Spicy Cheese Fondue

Mr. Smith goes absolutely crazy for this fondue. It is so easy and believe me, it is better than The Melting Pot has to offer (at less than half the price, thankyouverymuch).

This is our new Superbowl tradition, even though we don't generally watch the game. We are PuppyBowl people around here. I am not proud of the fact, it is what it is. I married the only man in the world that isn't into sports. Whoopie!

So skip the over priced restaurant that wants you to COOK YOUR OWN DINNER (thanks I can do that at home for FREE!). You don't have to use the slow cooker, I use a sauce pan on the stove and it works just fine. Either way, go for it!

1/4 cup flour

2 teaspoons chili powder

1 pound Monterey Jack cheese, shredded

1/2 pound sharp cheese, shredded

1 (12 oz.) can beer

1 clove garlic, minced

1 can (4 oz.) green chilies and/or chopped jalapeno peppers to taste

Mix flour with chili powder and toss over shredded cheeses. Pour beer into slow cooker and cover with shredded cheese mixture. Place garlic, green chilies and jalapenos, if desired, over cheese, but do not stir until cheese has begun to melt.

Serve with cubed french bread, green apples, baby carrots, broccoli, and tortilla chips.

Philly Cheese Steak Casserole

Last night, despite the balmy temperatures, I fixed this recipe. It was something I dug up on the internet. We are still on our austerity program around here, but splurged on the meat because I am neurotic about fatty meat. It is just this thing I have. So sue me, oh wait, someone is already doing that!

Anyway, I had my misgivings about this one. Not sure about how the meat would be in this concoction. Boy, was I wrong. I whipped this up in the morning and it smelled so good I almost dove in for an early lunch.

Anyway, it survived just fine in the fridge until around 4:30pm, I popped it into the oven for the same amount of time and it came out beautifully. I would imagine you could easily use it with leftover beef, if you have some. It was nice and tender after cooking in the "gravy" and the whole thing was delicious. We had it with steamed green beans.

The recipe was deemed a keeper and so I figured I would share it with you.

Philly Cheese Steak Casserole

6 ozs. wide egg noodles, cooked until almost tender and drained

1 1/2 lbs. beef, boneless sirloin steak, about 3/4-inch thick (I used filet because I am a total freak about fat in meat, but you can use whatever cut you like)

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

1 medium onion, finely chopped

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 green or red pepper, chopped

1 (14 oz.) can fat-free and sodium reduced beef broth

1/4 cup flour

1/2 cup fat-free half-and-half

1 Tablespoon Dijon mustard

1 cup cheddar cheese

Heat oven to 350. Spray 11 x 7 (2 quart) glass baking dish with cooking spray. I used a 9 x 13 pan and it was just fine. Cook and drain noodles as directed on package. Meanwhile, remove fat from beef. Cut beef into 3/4-inch pieces. Heat 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium heat. Cook beef and pepper in skillet 2 to 3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until beef is brown. Stir in onions and bell pepper. Cook 2 minutes, stirring occasionally. Spoon into baking dish. In medium bowl, beat broth and flour with wire wisk until smooth. Add to skillet and heat to boiling. Cook, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens. Remove from heat. Stir in half-and-half and mustard. Spoon over beef mixture. Stir in cooked noodles. Cover and bake for 40 minutes. Sprinkle with cheese. Bake uncovered about 10 minutes longer or until cheese is melted and casserole is bubbly.

Makes 4-6 servings.

Adapted from Betty Crocker, Quick-to-Fix Casseroles