Mexican Layered Dip

 

Last Wednesday, Janelle from Comfy in the Kitchen , showed us how to make homemade tortilla chips! .  This Wednesday – she has an awesome Mexican Layered Dip beautifully displayed in her trifle bowl.  Perfect to serve with the chips! 

Janelle writes:

It’s delicious, filling, simple…..and pretty. What’s not to love about this dip? I love how this trifle bowl displays all the different layers and colors! This recipe makes enough for a crowd and is excellent to bring to potlucks and get togethers!

Don’t have a trifle? You certainly can use a 9×13 pan! Don’t be intimidated by the cost of a trifle bowl- I’ve seen them at Marcs, Big lots…and this one, from JCPenney outlet {$9).

(*Naturally Gluten Free!)

Mexican Layered Dip in a Trifle {For a Crowd}

Ingredients
  • 1 32 oz can of refried beans
  • 1½ pack of taco seasoning
  • 1 16 oz carton sour cream
  • 3 roma tomatoes diced
  • 2 green onions chopped
  • 2½ cups of freshly shredded cheddar cheese
  • 6 oz can black olives sliced
Instructions
  1. Beat refried beans with a mixer -pour to the bottom of trifle bowl.
  2. Beat sour cream with taco seasoning-add onto beans.
  3. Shred cheddar cheese and add to the top of sour cream mixture.
  4. Sprinkle diced tomatoes, onions, and black olives on top. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
  5. Serve with tortilla chips!

 

Signature
Thank you so much Janelle for this recipe!!! Readers feel free to –>>

Chime In: How do you make your mexican dip?

Walk with the King,

 

 

Janelle

Janelle is a Christian, a Wife, a Stay at Home Mom of 3 young children and a proud- to- claim- it “Foodie”. She absolutely loves to cook and typically has an audience of 3 children, pulled up on chairs, taking turns pouring ingredients into bowls. Her spiritual gifts are a mix of “hospitality and evangelism” and is here in the center of God’s will hoping to help you get a little more “comfy in your kitchen”! You can find her displaying step-by-step photos of her recipes, giving devotionals,and sharing meal ministry stories on her blog.

You can follow Janelle’s blog at ComfyInTheKitchen.com
Follower her on facebook at Comfy In The Kitchen
Follow her on Twitter at ComfynKitchen
 

Frying Oils 101 and EASY Homemade Corn Tortilla Chips!

 Janelle from Comfy in the Kitchen is back with a little frying 101 lesson for us! AND this fun and easy way to homemake your own Tortilla Chips and WOW your family! :)

Janelle writes:

This is such an easy way to make your own tortilla chips with store bought corn tortillas. There is just something special about serving warm chips with homemade salsa…your guests are going to love these

The first step in making anything fried is to make sure you have the right oil:

Frying Oil 101

I recommend using an oil that has a high “smoke point” — the temperature to which it can be heated without smoking. When an oil smokes-watch out, it is ready to burn! (not so tasty!) Here are some easy tips:

Good Oils for Frying at High Heat: Safflower, Sunflower, Peanut, Soy Oils, Vegetable , Canola , Refined Almond, Avacado, Cottonseed.

Not So Good Oils for Frying at High Heat: Butter, Margarine, Olive Oil

The second step is deciding what to fry your recipe in! I use a Wok…yes, just a Wok! It works great. You can also use a “Fry Daddy” or a regular deep frying pan. Chances are you already have something in your cupboards you can use for frying!  

 

Start off with store bought (or homemade!) corn tortillas. I stack about 10. Use a pizza cutter to cut a cross in the center.


Then, cut another cross in the opposite direction- there will be 8 triangles


Place tortilla triangles into hot oil. I used a wok and peanut oil- my burner was on the highest it could go. It only takes about 2 mins to cook until lightly golden. Keep a watch!

With a slotted spoon take the chips out of the wok and place on a plate covered with 2 paper towels. Let drain/cool for about 2 more mins before serving.

 


Serve with Homemade Salsa!  OR top with cheese, beans, beef, jalps, and sour cream and broil in the oven on high heat (5 mins ) for some yummy nachos.

 
EASY Corn Tortilla Chips!
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Ingredients
  • 10 Corn Tortillas
  • 2 cups Peanut Oil
  • Salt
 Instructions
  1. Heat oil in wok on high heat
  2. Stack tortillas
  3. Slice tortillas with a pizza cutter into a cross
  4. Then slice into another cross in the opposite direction
  5. Place chips in wok and fry until golden (takes about 2 mins)
  6. With a slotted spoon take chips out and let dry on a plate covered with 2 paper towels-season with salt
  7. Serve warm!
Notes
These make great nachos! Just top with shredded cheese, beef, beans, jalps and broil! Add sour cream and salsa. YUM…
 

Signature
 Thank you so much Janelle for the 101 lesson!  I have never homemade my chips before –but there’s a first time for everything!

Walk with the King,

Janelle

Janelle is a Christian, a Wife, a Stay at Home Mom of 3 young children and a proud- to- claim- it “Foodie”. She absolutely loves to cook and typically has an audience of 3 children, pulled up on chairs, taking turns pouring ingredients into bowls. Her spiritual gifts are a mix of “hospitality and evangelism” and is here in the center of God’s will hoping to help you get a little more “comfy in your kitchen”! You can find her displaying step-by-step photos of her recipes, giving devotionals,and sharing meal ministry stories on her blog.

You can follow Janelle’s blog at ComfyInTheKitchen.com
Follower her on facebook at Comfy In The Kitchen
Follow her on Twitter at ComfynKitchen
 

Semi-Homemade Strawberry Shortcake {with a Gluten Free Option!}

If you know Janelle from Comfy in the Kitchen  – then you know that she is the queen of finding Gluten free recipes that taste great (gluten free Bisquick optional).  So here’s one of her specialties!

Janelle writes:

I am a HUGE fan of Gluten Free Bisquick…would you know that it makes GREAT Strawberry Shortcake?! “Glutenous maximus” friends- no worries, you can use regular Bisquick {haha}. A very easy, delicious, “kinda homemade” Summer dessert. Add a dollop of homemade whipped cream for the finishing touch.

I literally “bought out” my local grocery store of this product. LOVE it! {For those who do not have food allergies- regular Bisquick is just fine, make sure to follow package instructions-they differ!}

Cut and rinse strawberries

Add water and sugar. Cover and place in refrigerator. Juice from the strawberries will mix with the water and sugar and make for a delicious syrup for shortcake.

In a medium bowl combine Bisquick mix and 1/4 cup sugar, cut in butter with 2 knives.

Stir in milk, eggs and vanilla {use any milk you wish}.

Drop batter by the spoonfuls on a foil lined pan – brush with melted butter. Bake in a 425 oven for 10-12 mins.

While shortcake is baking make your whipped cream.

{Or have your children make the whipped cream, hehe}

Mmmmm….so easy, so worth it.

Shortcakes are done!

Does anyone else appreciate this “golden” color? Ohhh, I just love it.

Place one shortcake on the bottom, top with strawberries, place a shortcake on top and garnish with homemade whipping cream. Beautiful! Enjoy Ladies!!!!

{Gluten-Free never tasted so…..good!}

Strawberry Shortcake {Food Allergy Friendly}
 Author: Gluten Free Bisquick
 Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 6
 
Ingredients
  • 4 cups diced strawberries
  • 2 Tbsp sugar {for strawberries}
  • 2 Tbsp water
  • 2⅓ cup Bisquick {gluten-free}
  • ¼ cup sugar
  • ⅓ cup butter
  • ¾ cup milk
  • 3 eggs
  • ½ tsp vanilla
  • {whipped cream-optional}
  • {1/4 cup melted butter for brushing over shortcakes-optional}
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 425.
  2. Dice strawberries and mix with 2 Tbsp sugar and water-cover and refrigerate.
  3. In a medium bowl combine Bisquick, ¼ cup sugar;Cut in butter with 2 knives.
  4. Stir in milk, eggs and vanilla.
  5. Drop by spoonfuls onto foil lined cookie sheet.
  6. Brush with butter.
  7. Bake for 10-12 mins until golden brown.
  8. Place one shortcake in a bowl, add strawberries, place another shortcake on top and add whipped cream.

Signature
 Thank you so much Janelle for this perfect refreshing dessert!!!

Walk with the King,

 

Janelle

Janelle is a Christian, a Wife, a Stay at Home Mom of 3 young children and a proud- to- claim- it “Foodie”. She absolutely loves to cook and typically has an audience of 3 children, pulled up on chairs, taking turns pouring ingredients into bowls. Her spiritual gifts are a mix of “hospitality and evangelism” and is here in the center of God’s will hoping to help you get a little more “comfy in your kitchen”! You can find her displaying step-by-step photos of her recipes, giving devotionals,and sharing meal ministry stories on her blog.

You can follow Janelle’s blog at ComfyInTheKitchen.com
Follower her on facebook at Comfy In The Kitchen
Follow her on Twitter at ComfynKitchen
 

How To Make A Rainbow Birthday Cake

Look what Janelle from Comfy in the Kitchen made for her daughter’s 4th birthday!

Janelle is here today to share with us how she made her Rainbow Birthday Cake – she writes:

My “Baby” had her 4th birthday party with some of her little friends. When I asked what she would like her theme to be…she yelled “RAINBOW!” Ok girlie…rainbow it is :) I’m not the most “creative” genius there is {remember, I am “comfy” NOT “creative”)…but I have a willing heart, so I scoured Pinterest for some inspiration.

I truly enjoyed making this special cake for her and thought to share with you. It was a “piece of cake” hehe! For those of you intimidated of making double layer cakes- please don’t be. Again…I am not a baker- just a normal gal. If I can do it, so can you!

There IS something special about a homemade birthday cake, isn’t there? This was one very special cake indeed. The kids LOVED the outside of the cake- then I told them there was a surprise on the inside too…you should have seen their faces. Adorable.

This is where I got my inspiration: The Idea Room and Omnomicon.

The ingredients: 2 WHITE cake mixes, 2 fluffy white tubs of frosting, 2 cake pans {with liners}, gel food coloring {this stuff is vibrant!}, skittles and marshmallows.

Make cakes separately in two bowls. This will insure them being even with one another. Follow package instructions.

Gather up 3 bowls. For the first cake I went in rainbow order. There will be 3 cups of batter per cake. Put 1 cup of batter in each bowl- red, orange and yellow. You will have to mix the red and yellow to make orange. There is no special amount I used- I just squirted in there like so.

Stir well. Do this again with blue, green and purple {mixing the red and blue together}.

Line your cake pans with wax paper liner, spray with Pam {or butter}, then pour the red in, on top of that pour the orange then the yellow. It will flatten out like so.

Pretty neat!

Bake 30 mins in a 350 oven.

Cool on wire rack until completely cool- if your cakes are still warm, they may crack during this next step!

Frost in the middle then place the other cake on top and frost all over.

Use Skittles to make a rainbow and to decorate the sides. Use marshmallows for clouds. This was SO easy- and {I thought} it was super adorable.

I found some cute candles at the grocery store- yea! I didn’t have to draw anything on the cake, lol!

Happy Birthday Munchkin!!!!!

Surprise inside! Wohoo! Oh and yes….that is “superman” ice cream. I just could not resist.

One FUN cake!!! I would make this again in a heartbeat…just adorable!!!!

I had a lot of fun decorating the house for her party.

But again, you aren’t going to see anything fancy with me…. that isn’t my strength. I think us ladies can sometimes get overwhelmed with all of the talent out there on Pinterest {esp with party planning}. For those ladies who are super talented- that is awesome! But for those of us who have different talents, we shouldn’t be intimidated :) If we have a heart for opening up our homes -that is the most important thing. No one comes to see your home anyways {unless its up for sale!}, they come to see the people.

Another thing I don’t get all excited about? Messes. I popped up a table in the garage and we had some good old fashioned kid fun. That garage was covered in glue and fruit loops by the end of the night ….Oh well?! The kids had fun! It can all be cleaned up. Let em be kids. :)

 

Rainbow Birthday Cake
Serves: 20
Ingredients
  • 2 white boxed cakes {with ingredients on package directions}
  • Food coloring gel
  • 2 jars fluffy white frosting
  • 1 large bag skittles
  • 2 handfuls of marshmallows
  • 2 cake pans
  • waxed paper liner and Pam spray
Instructions
  1. Make cakes in 2 separate bowls according to package instructions.
  2. you will need 6 bowls with 1 cup of cake batter per bowl. Make your desired colors. I made cake #1 with red, orange and yellow. Cake #2 with blue, green and purple.
  3. Trace the outside of your cake pan onto waxed paper liner and cut to fit your cake pan. Place liner in cake pan and spray with Pam or butter. These cakes will not stick!!!
  4. Pour each color of batter on top of one another like picture above.
  5. Bake in a 350 oven for 30 mins or until center is baked through.
  6. Take pans out of the oven and set directly on a wire rack.
  7. When completely cool turn over first cake.
  8. Frost top. Then turn second cake on top of first cake.
  9. Frost the top and sides.
  10. Make a rainbow pattern using Skittles. Place Skittles along the edge and finish with marshmallow clouds.

Signature

 

 This is such a fun cake inside and out! Thank you Janelle for sharing this with us!

Walk with the King,

 

Janelle

Janelle is a Christian, a Wife, a Stay at Home Mom of 3 young children and a proud- to- claim- it “Foodie”. She absolutely loves to cook and typically has an audience of 3 children, pulled up on chairs, taking turns pouring ingredients into bowls. Her spiritual gifts are a mix of “hospitality and evangelism” and is here in the center of God’s will hoping to help you get a little more “comfy in your kitchen”! You can find her displaying step-by-step photos of her recipes, giving devotionals,and sharing meal ministry stories on her blog.

You can follow Janelle’s blog at ComfyInTheKitchen.com
Follower her on facebook at Comfy In The Kitchen
Follow her on Twitter at ComfynKitchen