My Secret Potluck Recipes

My company had its annual Halloween Potluck and I’m pleased to report that 2 of my dishes were, dare I say it, a hit. I guess I was surprised because these recipes are so simple but isn’t that what makes good comfort food?

As I always do, I have to give credit and tell you these recipes were shared with me. It's all about sharing the joy and good food.
Let’s start with the best queso dip I’ve ever had. Ever. This one is what I call Mrs. S’s Outstanding Queso. What you’ll need:

1 lb yellow American sliced cheese (from the Deli)
1 or 1 ½ cans of Carnation® Evaporated milk
1 tablespoon salsa casera
1 bouillon-sized piece of Spam®
1 bag nacho style tortilla chips

Optional:
1 small can nacho style jalapeno (on the side)


Directions:
Add cheese, salsa casera and Spam® in a blender. About half-way through the cheese,  add ½ a can of evaporated milk.   Blend and continue adding milk until the dip reaches the consistency you like.

I used a Crock Pot® to keep the dip warm until it was time to eat. If you do that, be sure you have the heat on “warm” and stir at least once an hour to keep it from baking on the sides of your Crock Pot® dish.

That was the appetizer portion of our blog post. You know I’m a huge desert lover and this one is what I like to call White Trash Ambrosia. What you’ll need is:

1 large box of instant vanilla pudding
3 cups of milk
2 containers of Kraft© Cool Whip® (you can use generic brands, they work just as well)
~ 64 vanilla wafers

Optional:
1/2 of a banana

Directions:
Combine vanilla pudding and milk as directed on the pudding box. Gradually add your Cool Whip® (I put in half a container at a time and blend it thoroughly before adding more). If you have a KitchenAid® mixer, this is a great time to use it. I recommend whipping this mixture for as long as you can. At my house, it’s not unheard of for me to blend for up to a half hour. The more you whip, the fluffier it gets so have fun with it!

Grab an 8 X 8 pan and line the bottom with 16 vanilla wafers (4 X 4 is my favorite). Spoon your Cool-Whip-Pudding mix on top and spread evenly with a spatula. Repeat this for another 3 - 4 layers, depending on how tall your pan is. Cover and put in the ‘fridge at least overnight.

(If you’re feeling a banana mood, alternate your bananas and vanilla wafer layers for a little twist.)

At this writing, I haven’t tried a chocolate alternative but I’m sure that’s got to be good too!

So have at ‘em, ladies & gents. Use these at your next potluck and spread the joy. xo