Chorizo Con Queso Dip in a Pumpkin

Chorizo Con Queso Dip Served in a Pumpkin

This is really a re-post, (click here to see the original post) but I love this recipe, and it’s so great for Halloween! If you can find festive black and orange tortilla chips to serve with the dip, they add a fun element; blue corn tortilla chips also work well because they sort of look black. You could make this dish vegetarian by eliminating the chorizo and substituting vegetable broth for the chicken broth.

Because of scheduling conflicts, I won’t be hosting a gala Halloween party this year; however, this leaves me more time to post Halloween themed food and party ideas.

INGREDIENTS: (serves 15-20 as an appetizer)

• 1 Lb. Ground Chorizo Sausage*
• 4 Cups Shredded Chihuahua Cheese (can substitute mozzerella)
• 2 Cups Mexican Cheese Blend (4 Cheese blend – NOT Taco cheese because it contains spices)
• 1 Jalapeno Pepper (remove seeds and membranes for less heat) – finely chopped
• 4 Oz. Can of Chopped Green Chiles
• 1 tsp. Ground Cumin
• 1/2-1 tsp. Cayenne Pepper
• 1/4 Cup of Flour
• 2-3 Cups Chicken Broth
• Chopped Fresh Cilantro – for garnish
• 1 Large (about 3 Lbs.) Sugar Pumpkin (or medium sized regular pumpkin) for Serving- Optional

*If you can’t find loose ground chorizo, you can substitute chorizo that is cased – just chop it into small pieces. You could also substitute regular breakfast sausage, but you will have to increase your Mexican spices.

INSTRUCTIONS:

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.

In a medium saute pan, cook chorizo over medium to high heat, breaking it up as it cooks. Drain off excess fat from the pan. Add jalapeno, green chiles and spices to pan, and cook until jalapeno is tender. Add flour and cook until the flour starts to brown (3-5 minutes). Add 2 cups of chicken broth and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium and stir in all of the cheese, stirring until the cheese is thoroughly melted. Check the consistency and, if necessary, add additional chicken broth to thin the dip- the dip should have a creamy texture. Pour cheese mixture into a baking dish (use a baking dish you would serve out of) or an oven-proof bowl. Bake for 20-30 minutes until bubbling and golden brown on top. Garnish with chopped cilantro and serve with tortilla chips.

If you would like to serve out of a pumpkin, cut the top off of a 3 Lb. sugar pumpkin and remove the seeds and pulp from the pumpkin. Place the pumpkin on a baking dish, fill with the con queso, cover with foil and bake at 375 degrees for 45 minutes to 1 hour (until pumpkin starts to brown and become tender). Do not overcook, or your pumpkin will be too soft to move to a serving plate. Remove foil and bake for another 10-20 minutes until cheese dip is bubbling and browned on top.

 

Deviled Egg Eyeballs

Deviled Egg Eyeballs

With Halloween just around the corner, I will continue to post some of my favorite creepy treats. These deviled egg eyeballs are always a favorite at my Halloween Party. They are easy to make (although I will never achieve the same perfection my friend Nora did the year she flew in for the party and was responsible for all blood spatter decorations involving red food coloring – Lizzie Borden Cake and Deviled Egg Eyeballs). For this popular appetizer, simply prepare deviled eggs (click here for the previously posted recipe), top each egg with a black olive slice and a caper, and use a toothpick dipped in red food coloring to add bloodshot streaks. Deviled eggs are always a favorite appetizer, so make plenty (I usually prepare 3 per person).