Football Season Means Snacking and That Means Dips: Try These Recipes at Your Next Football Party

I live in Texas and in Texas football is king. Even the television series Friday Night Lights was based on hometown Texas football. But from what I see from my readers and Facebook page, etc, I believe the love of football is an American tradition is most cities and towns. And football whether tailgating at local games or have a group in to watch the "big" games, means food. For your next gathering, try these Tex-Mex flavored dip recipes. Sarah is famous for her Taco Dip and loves to share this recipe which is quick, easy, and delicious with either tortilla or corn chips. The Ranchero Cheese Dip cooks in the microwave in minutes. It is delicious served with corn chips, tortilla chips, or fresh veggies for those who want an alternative to chips. The last recipe is a throwback to my 1950s childhood in Southern Indiana.

SARAH'S TACO DIP
1 1/2 lbs. hamburger meat
1 package taco seasoning
1 carton sour cream - 8oz
1 small yellow onion, chopped
1 medium green (bell) pepper, chopped fine
3 medium tomatoes, chopped
1/2 lb cheddar cheese, grated

In a skillet, brown the hamburger meat. Stir meat while cooking to crumble. When meat is browned, drain off fat. Spread meat on the bottom of a 9 x 13-inch pan. Let meat cool 5 minutes. Layer on top of meat mixture: sour cream, onion, green pepper, tomatoes, and top with cheese. Serve with tortilla chips or corn chips.

MICROWAVE RANCHERO CHEESE DIP
1 jar (16-oz) American cheese spread
1/4 cup milk
2/3 cup sour cream
2 tbsp tomatoes with green chilies
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce

In a 1 1/2-quart casserole dish, combine the cheese, milk, and sour cream. Microwave mixture in a covered dish on high for about a minute, just until softened. Stir and add the Worcestershire sauce and the tomatoes with chilies. Microwave, covered, until heated through, about 3 to 4 minutes. Stir before serving. Serve warm with corn chips, tortilla chips, or fresh vegetables.

1950s ERA CHILI CON QUESO
1/2 cup finely chopped onion
1 tbsp butter
2 medium chopped, seeded tomatoes
1 can (4-oz)diced green chili peppers, drained
1 cup shredded American cheese
1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
1 tsp cornstarch
1 tsp hot pepper sauce
Chips, your choice of tortilla or corn chips

Cook the onion in the butter in a saucepan until the onion is crisp tender. Add the tomatoes and chili peppers. Simmer the mixture over low heat for 10 minutes. Toss the cheeses with the cornstarch and gradually add to the saucepan. Stir constantly until cheeses are melted. Stir in the hot pepper sauce and cook until mixture is heated through. Serve with the chips. This makes almost 2 cups of queso.

Enjoy! And may your team win!!

For more of Linda's old-fashion recipe collection visit her blog at http://grandmasvintagerecipes.blogspot.com/
For her quick and easy recipe collection visit her at http://grandmasquickfixrecipes.blogspot.com/

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Cafe Constellation: A Cafe Stuck in Glorious Time Wrap

The British might be long gone but a part of their charm still lingers on in small cantonments across India. Kasauli is one such town that holds on to its colonial past and this is visible across the former garrison's every nook and cranny.

Perched on what could very well be the arterial road of Kasauli, Hotel Alasia has been witnessing the changes around it for over a century now. The hotel's Constellation Café on the ground floor is one of the best examples of a place that is contemporary and yet stuck in some glorious time wrap.

What sets Cafe Constellation apart?

Offering a mix of Indian, Chinese and Continental food, Constellation Café could be best described as one of those things that benefited from the former colonial rulers. The quaint décor, the hand drawn sketches of the township across the wall, the mild mannered waiters and the soothing tinge of green on the walls along with traditional favorites like Shepherds Pie (less than Rs. 360), Mutton Rissole (less than Rs. 235) and Chicken Stew (less than Rs. 235), Constellation Café's Continental fare will transport you in time for a little while.

Worth trying at Cafe Constellation

Although one might be tempted to indulge in Continental but Café Constellation's Indian dishes are worth every bite. With generous amounts of methi (fenugreek) in a thick masala gravy, Constellation's Chicken Curry (less than Rs. 435 full and less than Rs. 235 Half) is unlike the image that usually crops up in one's mind. Soft tawa roti plays the perfect accompaniment that makes the food taste even better. Unlike the over-fried yellow dals that one gets at most places, Cafe Constellation's Dal Maharani (less than Rs. 110), is one of the simplest yet lip-smacking preparations that you'd ever try.

Many still think of Kasauli as a sleepy hill town but it's far from anything like that. A place bustling with energy especially on the weekends, the chances of getting stuck in a traffic jam at this altitude is possibility that you need to be prepared for. Alsia's sit-out is one of the best ways to enjoy the serene environs of Kasauli. A narrow cobbled path crisscrossing patches of really green grass with Kasauli's TV tower solemnly looking over, the sit-out is the perfect place soak in some sun and watch life go by. The problem is that for some strange reason food's not served outside and the fumes from vehicles that cross will break the spell. But that little detail notwithstanding Hotel Alasia's Café Constellation sit-out is ideal place to escape into the past for a while.

Café Constellation Rating: 3 ½ out of 5
Café Constellation, Hotel Alasia. The Mall, Kasauli, Himachal Pradesh.
Reservations can also be made at Hotel Alasia's Delhi Office-
705, Chiranjiv Tower, Nehru Place, New Delhi- 110019

I am a Delhi-based author who writes for Buzzintown.com. To know about Restaurants in Mumbai or Restaurants in Delhi please visit Buzzintown.com

http://EzineArticles.com/6513583

Easy Simple Summer Picnic Salads

While it seems our summer is winding down, I know it's just hiding for a few days and will come back for one more big hot performance. So today, I am focusing on some summer side dishes that go great with those late summer and early fall picnics.

Red Tater Salad

6 Cups of Small Red Potatoes, steamed, cut in half.

8-10 Slices of Lean Bacon, fried crisp, cut into ½ inch pieces

¾ Cup Celery, with leaves, cut into ¼ inch slices

1 Medium Red Onion, Chopped

½ Cup of Mayonnaise

½ Cup Ranch Dressing

Salt and Pepper to taste

Using a large bowl, pour in your mayonnaise, ranch dressing and mix. Add your warm but not hot potatoes, celery, onions and mix again. Taste the mixture and add your salt and pepper at this time, then mix again. Add the bacon just before serving so it does not become soggy and mix once more.

The mixture of the mayonnaise and ranch dressing adds another level of flavor to the salad with out having to add more ingredients.

BLT Pasta Salad

3 Cups Corkscrew Pasta, cooked

½ Cup Milk

5 Cups of Bibb Lettuce or Romaine Hearts, chopped coarse [mixture of both will work too]

1 Cup Cherry Tomatoes, cut in half

8 Slices of Bacon, cut in 1 inch pieces, cooked crisp

1 Clove of Garlic, minced

½ Cup Mayonnaise

¼ Cup Sour Cream

Salt and Pepper

Add cooked pasta to a medium bowl, mix in the milk and set aside. The milk will keep the pasta from sticking together and becoming one large lump.

In a large bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream and garlic. Add the pasta with milk and stir. Add ¾ cup of the tomatoes, the lettuce and bacon. Fold together until all are coated with dressing. Taste and add the salt and pepper if needed. Pour into your serving platter or bowl and sprinkle the rest of the tomatoes on top. Refrigerate, covered, until ready to serve.

I hope you find joy in serving either or both of these recipes to your families. They are easy to make and can be done before hand and still taste great.

I not only use these recipes for picnics but any day of the week when I am looking for something to please my family and friends. They are also good for those pot luck meal events we get invited to through out the year.

Quick, Easy and Simple is the name of my game....What's yours?

I invite you to join me at http://hassieskitchentable.com/ for more quick easy recipes. Plus ideas and tips on living better for less.

Faylee James is a Life Coach/Writer/Speaker from Northeast Tennessee, who has an above average interest in people, cooking and living life to the fullest.

http://EzineArticles.com/6512024