Cheese – Simple Comfort Food – Recipes that are simple and delicious.

Nacho Hot Dogs

October 26, 2018October 26, 2018 Dax Phillips Leave a comment

Don’t knock us, but I will admit that as often as we have things on our meal rotation such as ‘Taco (whatever day), breakfast for dinner, roasted chicken, etc” there is one meal that probably makes it into the rotation once a month, and that is hot dog night. I love it. The dinner table however is pretty below average when it comes to loading up a hot dog and as a matter of fact, 99.9 percent of the table of eaters, excluding myself, only eats a plain hot dog. No big deal. I’m not to judge as there is something to be said about a plain weiner, or hot dog, especially if you are getting a quality weiner such as a product from Nueske’s. For me however, well it’s a completely different experience. I love to try different things on mine, and as pure as I can get to just mustard, or a couple of peppers on top, there are often times when I’m craving something alongside that hot dog, and that’s when this little creation appeared; the nacho hot dog.

Let’s get started.

Ingredients:

Your favorite wieners or hot dogs, cooked to your liking (grilled or steamed)
Hot Dog Buns
1/2 cup Chihuahua cheese, per serving
1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese, per serving
chopped onions, optional
1/2 whole jalapeno, thinly sliced, seeds optional

That’s where I am standing on the nacho hot dog. Why only cheese and jalapeno? I’m a fan of the simple nacho as the starting ground. There is something about the combination of salty cheese and a spicy pepper that when done right, it is just hard to beat. Now sure… use this as your base. If you want beans, go for it. Tomatoes, onion, salsa… go for it. It’ up to you, but the simply smokiness from the wiener, along with the cheese and chilies really makes this a great bite.

Once your hot dogs are cooked, place them into a bun, top with the quesadilla cheese, then the cheddar, then lay in the jalapenos.

Place on a baking sheet and place into a 400 degree oven for about 5 minutes or until the cheese is nicely melted and the bun is slightly toasted. Once removed, add some chopped onions to the top.

Dig in and enjoy!

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Party Dip

July 26, 2018August 4, 2018 Dax Phillips 1 Comment

It was not too long ago where our families got together for an early summertime barbecue, or cookout if you will. I tend not to be a snob when it comes to the terms barbecue and grill out (or cookout), but when I hear a barbecue I think of meat smoked low and slow, then served while grilling is typically done over charcoal or wood, or for those that use gas, cooking at a faster pace. Regardless, any get together is always a fun time in our book, and we always like to bring something to the get together. When I ask the question to my wife if we can bring anything to the party, when I hear the word ‘Dessert’ I often panic in a sense. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t freak out or anything, but dessert is typically not my cup of tea and I typically only make dessert for my wife and kids. I am more into the savory, not the sweet.

So when I heard a dessert, I immediately thought of taking this one on myself and making something very simple, sweet, and something I knew adults and children would love. That’s when I came up with the Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Party Dip.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Party Dip Recipe

Let’s get started.

Ingredients:

8 oz package of cream cheese, softened at room temperature
1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
1/4 cup light brown sugar
1 cup powdered sugar
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup mini chocolate chips
1 cup salted caramel (or caramel chips)
1/2 tsp salt
Graham crackers or sliced apples

Again, this dip is way too easy to make and everyone crushed it. I think there was about 1/2 tablespoon left when we gathered the kids to leave the party. Yes, it’s that good, and a bit addicting.

Start by adding the cream cheese, butter, sugars, salt, and vanilla extract to a mixing bowl. Turn on your mixer and mix until all of the ingredients are well combined.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Party Dip Ingredients

Next add in both of your chocolate and caramel chips. Mix again to make sure all of the chips are combined.

Now get your silicone baking spatula out and get all of those goods scraped out and placed into your serving bowl.

When you are ready to serve, place your serving bowl next to a plate lined with graham crackers and sliced apples. Spread onto either one and get to town. These are sweet, creamy, and have a great little texture from those mini chips.

This is a quicker winner of a dessert. Hope you enjoy!

Mexican Elotes Tater Tots

July 19, 2018July 19, 2018 Dax Phillips Leave a comment

Summertime is finally here, and sometimes that is s a great thing or a bad thing. The bad only being that it has been a scorcher in Wisconsin. The temperature has been in the upper to mid 90’s lately with a high percentage of humidity. I don’t perform well in humidity, and as I normally run hot to begin with, when you add humidity that only means I’m a walking puddle. The great thing is that all of the wonderful produce that my wife and family love is in full harvest, and one of them being corn. I’ve always related corn and tomatoes to summertime while living in the midwest, and as we grow a lot of tomatoes in our garden, corn is pretty much on our lunch or dinner table several times a week.

While living in Dallas, I was first introduced to Mexican corn (Elotes), and I fell in love. It was addicting. Grilled or steamed corn smothered in mayonnaise, sprinkled with chili powder and cotija cheese, what was not to love? I had elotes on my mind after buying a handful of corn on the cob, and after rummaging through my freezer (trying to purge frozen items), I located some nice tater tots. I love tater tots, and after looking at both the corn and the tater tots, I knew I could only do justice my making some loaded Mexican Elotes Tater Tots.

Forget the nachos. These are a game changer.

Let’s get started.

2 ears of corn, steamed or grilled, then cut off the cob
1/2 a bag or about 15 oz of frozen tater tots, cooked by directions on bag
2 cups of Supremo 3 Cheese Mexican blend cheese (Chihuahua, Oaxaca, Cotija)
1/3 cup of Mayonnaise
1 tsp chili powder
salt and pepper to taste
1 tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped, to garnish
1/2 lime, optional

Start by preheating your oven by directions, or fry the tots if you desire. I baked mine on a cast iron fajita skillet (love), and during this time steam or grill your corn.

Once the corn is cooked to your liking (I like mine a bit al dente), cut it off the cob and place it into a mixing bowl.

Add the mayonnaise, chili powder, and a bit of salt and pepper. Those tater tots need some salt and pepper.

Once the tots are close to being done (and to your liking), and some like them a bit tender and some like them nice and crispy like myself, remove the skillet or baking sheet from the oven. Top all of the tater tots with the Mexican shredded cheeses and place back into the oven and cook for about 5 more minutes or until the cheese is nicely melted.

Once the cheese is nicely melted, remove it from the oven and slide onto your serving plate. I keep mine on the cast iron skillet and place it on top of the wooden board that came with the fajita skillet.

Top with the corn mixture, shower with fresh cilantro, and serve with a lime wedge for additional acidity.

Now block yourself from others, just kidding, and dig in. You talk about everything you can love about Mexican Elotes, these Mexican Elotes Tater Tots just bring it over the top. Simple, quick, and delicious. This is a perfect Summertime snack. Enjoy.

If you are looking for other takes on Mexican elotes, or other corn ideas this summer, give these a try:

Fried Bologna Breakfast Sandwich

May 24, 2018May 24, 2018 Dax Phillips Leave a comment

I was first introduced to fried bologna, I believe when I was living in Indiana as a young kid. I mean probably first grade. I could be wrong as age is getting to me, but I recall my Dad searing it on a hot skillet on the stove top. I always try to bring back those types of memories to my kids whether it be teaching them how to make a proper omelette or a simple thing like making stove top popcorn. When I recently shopped I had the idea of a McMuffin on my mind, and then as I was ordering some ham, I took a gaze over at the bologna and decided to go straight for it as I knew one of my boys loves it as well. That’s when I decided to come up with the fried bologna breakfast sandwich.

To me, this is a perfect breakfast, or brunch sandwich and it has everything I love for breakfast (yes, I’m a fan of the egg McMuffin), but substitutes Canadian bacon with thick cut bologna, about 1 inch thick.

Let’s get started.

Ingredients:

1 slice thick cut beef bologna
1 telera roll, lightly toasted
1 tbsp unsalted butter
1 egg, cooked sunny side up
1 slice American cheese
salt and pepper to taste

Start by heating a large skillet on medium high heat. Slice your roll and lightly toast it on both sides. Remove and set aside once it is toasted.

Next add the sliced bologna and cook it until it is nicely seared on both sides. It will curl up on you, but don’t worry. To me it is the vessel to hold the egg. If your skillet is large enough, keep it cooking while you cook your egg. If not, remove and cook your egg.

Turn the heat back down to medium, and add the butter. Crack your egg and using a spatula, lightly break that thick egg white and let it run around. Season with salt and pepper.

I like to cook the egg when the white edges get nice and crispy, but cook it however you like.

Add the fried bologna to the bottom bun, top with the egg, and add the American cheese. Cover with the top white bun, push it down a bit to create that yolk gravy, and get to town.

It’s salty, crisp, and just down right delicious. Get to it, you’ll love it. Hope you enjoy!