Halloween

Lissa

Main Dish:  Candy Corn Quesadillas

Source:  Tasteofhome.com

Prep Time:  25 min.  Cook:  10 min.

Serving Size:  24

Ingredients:

1 rotisserie chicken, cut up

1 jar (15 ounces) salsa

1 cup frozen corn, thawed

1/4 cup barbeque sauce

1/2 tsp ground cumin

1/2 cup butter, melted

8 flour tortillas (10 inches)

1 jar (15-1/2 ounces) salsa con queso dip, warmed

4 cups (16 ounces each) shredded Mexican cheese blend

2-2/3 cups crushed nacho tortilla chips

1/2 cup sour cream

Directions:

1.  In a large sauce pan, combine the first five ingredients; heat through.

2.  Brush butter over one side of each tortilla.  Place one tortilla buttered side down, in a large skillet.  Spread with 1 cup chicken mixture; top with another tortilla, buttered side up.  Cook over medium heat for 1-2 minutes or until bottom is lightly browned.  Flip.

3.  Spread 1/2 cup queso dip over top of quesadilla.  Sprinkle cheese around outside edge.  Cover and cook for 1-2 minutes or until cheese begins to melt.  Remove to a cutting board.  Sprinkle chips over middle of quesadilla.  Spoon a dollop of sour cream into the center.

Comments:

Lissa: Yum!  These were obviously pretty simple, but they were fun none the less.  They were best right off the grill because they were crunchy - when they sat too long, the queso soaked into the tortilla and it  became mushy.  I really loved the chicken filling and used the left overs several days after in burritos and tacos.  I would consider this a success for having several months off for my wedding and Alaskan adventure.  I was so excited to be cooking with real utensils again :)

Janice:  I enjoyed these quesadillas very much.  They really did look like a candy corn.  They were very tasty.  I would not hesitate to make these.  They are really good hot and crispy.  They need to be eaten soon after taken out of pan because they tend to get soggy of they have set for a long period of time.  The sour cream just adds that much of a taste enhancer to them.  I loved them.

Tammy: These were so very delicious.  Eat them right off of the pan and you will not be disappointed.  They don't make the best left overs so make sure you eat them all that night :)  The chicken mixture in the middle will be great for any tacos or quesadillas too.  Yummy!  Good Job Sis!!!

Tammy

Main Dish:  Tex Mex Black Bean Dip

Source:  Allrecipes.com

Prep Time:  10 minutes

Servings:  15

Ingredients:

1 (15 ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained

1 tsp vegetable oil

1/2 cup chopped onion

2 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 cup fresh corn kernels

2/3 cup chopped tomatoes

1/2 cup mild picante sauce

1 tsp chili powder

1/2 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese

1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

1 tbsp fresh lime juice

Tortilla Chips:

1. Use halloween cookie cutters to cut shapes out of flour tortillas

2. Spray with cooking spray

2. Sprinkle with salt

3. Bake 5-7 minutes at 350 degrees until edges are brown.

Directions:

1.  Place black beans in a medium size mixing bowl, partially mash beans -- beans should remain a little chunky.

2.  In a medium size frying pan, heat oil over a medium heat.  Stir in onion and garlic and saute for 4 minutes.

3.  Mix beans, corn, tomato, picante sauce, cumin, and chili powder into the frying pan; cook for 5 minutes or until thickened.  Remove the pan from the heat, mix in cheese, cilantro and lime juice; stir until cheese is melted.

Comments:

Lissa: The black bean dip was very tasty - and I didn't think the chips would be gross without any flavoring, but they were perfect with the dip.  And very fun too!  I think the kids would love this - even if they didn't like the dip, the chips would be fun to make together.  Good job ladies having an all around successful Halloween cooking night. 

Janice:  I thought the bean dip was excellent.  I, of course, did not want cilantro on mine.  I thought the tortillas cut into a pumpkin and ghost characters were just the added addition for a Halloween treat.  If the tortillas were baked a little longer than the recipe called for, they were a little more crispy.  I would make this dip and have the cilantro on the side for individual liking.  I would definitely recommend this recipe for any party.

Tammy:  I was very proud of this dish.  Not only did it look adorable, but it tasted delicious.  The tortilla chips are great when you cook them enough to have a crunch to them.  And the bean dip? I have to admit I was a little skeptical, but it was so tasty.  I couldn't get enough.  Paired so great with what Lissa made.  Yay for me :)

Janice
Dessert:  Booger Cookies
Source:  Allrecipes.com
Prep Time:  1 hour 15 min.
Servings:  24 cookies

Ingredients:
1 cup margarine, softened
1/3 cup confectioners' sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
3/4 tsp almond extract
1 (3 ounce) package instant pistachio pudding mix
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Filling:
1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tbsp milk, or as needed
3 drops green food coloring, or as needed
24 milk chocolate candy kisses (such as Hershey's Kisses), unwrapped

Directions:

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).  Lightly grease a baking sheet.
2. Beat the margarine and 1/3 cup confectioners' sugar with an electric mixer in a large bowl until smooth.  Beat in the egg, 1 tsp vanilla extract, and the almond extract until completely incorporated.  Mix in the pudding mix until smooth.  Stir in the flour until just incorporated, then fold in the chocolate chips, mixing just enough to evenly combine.
3. Form the cookie dough into 1-inch balls, and place onto the prepared baking sheet.  Use your thumb to make an indent into each cookie.
4. Bake in the preheated oven until the edges are golden, 10-14 minutes.  Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 1-minute before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.
5. While the cookies are cooling, prepare the filling by stirring 1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar in a bowl with 1 tsp vanilla extract, milk, and food coloring.  Add additional milk as needed to make the mixture smooth.  Spoon a little of the green filling into each cooled cookie, and top with a candy kiss.

Comments:
Janice:  These cookies were very good.  They looked very much like their name sake.  The filling mixture was very tasty and I think if spead all over the top of the cookie, would really enhance the cookie taste.  I would make them again.

Lissa: Yeah...finding out that mom picked "Booger Cookies" for our Halloween theme night was hillarious.  I forgot how much fun it is to watch her put together a recipe - no exact measurements, measuring over the mixing bowl, too funny!  In any case, these turned out pretty good, but I thought the cookie tasted strongly of flour.  Not sure why.  But overall, a good fun recipe that the kids will love!  So fun.  Good job thinking outside the box mom :) 

Tammy:  These cookies were good if you took a bite with everything paired together.  Alone, the cookie was bland, but with the frosting and the kiss it was really good.  I would recommend putting the frosting all over the top of the cookie so that every bite has frosting in it.  I was so proud that mom picked a dish called booger cookies.  So funny.  Good job mom!!!