Rebecca Rathers Queso Recipes

THE NEW QUESO

Steps:

• To roast the Anaheim chiles and jalapenos: Roast the chiles by using metal tongs to hold them one-by-one over the flame of your stovetop until the skin is totally charred. (If you don't have a gas stove, you can use an outdoor grill OR place them on a baking sheet directly under your oven's broiler.) When totally blackened, place the chiles in a large resealable plastic bag and seal the bag to allow them to sweat for a good 20 minutes. Then use a knife to scrape off most of the blackened skin. Stem, seed and dice the chiles.
• In large pot over medium heat, add the bacon and chorizo. Cook until the fat has been rendered out, 10 to 15 minutes.
• Add the garlic and onion to a food processor and pulse until almost a paste.
• Drain off most of the fat from the bacon and chorizo, then add the garlic-onion puree to the pot and cook for 3 to 4 minutes.
• Pour the diced tomatoes and green chiles into the food processor and pulse slightly. Add to the pot, juice and all. Fold in the reserved diced chiles. Cook for 4 minutes. Slowly whisk in both cheeses and the evaporated milk. Cook for an additional 5 minutes to heat through, making sure to not scorch the bottom of the pot. Garnish with the chopped cilantro and eat from the pot with tortilla chips.

REBECCA RATHER'S QUESO

Steps:

• In a big pot, heat the oil over medium heat; saute the onion, jalapenos, and garlic until soft, about 3 minutes.
• Decrease heat to low; stir in the milk, cumin, paprika, and cayenne; once the milk is warm, add in the tomatoes, Monterey Jack, and Velveeta; stir until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
• Stir in the spinach and cook a few minutes more.
• Serve in a bowl set on top of a warming tray or in a slow cooker set on low, with plenty of chips.

EASY QUESO

Steps:

• Combine the cheese, the whole can of tomatoes and chiles and the jar of pimientos with their liquid in a saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until the cheese is fully melted, 5 to 7 minutes.

REBECCA RATHER'S WATERMELON LEMONADE SORBET

Steps:

• Place watermelon cubes in food processor in batches; process until smooth. Pour pureed watermelon through a sieve into a 4-cup measuring cup. Measure 3 cups watermelon juice into a large bowl; discard solids.
• Sprinkle gelatin over cold water in a small saucepan; let stand 1 minute. Cook over low heat, stirring until gelatin dissolves, about 2 minutes. Add gelatin mixture to watermelon juice; stir in lemon juice, lime juice, and SPLENDA® Granulated Sweetener, stirring until SPLENDA® Granulated Sweetener dissolves.
• Pour sorbet mixture into freezer container of an ice cream freezer; freeze according to manufacturers instructions. Spoon sorbet into a freezer-safe container; cover and freeze 1 hour or until firm.

CHEF REBECCA RATHER'S COCONUT CAKE

Steps:

• Place an oven rack in the bottom third of the oven and another in the top third of the oven. Preheat oven to 350°F Butter three 9-inch cake pans, then line each with a parchment round. Butter the paper and dust the pans with flour; knock out excess.
• Using an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Use a rubber spatula to scrape down the sides of the bowl.
• In a medium bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder and salt to blend. In a small bowl, stir together the milk, coconut milk and coconut cream until smooth. Add the flour mixture in three increments, alternating with the milk mixture in two increments, starting and ending with the flour mixture. After each addition, mix at low speed just to combine the ingredients. Stir in the vanilla.
• Using an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat the egg whites on high speed until stiff peaks form. Gently fold the egg whites into the batter until evenly blended. Divide the cake batter evenly among the prepared cake pans. Set two layers on the top rack and the third on the lower rack. Stagger the cake layers on the oven racks so that no layer is directly over another.
• Bake for 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle of the cakes comes out clean. Monitor the layers carefully for doneness; each may be done at a different time. Remove from the oven and let cool in the pans for 10 minutes, then unmold onto wire racks to cool completely.
• Make whipped cream filling; set aside.
• Make frosting; set aside.
• To assemble the cake, stack one cake layer on a serving plate and spread the top with half of whipped cream filling. Repeat with a second layer. Stack the final cake layer on top of the first two and cover the cake's top and sides with the frosting. Sprinkle the coconut on the top and sides of the cake.
• Cover the cake loosely with plastic wrap and store for 1 day at room temperature or up to 3 days in the refrigerator. Bring to room temperature before serving. Makes 8 to 10 servings.
• Whipped cream filling: Using an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat 1 cup cold heavy whipping cream on high speed until soft peaks form. Beat in 2 tablespoons coconut cream (such as Coco Lopez) and 1/2 cup grated fresh coconut (optional).
• Frosting: Whisk 2 large egg whites, 11/2 cups sugar, 1/3 cup cold water, 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar and 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt in a large stainless-steel bowl until thoroughly combined. Place the bowl over a saucepan filled with 2 inches of barely simmering water. Using a hand beater or handheld electric mixer, continue beating the egg white mixture for 4 minutes. Add 1/2 cup mini marshmallows in 2 increments while continuing to beat. Wait until the first batch of marshmallows has melted before adding the second. Continue beating for 2 to 3 minutes more, until stiff peaks form. Remove from the heat, stir in the vanilla and continue beating until the frosting is thick enough to spread.
• NOTE:It's challenging to press coconut into the sides of the cake. When pressing the coconut in, the icing invariably sticks to my fingers and mars the frosting's finish. I've discovered that throwing small handfuls of coconut toward the side of the cake makes it adhere quite well - a messy but effective technique for creating a gorgeous cake.

THE BEST CHUY'S QUESO RECIPE COPYCAT

Steps:

• instructions (slow cooker)Place velveeta slices in slow cooker Layer on top salsa, green chile sauce, water, milk, chili powder, and cumin. Cook on low for 2 hours, mixing part way through Once finished, stir well and serve warm with chips instructions (stovetop)- Melt the Velveeta and salt together in a saucepan over medium heat until smooth and creamy. Add the half and half gradually as you stir the cheese sauce. Simmer on low heat until the queso is thick and creamy, stirring frequently to keep it from burning or sticking to the bottom of your pan.

REBECCA RATHER'S PEACH FROZEN YOGURT

Steps:

• Whisk together evaporated milk, egg yolks, and SPLENDA® Sugar Blend for Baking in a medium saucepan, whisking until SPLENDA® Sugar Blend for Baking dissolves.
• Cook over medium heat, whisking constantly, until mixture is near boiling and thickens slightly. Stir in vanilla. Spoon custard into a large bowl; refrigerate until cold or let stand until cooled completely, 1 to 2 hours.
• Place peach pieces in food processor or blender; process until smooth. Combine peaches and yogurt in a large bowl; cover and refrigerate until ready to freeze.
• Combine peach mixture and custard. Pour into freezer container of an ice cream freezer; freeze according to manufacturers instructions. Spoon frozen yogurt into a freezer-safe container; cover and freeze 1 hour or until firm.