Broccoli Rice and Cheese Casserole Recipe

I'm always looking for a yummy side dish that everyone will eat, and this one definitely made the cut. I found the recipe a few years ago, and after many changes I finally got it how I like it...super creamy and cheesy and full of flavor! It makes 6 servings, but is so tasty that there are times it is gobbled up even brfore the actual main dish.

Ingredients:
1 medium sweet onion finely chopped
1 10oz package frozen broccoli
4 tbl butter
1 can cream of mushroom soup
3 cups cooked wild rice
1 tbl minced garlic
2 stalks celery finely chopped
1 1/2 cups shredded Monterey jack/cheddar jack cheese
1 lb velvetta cheese, cut into 1" cubes
Celery salt
Pepper

What to do:
Preheat oven to 350*
In a skillet, melt the butter and sauté the onion and garlic until onions are tender and lightly browned. Set aside to cool.
Steam the broccoli until thawed. Drain and set aside to cool.
Heat the velvetta until it is melted and smooth, and then mix into the rice. Let cool.
Add the cooled rice mixture, cooled broccoli, cooled onions, can of soup, celery, & 1 cup shredded cheese.
Add celery salt and pepper to taste.
Put into an oven safe baking dish or casserole dish.
Top with the remaining 1/2 cup shredded cheese and cover with either an oven safe lid or foil.
Bake for 20 minutes then remove lid/foil and bake an additional 10-15 minutes or until cheese on top bubbles.

Superbowl Dip Time!

With Super Bowl just a couple weeks away, I decided to post a couple yummy & super easy to make hot dips I have made in the past to help you out in your party planning.  The first is my cheesy crab dip (I'll post my spinach and artichoke dip next week...plenty of time to get the supplies and make it for your party!).  This recipe serves about 6 people as an appetizer, so mattering on how much food you make (and how many people you are having), you may want to double the recipe.

Ingredients:

4 ounce softened cream cheese
8 tsp diced sweet onion
2 Tbl softened butter
8 tsp finely diced green bell pepper
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 tsp seasoned salt
1/4 tsp paprika
1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
2 6oz cans crab meat (drained)
fresh chopped scallions (garnish)

Preheat oven to 350*
Mix cream cheese, sour cream, and butter until smooth.
Add in seasoned salt and paprika.
Stir in onions, crab meat, green pepper, and cheese.
Place in a lightly greased small shallow baking dish and bake about 10-15 minutes (until mixture bubbles).
Serve hot with tortilla chips.