Tex Mex Melts Recipes

Steps:

• Combine first 5 ingredients. Refrigerate 1 hour.
• Top crackers with tomato mixture, adding about 2 Tbsp. to each; sprinkle with cheese. Place 6 topped crackers on microwaveable plate.
• Microwave on HIGH 15 sec. or until cheese begins to melt. Repeat with remaining topped crackers.

Steps:

• In a large bowl, mix together the corn, jalapenos, red onions and bell peppers.
• In a separate bowl, combine the chili powder, cumin, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder and crushed red pepper. Mix together with a fork.
• Heat half the oil in a very large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add half the veggies and sprinkle with half the seasoning. Cook until blackened bits start to appear, 4 to 5 minutes. Remove from the skillet; repeat with the other half of the oil, veggies and seasoning. Return the first half of the veggies to the skillet and add the black beans and green chiles. Stir and continue cooking for 3 minutes. Use immediately or allow to cool, then package in smaller freezer bags or containers and freeze.
• To reheat, add 2 teaspoons or more of olive oil (depending on the quantity of vegetables) to a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat and add the desired amount of frozen vegetables. Cook, stirring frequently, until heated through, 5 to 7 minutes. The veggies can be used in a number of ways. Here are some serving suggestions.
• For soft tacos: Lay a warmed fajita-size flour tortilla on a board. Pile on 1/4 cup cooked taco chicken, top with 2 tablespoons shredded iceberg, 1 tablespoon grated Cheddar and a big spoonful of the Tex-Mex veggies.
• For veggie taco salad: Slice 1/2 head each of iceberg and romaine. Mix and spread the lettuce out on a platter to make a bed for the salad. Arrange 1 cup of the Tex-Mex veggies all over the lettuce. Sprinkle over 1/4 cup cotija cheese, dot on 1/4 cup salsa, top with 2 tablespoons sour cream and sprinkle over 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro leaves.
• For quick quesadillas: Melt 2 tablespoons salted butter in a cast-iron skillet; add 1 burrito-size sun-dried tomato flour tortilla. Top with 1/4 cup grated Monterey Jack cheese, 1/4 cup of the Tex-Mex veggies, then a second tortilla. Cook for a minute, then flip and cook on the other side until the cheese is melted. Remove to a cutting board, cut into quarters and serve with 2 tablespoons pico de gallo, 2 tablespoons guacamole and a sprig of fresh cilantro.

Steps:

• Preheat the broiler. Whisk the salsa, sour cream and 3/4 cup water in a bowl.
• Heat the olive oil in a large ovenproof nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the broccoli, bell pepper, scallion whites and garlic; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring, until softened, about 6 minutes. Add the cumin and stir until toasted, 30 seconds.
• Stir in the chicken, rice, salsa mixture and 1 teaspoon salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium and simmer until heated through and saucy, 1 to 3 minutes. Fold in half of the cheese; top with the rest. Broil until the cheese melts, 2 to 4 minutes. Top with the scallion greens.

Steps:

• Cut bread into 20 1/4-inch slices. Arrange slices on a baking stone.
• Chop onion & bell pepper. Grate cheese. In a bowl, combine chicken, onion, bell pepper, 1/2 cup of the cheese, mayonnaise, Seasoning Mix and garlic; mix well.
• Divide filling evenly among bread slices. Slice tomatoes. Place one tomato slice over filling on each bread slice. Snip parsley. In a bowl, toss remaining cheese and parsley to combine. Sprinkle over tomato slices.
• Bake 15-18 minutes or until golden brown. Serve hot.

Steps:

• Mix together the ground beef, chili seasoning mix, 2 minced chipotle peppers with adobo sauce, and the beer in a bowl. Divide the mixture evenly into three patties.
• Stir together the mayonnaise and 1 minced chipotle pepper with adobo sauce in a small bowl. Divide the mixture between the bread slices and spread evenly. Place a slice of pepperjack cheese on top of the mayonnaise mixture on each slice of bread.
• Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the patties in the skillet until no longer pink in the center, 5 to 7 minutes each side for well done. Remove each burger to a slice of bread, sandwiching them with the remaining slices.
• Drain the skillet, reserving 2 tablespoons of the grease. Heat the reserved grease in the skillet over medium-high heat. Grill the sandwiches in the skillet until the bread is golden brown and the cheese is melted, 1 to 2 minutes per side.