Have you ever wondered how some restaurants get the perfect grilled cheese put on your plate? Wonder no more, I am going to show you ALL the TRICKS!

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Say Cheese! Cheese, Cheese, & More CHEESE. Use different types of cheese, and lots of it!

Mayo is the Secret! Usually you make a traditional grilled cheese with butter… BUT did you know most restaurants use (real) MAYO instead? It’s TRUE! If you think about it… mayo is really just oil and eggs! (Trust me you don’t taste the mayo once it gets toasted up)

You missed a little right there! Make sure to spread the mayo (or butter) EDGE-to-EDGE! This is crucial for an even golden brown.

Turning the heat up! Preheat your pan. This will help both sides cook evenly. You don’t want your pan scorching hot but a nice little sizzle when you put the bread on is PERFECT! (A medium-high heat will works best)

Listen for that sizzle! Place your bread MAYO side down once & now put the cheese on. Layer upon layer, upon layer.. YUM! Once it is golden brown, FLIP IT!

What, WATER? In order to create that perfect melty center steam the inside (Do not fear, this will not make your soon-to-be perfect grilled cheese soggy). Place a couple of teaspoons of water on the hot pan with the grilled cheese, it will SIZZLE & that it fine! Quickly cover with a large pan lid or metal bowl (something that is high heat safe – that won’t melt of course)

Let’s Eat! Look at this, oyey-goey-melty-cheesy-goodness, YUM!

Cheesy Chicken Enchiladas Recipe

Ingredients:

• 2 Hormel Chicken Fully Cooked & Seasoned Taco Meat
  Coupon: $1/1 Hormel Taco Meats Product
  
• 1 Can Old El Paso Enchilada Sauce (10 oz)
  Coupon: 50¢/1 Old El Paso Enchilada Sauce
• 1 Can Old El Paso Refried Beans (16 oz)
  Coupon: 50¢/1 Old El Paso Refried Beans
• 1 Can Progresso Chicken & Cheese Enchilada Soup
  Coupon: $1.00 off 3 Progresso products
• 1 Cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese
• 1 Can Old El Paso Chopped Green Chili’s (4 oz) (Optional)
  Coupon: $1/3 Old El Paso Products
• 1 Package of Flour Tortillas
• Sour Cream for Garnish

Directions:

• Pre-Heat Oven to 350 Degrees Fahrenheit
• Mix your cans of Enchilada Sauce and Soup together in a bowl and set to the side.
• Mix Shredded Chicken, Refried Beans, 1 Cup Shredded Cheese, Green Chilis (drained) and half of Sauce Mixture in a bowl.
• In 9×13 inch glass pan, put a few spoonfuls of your Sauce mixture on the bottom. Just enough to coat.
• Heat 10 to 12 Tortillas a few seconds in microwave to soften.
• Fill tortillas with mixture as you would a burrito or soft taco and roll shut and put seam side down in pan. Depending on how much you fill them, you can fit about 10 to 12 in your pan.
• Dump the remaining Sauce over your enchiladas.
• Bake uncovered for 30 to 40 minutes.
• Remove from oven, garnish with some sour cream, and Enjoy!

Homemade Alfredo Sauce

Prep.: 5-mins.
Cook Time: 25-mins.Yields: 2.5-cups.

Ingredients:

• 2-tsp. Cracked Black Pepper
• 2-tbps. Minced Garlic
• 4-tbps. Butter
• 1/4-c. Parmesan Cheese
• 2-oz. Cream Cheese
• 2-c. Heavy Cream

Steps:

1. In a large sauce pan, over medium/low heat melt butter.
2. Once butter is melted, add minced garlic. Saute garlic until starts becoming translucent.
3. Slowly add heavy cream, whisking constantly until butter is incorporated into cream.
4. Add cracked black pepper and cream cheese, let simmer for 15-minutes. Stirring occasionally.
5. When done simmering add parmesan cheese.

Tips: Serve with pasta and chicken or portobello mushrooms!

Mini Cream Cheese & Fruit Danishes

Prep. : 10 mins.
Cook Time: 15 mins.
Yields: 10 danishes (approx.)

Ingredients:

• Crescent roll dough
• 5-oz. Cream Cheese, softened
• ¹/3-c. Sugar
• ¹/3-c.  Powdered Sugar
• 2-tsp. Milk
• ¹/8-tsp. Vanilla Extract
• Cherry Pie Filling

Steps:

1. Cut crescent rolls in to circles (do NOT unroll them)
   
2. Use something with a flat bottom (ex: measuring cup) and press the crescent rounds down to about a ¹/4-inch thickness
   
3. Press down the center of dough, to create an edge to hold the filling in
   
4. Mix together cream cheese, vanilla and sugar. Add a small amount to the danish (fill about half the inner circle of the dough)
   
5. Add cherry filling
   
6. Bake in the oven at 350°F for 15-minutes (or until done & golden brown). Let Cool
   
7. Mix milk and powdered sugar together, drizzle glaze over the top & ENJOY!

TIPS: 1. Use a “flakey” crescent dough. 2. Spray your knife with pan before cutting the dough
You also do not have to use cherry pie filling, you could use peach or blueberry, or maybe you just want a cream cheese danish… THAT’S FINE TOO!

One Skillet Ranch Ham Pasta

Prep. Time: 10-mins. (approx.)
Cook. Time: 20-mins. (approx.)
Yields: 12-servings (approx.)

Ingredients:

• 6-c. (48-oz.) Diced Ham
• 3-c. (24-oz.) Sour Cream
• 2.5-c. Milk
• 16-oz. Penne Pasta
• 1-c. Italian Blend Shredded Cheese
• ¹/2-c. Shredded Parmesan Cheese
  
• 3-tbsp. Flour
• 3-tbps. Butter
• 1-tbsp. Garlic Salt
• 1-tbps. Lemon-Pepper
• 1-tpbs. Dill Weed
• 2-tsp. Garlic Powder
• ¹/2-tsp. Black Pepper
  
• ¹/2-tsp. Onion Powder
• ¹/4-tsp. Minced Onion, dried
  

Steps:

1. Cook pasta according to directions on package (for Al Dente pasta)
2. In a large skillet, melt butter. Once melted, add flour and cook for a few minutes…. stirring FREQUENTLY (this is a rue, helps thicken the sauce)
   
3. Add milk to the rue, SLOWLY and stirring until completely combined. + add in all the spices
   
4. Still stirring frequently, let the flour-milk-spice mixture simmer, for about 2- 3-minutes. Then remove from heat
5. Stir in sour cream, put back on heat and add ¹/2-c. Italian cheese and ¹/4– Parmesan cheese
   
6. Add in ham and penne, stir until sauce is coating ham and pasta. Let simmer for 10-mins.
   
7. Sprinkle the rest of the cheese over top and let melt (about 3- 5-minuts) & ENJOY!
   

TIP: try adding sauteed mushrooms or spinach to add another level to this dish. This dish is also very good made with chicken instead of ham!

Copycat “Restaurant Style” Salsa

This salsa tastes just like the salsa you would get at Cozumel or Chili’s, SO YUMMY! It is even very similar to the salsa at Applebee’s!

Prep. Time: 10-mins. (approx.)
Yields: 6 ¹/2-cups

Ingredients:

• 28-oz. can Whole Tomatoes, do NOT drain!
• (2) 10-oz. cans Rotel (I used original)
• 2 Jalapenos, seeded & diced
• ¹/2-c. Onion, diced
  
• 1-tsp. Garlic Salt
• 1-tsp. Cumin
• 1-tsp. Sugar – to make this low carb, omit the sugar or use replacement
• Juice from half a lime

Steps:

Put everything into a blender, including juices from canned tomatoes and rotel

Blend (blending time will depend on how chunky or not-chunky you like your salsa. I made mine a tad on the thinner side)

Chill. The longer this sits in the fridge the better is tastes!

TIP: If you want a little more of a flavor profile you can add cilantro or even garlic (try it roasted!)

Looking for More Appetizer Ideas? Check Out These Suggestions:

• Crab Rangoon Dip
• Frickles – Deep Fried Ham Rolls
• Mini Tortilla Pizzas