Bacon-Wrapped Sonoran Hot Dogs

Bacon-Wrapped Sonoran Hot Dogs

For the Salsa Verde:
1 lb. tomatillos, husked and washed
1 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves
3 fresh serrano chiles, seeded and minced
1 cup minced sweet onion
2 tsp. minced garlic
pinch of sugar
1/4 cup freshly squeezed lime juice
sea salt

For the Hot Dogs
4 tsp. mayonnaise
1 tsp. Tabasco or other hot sauce
Juice of 1 lemon
4 all-beef wieners (fat ones work better than long ones)
4 slices extra-thin bacon
4 torpedo rolls or bolillos
4 Tbs. warm refried beans
8 Tbs. chopped avocado (or guacamole)
4 heaping Tbs. grated Monterey jack or cheddar cheese
4 Tbs. chopped onion
4 Tbs. chopped tomato
4 Tbs. Salsa Verde

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Make the Salsa Verde:

Put the cleaned tomatillos in a saucepan and cover with water. Bring to a boil, then turn off the heat and allow the tomatillos to soak for 5 minutes. Remove from the heat, drain, and puree the tomatillos in a food processor. Add the cilantro, serranos, onion, garlic sugar, and lime juice to the food processor and pulse three or four times to combine. Season with salt to taste.

Make the Hot Dogs:

Mix the mayo, Tabasco, and lemon juice and use a funnel to put the mayo blend in a squeeze bottle. Wrap the wieners with the bacon slices so the sausage is completely covered. Cook the wieners on a comal or flat top, rolling them over until the bacon is crunchy on all sides, about 7 minutes. Cut a pocket into the buns to form a "boat" and toast them on the grill. When the wieners are cooked, divide the beans and avocado among the four rolls, spooning them inside the pocket and spreading on either side. Spread the cheese down the middle. Using tongs put one piping-hot bacon-wrapped wiener into the pocket of each roll. Top each wiener with onions and tomatoes. Spread the Salsa Verde across the top. Apply the mayo blend in squiggles across the top of the hot dog.

Broccoli-Cheddar Soup

This is the Food Network's version of Panera Bread's Broccoli Cheese soup - yum!

Almost-Famous Broccoli-Cheddar Soup

Ingredients

· 6 tablespoons unsalted butter

· 1 small onion, chopped

· 1/4 cup all-purpose flour

· 2 cups half-and-half

· 3 cups low-sodium chicken broth

· 2 bay leaves

· 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

· Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper

· 4 7-inch sourdough bread boules (round loaves)

· 4 cups broccoli florets (about 1 head)

· 1 large carrot, diced

· 2 1/2 cups (about 8 ounces) grated sharp white and yellow cheddar cheese, plus more for garnish

Directions

Melt the butter in a large Dutch oven or pot over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until tender, about 5 minutes. Whisk in the flour and cook until golden, 3 to 4 minutes, then gradually whisk in the half-and-half until smooth. Add the chicken broth, bay leaves and nutmeg, then season with salt and pepper and bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook, uncovered, until thickened, about 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, prepare the bread bowls: Using a sharp knife, cut a circle into the top of each loaf, leaving a 1-inch border all around. Remove the bread top, and then hollow out the middle with a fork or your fingers, leaving a thick bread shell.

Add the broccoli and carrot to the broth mixture and simmer until tender, about 20 minutes. Discard the bay leaves. Puree the soup in batches in a blender until smooth; you'll still have flecks of carrot and broccoli. Return to the pot. (Or puree the soup in the pot with an immersion blender.)

Add the cheese to the soup and whisk over medium heat until melted. Add up to 3/4 cup water if the soup is too thick. Ladle into the bread bowls and garnish with cheese

Lighter Chocolate Mousse

Paula Deen's sons have done a wonderful job of taking her recipes and making them lighter & less fattening than the originals.

The Deen Bros. Lighter Chocolate Mousse

By Bobby and Jamie Deen

614 Fewer Calories
35g Less Fat

Ingredients:
3/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/3 cup fat-free milk
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
3 tablespoons sugar
3 tablespoons water
2 large egg whites
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
1 1/2 cups frozen fat-free whipped topping, thawed

Directions:
Place the chocolate chips and milk in a medium microwavable bowl and microwave on High, stirring at 30 second intervals, until the chocolate is melted and smooth, about 1 minute. Stir in the almond extract. Let cool completely.

Place the sugar, water, egg whites, and cream of tartar in the top of a double boiler. Beat with a handheld electric mixer until foamy, about 1 minute. Place the pan over simmering water (make sure the simmering water does not touch the bottom of the top pan) and beat on high speed until stiff peaks form, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and continue beating until the mixture is cooled, 3 – 4 minutes longer.

Baked Shrimp Dip

Baked Shrimp Dip

Ingredients

• 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup mayonnaise
• ¹/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• ¹/4 teaspoon hot sauce
• ¹/2 pound frozen salad shrimp, thawed
• ¹/2 cup sliced scallion (green onion)

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Coat a 1-quart baking dish with cooking spray.
   
2. In a large bowl, combine cream cheese, mayonnaise, mozzarella cheese, garlic, Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, and hot sauce; mix until well combined. Stir in shrimp and scallions; mix well.
   
3. Spoon mixture into prepared baking dish. Bake 25 to 30 minutes, or until golden on top and heated through.

Rosemary Ranch Chicken Kabobs

Rosemary Ranch Chicken Kabobs

Ingredients:

1/2 cup olive oil 1/2 cup ranch dressing 3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce 1 tablespoon minced fresh rosemary 2 teaspoons salt 1 teaspoon lemon juice

1 teaspoon white vinegar 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper, or to taste 1 tablespoon white sugar, or to taste (optional) 5 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - cut into 1 inch cubes

Directions:

1.	In a medium bowl, stir together the olive oil, ranch dressing, Worcestershire sauce, rosemary, salt, lemon juice, white vinegar, pepper, and sugar. Let stand for 5 minutes. Place chicken in the bowl, and stir to coat with the marinade. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
2.	Preheat the grill for medium-high heat. Thread chicken onto skewers and discard marinade.
3.	Lightly oil the grill grate. Grill skewers for 8 to 12 minutes, or until the chicken is no longer pink in the center, and the juices run clear.