Rebecca Rathers Queso Recipes

Steps:

• In a big pot, heat the oil over medium heat; saute the onion, jalapenos, and garlic until soft, about 3 minutes.
• Decrease heat to low; stir in the milk, cumin, paprika, and cayenne; once the milk is warm, add in the tomatoes, Monterey Jack, and Velveeta; stir until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
• Stir in the spinach and cook a few minutes more.
• Serve in a bowl set on top of a warming tray or in a slow cooker set on low, with plenty of chips.

Steps:

• Add the processed cheese, Monterey Jack, Cheddar and canned tomatoes (along with the juice) to a medium saucepan or 10-inch cast-iron skillet (see Cook's Note) and turn the heat to medium. Cook, stirring frequently with a rubber spatula, until all the cheese has melted and the queso is smooth, about 5 minutes. Serve immediately with tortilla chips.
• To make the queso spicy, use hot diced tomatoes and green chiles, such as RoTel Hot, instead of the Original.
• Processed block cheese is crucial due to its meltability and what it adds to the queso's texture. Do not try to substitute other cheeses.

Steps:

• Place an oven rack in the bottom third of the oven and another in the top third of the oven. Preheat oven to 350°F Butter three 9-inch cake pans, then line each with a parchment round. Butter the paper and dust the pans with flour; knock out excess.
• Using an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Use a rubber spatula to scrape down the sides of the bowl.
• In a medium bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder and salt to blend. In a small bowl, stir together the milk, coconut milk and coconut cream until smooth. Add the flour mixture in three increments, alternating with the milk mixture in two increments, starting and ending with the flour mixture. After each addition, mix at low speed just to combine the ingredients. Stir in the vanilla.
• Using an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat the egg whites on high speed until stiff peaks form. Gently fold the egg whites into the batter until evenly blended. Divide the cake batter evenly among the prepared cake pans. Set two layers on the top rack and the third on the lower rack. Stagger the cake layers on the oven racks so that no layer is directly over another.
• Bake for 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle of the cakes comes out clean. Monitor the layers carefully for doneness; each may be done at a different time. Remove from the oven and let cool in the pans for 10 minutes, then unmold onto wire racks to cool completely.
• Make whipped cream filling; set aside.
• Make frosting; set aside.
• To assemble the cake, stack one cake layer on a serving plate and spread the top with half of whipped cream filling. Repeat with a second layer. Stack the final cake layer on top of the first two and cover the cake's top and sides with the frosting. Sprinkle the coconut on the top and sides of the cake.
• Cover the cake loosely with plastic wrap and store for 1 day at room temperature or up to 3 days in the refrigerator. Bring to room temperature before serving. Makes 8 to 10 servings.
• Whipped cream filling: Using an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat 1 cup cold heavy whipping cream on high speed until soft peaks form. Beat in 2 tablespoons coconut cream (such as Coco Lopez) and 1/2 cup grated fresh coconut (optional).
• Frosting: Whisk 2 large egg whites, 11/2 cups sugar, 1/3 cup cold water, 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar and 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt in a large stainless-steel bowl until thoroughly combined. Place the bowl over a saucepan filled with 2 inches of barely simmering water. Using a hand beater or handheld electric mixer, continue beating the egg white mixture for 4 minutes. Add 1/2 cup mini marshmallows in 2 increments while continuing to beat. Wait until the first batch of marshmallows has melted before adding the second. Continue beating for 2 to 3 minutes more, until stiff peaks form. Remove from the heat, stir in the vanilla and continue beating until the frosting is thick enough to spread.
• NOTE:It's challenging to press coconut into the sides of the cake. When pressing the coconut in, the icing invariably sticks to my fingers and mars the frosting's finish. I've discovered that throwing small handfuls of coconut toward the side of the cake makes it adhere quite well - a messy but effective technique for creating a gorgeous cake.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 13x9-inch baking dish or 2 1/2-quart casserole with cooking spray.
• In 12-inch skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Sprinkle chicken with taco seasoning mix. Cook chicken in oil 6 to 8 minutes, turning once, until golden brown on both sides. Depending on thickness of chicken, it may not be cooked all the way through at this point but will finish baking in the oven.
• In large bowl, stir together salsa con queso, half-and-half and chopped green chiles; stir in bell pepper. Reserve 1 cup of the sauce mixture. Stir rice into remaining sauce mixture.
• Place rice mixture in casserole; top with chicken. Top with reserved sauce mixture, then shredded cheese. Cover with foil.
• Bake 20 minutes; uncover and bake 10 to 15 minutes longer or until sauce bubbles and juice of chicken is clear when center of thickest part is cut (at least 165°F).
• Cool 10 minutes. Garnish with tomatoes and cilantro.

Steps:

• To make the filling:.
• Melt the butter in a large sauté pan set over medium heat. Add the onion and potato; sauté for 5 minutes. Add the garlic, bell pepper, and mushrooms and sauté about 15 minutes, until the potatoes are tender. Stir in the crushed red pepper and add salt and pepper to taste.
• While the vegetables are sauteing, skin the chicken, pull the meat off the bones and shred the meat or cut into bite-size pieces. Place the green beans in a microwave-safe bowl and add enough water to cover. Cover the dish and microwave on high power about 10 minutes, until the beans are tender. Drain thoroughly. Stir the beans, peas and chicken into the vegetable mixture. Set the filling aside.
• To make the cream sauce:.
• Melt the butter over medium heat in a large saucepan. Add the flour and whisk until smooth. Whisk in the chicken stock and cook the sauce over medium heat until it thickens to the consistency of a cream soup. Add the cream, hot pepper sauce, and salt and white pepper to taste. Pour the cream sauce over the chicken filling and stir to combine. Fill individual 1'/4-cup capacity oven-safe bowls three - quarters of the way to the top with the creamed chicken filling.
• To make the crust:.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Cut the butter into 16 pieces. In the bowl of a food processor fitted with a metal blade, pulse the butter and flour until crumbly. Add the cream cheese, salt, and white pepper. Continue pulsing just until the dough forms a ball.
• Set the dough on a flat surface dusted with flour. Use a floured rolling pin to roll the dough out to 1/4-inch thickness. Measure the diameter of the pot pie bowls-mine are about 4 inches across-and cut out dough rounds that are 1 1/2 inches larger in diameter. Whisk the egg in a small bowl. Lay the dough rounds on top of the pot pies, making sure the dough hangs evenly over each bowl. Brush the dough lightly with the beaten egg. Bake the pies for 20 to 25 minutes, until golden brown. Serve immediately.