In the past few weeks, I have had so many people ask me for recipes for yummy, warm dips to serve as appetizers for receptions, parties and weddings. I also had some moms ask me about simple suppers that would be extremely easy for them to prepare on nights when all they can do is walk to the sofa and collapse! I know the feeling-believe me!!! I typed up several homemade dip recipes for a friend-colleague of mine whose son is getting married this weekend, and it came to my mind that I should just post some of my favorite dip recipes in my article this week so our readers can have them for their files. These recipes are some of the best that I have collected, and the first is my recipe for my sausage cream cheese squares-perfect for a simple super supper! The following two recipes are warm dips that are just over the top fantastic! The dips, one of which I prepared recently, is a fantastic Ro-Tel dip that has been taken over by cream cheese, minus the Velveeta! I will never eat the original stuff again! That is perfect to serve at any occasion. The additional dip is my super corn dip recipe, which is only excellent if you serve it with nacho cheese Doritos or Fritos Scoops! I always tell you the truth. There are no lies here – especially when we are talking about good southern food! Hope you enjoy these warm dips and cream cheesy sausage squares! You’ll want to keep these in your files! And make sure you pick up a copy of the Winston County Journal this week or call Joseph, our terrific editor, for a year’s subscription to the journal. Joseph is incredibly friendly on the telephone, and I’m sure he would love for you to call and add more year subscriptions for the journal! Please make sure to tell him that you love my article too! Enjoy, readers!
Brock’s Sausage Cream Cheese Squares
Note: For those of you who want a very simple supper tonight or any night of the week in the future, this is the recipe for you!
One and one half pkg. crescent roll seamless dough sheet
1 lb. pork sausage, mild
16 oz. (2 blocks) cream cheese, softened
Press out dough sheet on a 13×9 lightly sprayed cookie sheet. The cookie sheet should have some lightly raised sides to it (shouldn’t be just totally flat). I use more than one package of the dough sheets because it never seems to go all the way to the sides of the cookie sheet unless you do. You might use almost a half of another package of crescent dough sheet, but you will probably need a little more than one dough sheet. After you press it all out, refrigerate it for about 30 min. Then spread your cream cheese evenly on the dough sheet, making sure you cover all of the dough. Then cook your sausage just until no pink and drain it very well. Crumble it up and sprinkle it all on top of the cream cheese evenly. Bake for about 20-25 min at 350 degrees, or until the squares are lightly brown on the sides. Add a small dash of ground black pepper. Don’t overbake or your sausage will be overdone. Let cool and cut into squares. If you are serving a large family, you might want to bake two or three pans of these. Delicious!
Brock’s Super Corn Dip
Note: The most fantastic dip I think I have ever made is this dip! This stuff is addictive! I especially like this dip with Doritos or Fritos Scoops!
3 cans whole kernel corn, drained
One and one half cups mayonnaise (Blue Plate)
8 oz. (1 block) cream cheese, softened
8 oz. grated cheddar cheese (mild)
Half cup onion, finely chopped
Half cup green onion, finely chopped
Half stick butter, melted
1 Tbsp. chili powder
1 lg. round loaf King’s Hawaiian bread, hulled out
Fold all ingredients except the bread together in a large bowl. Transfer to a crock pot to warm through until bubbly. Serve with crackers, Fritos Scoops chips, tortilla chips, or homemade bread sticks. This is particularly delicious served in a hulled out King’s Hawaiian bread bowl after warming it through, serving it with pieces of the bread you have hulled out. Sprinkle lightly with chili powder for decor. If you like this dip cold, then just mix the ingredients straight from the fridge (softening the cream cheese a bit first in the microwave for 15 sec). Don’t put in the crock pot. Just put in the fridge to keep cold. It’s great hot or cold!
Brock’s Cream Cheese Ro-Tel Dip
Note: A couple of years ago, I substituted cream cheese for Velveeta cheese in my traditional Ro-Tel dip, and I will never make it with Velveeta again! I also add a little heavy cream to the mix, and it makes the dip smooth and creamy. This dip is too good!
16 oz. cream cheese (2 blocks), softened
1 lb. pork sausage, mild
1 can Ro-Tel, mild, do not drain
1 cup heavy whipping cream
Cook sausage until lightly browned, and drain all fat off very well. Transfer to Crock-Pot, along with cream cheese, Ro-Tel (not drained), and heavy cream. Let all this melt over warm heat. Be sure that you frequently give it a stir, as it does not take very long for all of it to melt together. It should be very smooth. Allow all of it to melt all together, stirring it all together. When warmed through and incorporated well together, serve with Fritos Scoops chips or Nacho cheese style Doritos. You may also use tortilla chips, but Fritos and Doritos are much better! To get the dip to be thicker, simply be conservative with your heavy cream. If too thick, add a little more cream and stir.
Editor’s Note: Brock Wetherly Rogers is an educator, overseas traveler, food writer, and a passionate student of the culinary & pastry arts. Please e-mail comments and recipes to brockrogers1@gmail.com.
