parmesan Cheese.

(NOTE: you can freeze 1/2 the sauce for a later meal... also it is a little spicy, but very good!)

Not Your Average Rotel

So I have decided that this week is Mexican week. I love Mexican (authentic or otherwise), I could probably eat it everyday, and since I already posted one of my favorites I figured I would keep the ball rolling. I realize that most if not super authentic Mexican, but they are delicious! I got this recipe from one of my favorite cooking blogs, The Pioneer Woman. You can see the original here. It is a little like Rotel (what we call velveeta cheese melted with Rotel tomatoes or sometimes just salsa), plus some extra flavors.



Not Your Average Rotel
From: The Pioneer Woman

Ingredients:
2 lb Package Velveeta Cheese
1 lb package Hot Breakfast Sausage
1/2 large onion
1 regular can Rotel
1 7-oz can diced green chilies
1 to 3 finely diced jalapeno peppers (according to heat preference - we only used one and removed the seeds to keep it more mild)

Directions:
1. Chop the onion and brown with the breakfast sausage. Drain excess Fat.

Beginning of Browning

End of Browning

2. Cut Velveeta into cubes and add to warm skillet.

3. Add Rotel and Green chilies (I only used a 4 oz can because I bought the wrong size, and it still turned out delicious)

4. Stir together over low heat until mixture is melted.

5. Add jalapenos, stir together and serv warm with tortilla Chips

***NOTE: This make quite a bit, so you may want to freeze some for a later date. In fact I just remembered I have some in my freezer right now... mmmmm.