BBQ Sauce with a BITE!

by tmleaver

1 cup ketchup
3/4 cup molasses
3/4 cup honey
2 1/2 Tbsp VE Louisiana Hot & Spicy dip mix
3 Tbsp VE Southwest Fajita
3 Tbsp mustard (any will do)
3 heaping tsp VE Chili Chipotle Powder
2 Tbsp VE Caliente Salsa Mix
1 Tbsp ground pepper

1. Mix all ingredients together and place in covered container.
2. Refrigerate for 2 days to allow time for the flavors to meld.
3. You may add more VE Chili Chipotle Powder and VE Caliente Salsa Mix to add more heat.

Pueblo Bean Bites

19 oz mixed beans rinsed and drained
3 Tbsp VE Pueblo Bean Dip
2/3 cup water
250g cream cheese
1/2 cup grated cheese (cheddar or Monterey)
6-7" tortillas
Prepared VE Salsa Mix or VE Red Pepper Jelly

1. Blend together beans, VE Pueblo Bean Dip and water in blender until texture is smooth.
2. Spread 2 Tbsp of Cream Cheese on a tortilla. Cover this with about 2 TBSP Bean Mixture.
3. Sprinkle grated Cheese on top then roll up tightly and wrap in plastic. Repeat for remaining Tortillas. Refrigerate for 2 hours (up to 3 days).
4. To serve: Preheat oven to 450 F. Slice rolls into 1" slices and place on baking sheets. Bake for about 5 minutes, or until heated through then serve with prepared VE Salsa Mix or VE Red Pepper Jelly,

Easy Huevos Rancheros

Yields: 4 servings

4 (6 inch) corn tortillas
1 cup refried beans with green chilies
1 tsp butter
2 Tbsp oil
4 eggs
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
8 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
1/2 cup prepared VE Poco Picante Salsa (or your favorite VE Salsa)
Sour Cream (optional)

1. Heat the tortillas - Place lightly greased frying pan over medium high heat and add tortillas one at a time cooking until lightly toasted. Remove to plate and cover to keep warm.
2. In a microwavable dish, add butter to the refried beans, cover, and cook in the microwave until heated through.
3. Heat oil to frying pan and cook eggs over easy.
4. To assemble - 1) Place tortillas onto plates 2) spread on a layer of refried beans 3) add a fried egg 4) add crumbled bacon on top 5) top with salsa and sour cream.

Five Layer Nacho Dip

This recipe looks like a lot of work but it whips together quite quickly... and it's well worth it!!
First Layer
1 can refried beans
1/3 cup low fat sour cream
2 Tbsp VE Salsa*
*For Salsa you can use your choice of one of the following:
VE Fruit Salsa Mix - Mild
VE Poco Picante Salsa Mix - Medium-Hot
VE Caliente Salsa Mix - HOT HOT

Second Layer*
1 cup avocado, peeled, chopped
1/4 cup low fat sour cream
2 Tbsp red onion, chopped
2 tsp lime juice
1 Tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
* As an easy alternative for this layer: use VE Guacamole Dip Mix and mix according to directions on bottle (you may only have to use a portion of the guacamole that you make.)

Third Layer
1 cup low fat sour cream
1 tsp VE Taco Seasoning

Forth Layer
1 cup Prepared VE Salsa

Top Layer
1/2 cup grated cheddar cheese
1/4 cup green onion

Layer 1 - Combine ingredients and spread evenly on bottom of a 9” pie plate.
Layer 2 - Cut the avocado in half, scoop out the flesh with a spoon; mash with a fork. Add remaining ingredients for this layer. Dolup over first layer and spread evenly.
Layer 3 - Mix together sour cream and VE Taco seasoning and place in dolups over guacamole layer and spread out.
Layer 4 - Pour prepared VE Salsa Taco/sour cream layer and spread.
Layer 5 - Sprinkle cheese and then green onion on top. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour before serving. Great with pita (or tortilla) crisps or tortilla chips.

Epicure’s Mexican 7 Layer Dip

Grated cheese, try Monterey Jack or Cheddar
Prepared VE Pueblo Bean Dip Mix
Prepared VE Jalapeño Cheese Dip Mix (for a less spicy option, use plain sour cream)
Prepared VE Poco Picante Salsa Mix - MEDIUM
Prepared VE Guacamole Dip Mix
Black olives, sliced
Green onions, thinly sliced

1. Sprinkle 1/2 of cheese on bottom of the dish you will use for the dip. (By putting cheese on the bottom it will easier to get all the layers with one scoop.)
2. Place dolups of prepared VE Pueblo Bean Dip Mix on the cheese. Spread evenly to cover cheese.
3. Place dolups of VE Jalapeño Cheese Dip Mix on top of VE Pueblo Bean Dip Mix. Spread evenly to cover previous layer.
4. Top with prepared VE Poco Picante Salsa Mix
5. Place dolups of prepared VE Guacamole Dip Mix on VE Poco Picante Salsa Mix. Spread evenly to cover previous layer.
6. Sprinkle with remainder of grated cheese.
7. Top with black olives and green onions.
8. Serve with taco or tortilla chips.

Options:
- For a less spicy version of this dip use plain sour cream in place of the prepared VE Jalapeño Cheese Dip Mix
- Try VE Fruit Salsa Mix - for a milder taste or VE Caliente Salsa Mix for a HOT HOT taste.

Mex-icure Select Layered Dip

by Sharon Statham
1 19oz. Can black beans, drain and rinse
3 Tbsp VE Pueblo Bean Dip Mix
1/3 cup cold water
3 Avocadoes, peeled and cubed
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1 tsp Lemon juice
3-4 Tbsp Poco Picante Salsa Mix or VE Caliente Salsa Mix (divided)
2 cups sour cream
2-3 Tbsp VE Jalapeño Cheese Dip Mix
2 cups canned diced tomatos
2 cups finely grated Cheddar Cheese
3 Tbsp VE 3 Onion Dip Mix

1. In food proceeor blend together beans, Pueblo Bean Dip Mix and cold water in a food processor. Process until smooth. Spread onto bottom serving serving dish!
2. Again in food processor blend together Avocados, mayonnaise, lemon juice and 1-2 Tbsp of your choice of VE Salsa Mix. Blend until smooth. Spread over layer of bean mixture.
3. In small bowl mix together sour cream and Jalapeño Cheese Dip Mix. Spread over avocado layer.
4. Mix diced tomatoes and 2-3 Tbsp of your choice of Salsa Mix together. Let sit for at least about 1/2 hour to allow for the for Salsa Mix to soak up excess juices.
5. Using a fork dot the salsa mix evenly over the top of the sour cream layer.
6. Add the finely grated Cheddar Cheese on top. Sprinkle the 3 Onion Dip Mix on top of the cheddar cheese.

Chicken Fajitas

Serves 4
2 Tbsp vegetable oil
1 Tbsp lime juice
1 Tbsp VE Fajita Seasoning
4 boneless chicken breasts
1 Tbsp vegetable oil
1 onion, cut in half then sliced
2 bell peppers, sliced
1 Tbsp VE Taco Seasoning
Tortilla shells
VE Guacamole Dip
VE prepared Salsa (VE Fruit Salsa Mix, VE Poco Picante Salsa or VE Caliente Salsa Mix)

1. Combine vegetable oil with lime juice and VE Fajita Seasoning. Add chicken breasts, turning to coat.
2. Preheat frying pan over medium high heat. Cook chicken breasts 4 minutes on each side. Remove from pan and set aside.
3. Add vegetable oil to hot pan. Add sliced onion and pepper and stir-fry for 3 minutes with VE Taco Seasoning.
4. Cut chicken into strips and return to pan with vegetables, stir-fry for 2 minutes.
5. Roll chicken and vegetables in warmed tortilla shells. Serve with VE Guacamole Dip and VE Salsa.

Note:
VE Fruit Salsa Mix - Mild
VE Poco Picante Salsa Mix - Medium
VE Caliente Salsa Mix - HOT HOT

Creamy Picante Dip

1 cup cottage cheese
1/4 cup prepared VE Salsa (VE Poco Picante Salsa, VE Caliente Salsa Mix, Or VE Fruit Salsa Mix)
1/2 t. VE Chili Powder

1. Combine ingredients together in a blender. Chill for several hours.
2. Serve with taco chips or vegetables.

Light Guacamole

by Sharon Statham
Makes: 2 Cups

1 2/3 cups Frozen peas (thawed)
2 Tbsp Fresh Lemon juice
1 Avocado, peeled
1 tsp VE Chili Powder
2 large Tomatoes, peeled, seeded and chopped
1/2 tsp VE Sea Salt
2 small Garlic Cloves, crushed
1/2 tsp VE Whole Cumin (ground well)
1/4 cup Minced Red Onion
Pinch VE Cajun Season
Prepared Salsa Mix (optional)

1. Puree peas food processor until smooth.
2. Mash avocado in a bowl with a fork. Add peas.
3. Add remaining ingredients. Mix well.

Option: You could also try this recipe with any of our VE Salsa blends (VE Fruit Salsa Mix, VE Poco Picante Salsa or VE Caliente Salsa Mix) .