Virtual ConSuite - Discord #consuite

Ingredients:

• 1 15-oz. jar of medium salsa
• 1 8-oz. package of cream cheese or nuefachatel
• 1 to 2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese (you can substitute colby or jack if you prefer)

Directions:
Bring all ingredients to room temperature. The cream cheese should be easy to squish with a fork. Place cream cheese in a largish bowl and smoosh it some with a fork. Add a little bit of the salsa and mix together till smoothish and faintly pink, then add more salsa and continue stirring. Once the salsa and cream cheese are completely mixed, add one cup of shredded cheese, mix and taste. If you are happy with it, save the other cup of cheese for eggs or something else...like mac ‘n cheese! If not then go ahead and add more cheese.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb elbow macaroni (gluten free works too)
• 2 lb sharp cheddar cheese sliced thick
• 1 large can evaporated milk

Directions:

1. Boil elbows
2. Layer cooked elbows to cover bottom of baking dish/pan
3. Placed sliced cheese over elbows to cover completely
4. Pour evaporated milk over cheese
5. Repeat steps 2-4 and, as always, end with cheese
6. Bake at 350°F for 45 minutes to an hour until the cheese is browned to your liking

Ingredients:

• TVP (Textured Vegetable Protein) you can substitute meatless crumbles or any "meat" you like but TVP is cheap and easy
• 1 red bell pepper, finely chopped
• 1 medium sized carrot, finely chopped
• 1 rib of celery, finely chopped
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• 1 lg clove of garlic, minced
• 1 Tbsp vegetable oil; canola, corn, soy or olive
• 1 14.5-oz. to 15-oz. can of crushed tomatoes
• 1 8-oz. can of tomato sauce
• Vegetable broth
• Spice mix (recipe to follow)

Spice Mix:

• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp onion powder
• ½ tsp ground coriander
• ½ tsp ground cumin
• ½ tsp paprika
• ½ tsp chili powder
• ¼ tsp cinnamon
• ¼ tsp chipotle powder
• ½ tsp ground black pepper
• ½ tsp salt
• 1 Tbsp + 1 tsp sugar or sweetener of your choice
• Stir spices

Directions:
Pour oil into a pot and turn on to a medium high heat. If you're worried about the size of your pot go with a larger size, better to have more room than to have to switch to a larger pot later. When the oil is looking loose and shiny but not smoking add the onions and stir. They should sizzle when they hit the pan but not crackle. If they crackle, turn down your heat a bit and stir like the dickens to prevent onions sticking to the pot. When the onions are starting to smell good and are slick looking add in the celery and carrots, stir. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking. After about ten minutes the mixture should be a little more tender, now add the bell pepper and garlic, continue to stir occasionally for another 10 minutes. Watch the garlic as it burns easily at this point. You want the mixture to be getting softer and brown but not burned. If the pot gets too dry you can add some broth, ½ a cup to a cup. Be careful because this might create hot steam so stand back and wear a mitt. While that is cooking, in a bowl rehydrate 1 cup (dry) of the TVP according to directions using the vegetable broth (I heat the broth in a pan first and add some of the spice mix to the broth, about 1 tablespoon). Back to the mixture on the stove, add the can of crushed tomatoes and tomato sauce. Get all that good stuff by adding water and swishing it around the can and pour that into the vegetable mixture. Again be careful of potential steam. Lower heat to a simmer. Add the rest of the spice mix and stir. If the mixture is getting tight add some vegetable broth, ½ a cup or so. Check the TVP, it should be soft. If it's still a little bit crunchy that's ok, it will absorb liquid from the tomatoes. Add TVP to pot and stir, lower heat and let simmer stirring occasionally till it thickens to sloppy joe consistency. If it's too tight you can add some of the vegetable broth. Turn off the heat as you get to the consistency you prefer.