Tuesday at the Table

It was great fun having out-of-town family stay at our house this weekend, and I especially enjoyed the time we spent together in the kitchen. Having my baking done, I cleared out and let my brother-in-law, niece, and her hubby take over. Niece was clearly in charge.

They were making an appetizer for our family gathering, which we concluded is loosely based on this recipe. {see here} But the friend my niece got it from had tweaked it, and niece was making it her own.

The whole time they were cooking, I was sitting just outside the kitchen at my computer, and kept popping in to ask questions, find a utensil, and take pictures. At one point, I asked if the apps were very spicy. Niece replied, "No, but they warm the lips." Ha! I laughed at that. And I got a kick out of her hubby, grating cheese with a food processor for the first time, holler, "This is insane!"

The bottom line is, these were a hit, were pretty quick to make, and as tasty as could be - a winning combination for one of those holiday parties coming up!

Southwest Won-ton Wraps
1 pkg. round won-ton wrappers
1# hot Jimmy Dean sausage, cooked and crumbled
1/2 can kernal corn, drained
1/2 can black beans, drained
1/4 red pepper, chopped
1/2 cup grated cheddar cheese
1/2 cup grated pepper-jack cheese
1/4 to 1/2 cup prepared Ranch dressing

Preheat oven to 375-degrees. Spray mini muffin tins with non-stick spray - enough for 48. Place a wrapper over each 'cup' and press to line the cup, using a tart tamper if you have one.

Prebake shells for just a few minutes to crisp them a bit.

Combine all filling ingredients, and fill each shell to overflowing.

Bake for 7 minutes, flip the tins, and bake for another 3 minutes, or until cheese is melted.

Serve warm if possible, but they are equally delish at room temp.

If you have apps, beverages, or other favorite "get-together" recipes, please share over the next few weeks. There are always plenty of functions to attend in December, and it adds to the fun to try a new recipe!