RECIPE: Pat & Angie's Queso con Carne

Pat and Angie often bring this queso dip to family gatherings: It is the most widely-requested food item that appears at such celebrations as birthday parties, Christmas Eve snack time and the occasional Mexican Feast. It is just sooooo gooood.

They generously shared the recipe with me recently, so I thought I'd share it with all of you. Serve it with warm, salty tortilla chips and a side of sliced jalapeño peppers.

PAT & ANGIE'S QUESO CON CARNE

2 # ground beef, browned, rinsed and drained*

2 packets Old El Paso Hot & Spicy Taco Seasoning Mix

1 box Velveeta cheese, cut into cubes

1 24-oz bottle Pace Medium Salsa


Mix browned, rinsed and drained ground beef in a skillet with the taco seasoning mix according to the directions on the packets. Allow to simmer on low heat for ten minutes.

Meanwhile, coat a slow-cooker's crock with non-stick spray; pour in salsa. Toss in the cubes of Velveeta on the salsa; add the simmered ground beef on top. Heat on LOW for approximately two hours, stir, and serve with warm tortilla chips.


*In my mind, it is absolutely imperative to rinse the ground beef very well with hot water and then drain off the water and grease together. Otherwise, you will end up with a queso dip that has a layer of unappetizing orange grease in it. Yuck.