Game Day Queso Recipe
Sinkology is proud to present Emily Schuermann, our food-loving guest blogger who runs Food for a Year. Emily is here to share some recipes she has created exclusively for the Sinkology blog that reflect her view of a copper sink: simple, timeless, affordable and beautifully rustic.
I live in a college town and where we come from, Game Day is practically a holiday. True fans know the schedule a year in advance and wouldn’t dream of purposely planning an event that would conflict. Weddings, birthday parties and even the simple act of running to the grocery store are all planned around kick-off. Game Day traffic ((whether “at home” or “away”)) makes such an impact on our city streets and the surrounding highways that we basically treat the 2 hours before and after the game like a snow day. And we love it.
Game Day eats are second only to the numbers on the score board and a few upsetting calls by the refs. We usually have our menu planned at least a week in advance and come Game Day morning, the kitchen looks like it’s about to birth a Thanksgiving Feast. Coincidentally, we feel like we had a feast when it’s all said and done too!
Because Game Day is such a big deal, I am always looking for just the right recipe – and nothing out of a box or jar will do. Even with all of the festivities and food production, I remain adamant that we only use EASY recipes. This queso is hearty, packed with flavor, uses a simple list of fresh ingredients AND is super easy to make.
Start off by making your own pico de gallo by dicing up white onion, fresh tomato, jalapeño and cilantro.
Set the pico aside and create a quick roux by combining one tablespoon of butter with one tablespoon of flour in a saucepan over medium flame. Once the flour & butter have combined into a light golden paste, add 1½ cups of pico to the saucepan and stir until the veggies are tender.
Once the veggies are tender, add ½ cup of each :: heavy cream and pale ale.
It’s already starting to look like queso but 2 key ingredients remain :: Monterey Jack & Beef Tamales.
Simply stir in 12 ounces of shredded Monterey Jack and 4 hot & steamy beef tamales and top off with a little extra pico for garnish. Within minutes, you will be serving the best queso your fellow fans have ever tasted.
Thanks to the jalapeño and those spicy beef tamales, this queso has just the right amount of heat to partner with the creamy, melted cheese. Expect to see this queso disappear quickly – you may need just plan on making a double batch!
The first taste of this Game Day Queso will make a fan out of anyone! And with the added bonus of being so easy to make – you’ll have plenty of time to root for your team and argue with the refs through your TV screen.
- 1½ c pico de gallo*, extra for garnish
- 1 T salted butter
- 1 T flour
- ½ c heavy cream
- ½ c pale ale
- 12 oz Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
- 4-5 beef tamales, chopped ((cooked and hot))
- salt & pepper to taste
- In a medium sauce pan over medium flame, combine butter and flour, stirring to make a roux. Once the mixture forms a golden brown paste, add pico and stir until the veggies soften, approximately 2 minutes.
- Next, add cream and ale, stirring until the flour paste dissolves and the sauce becomes thick. Continue stirring bringing the sauce to a soft boil for 2-3 minutes.
- Stir in the shredded cheese and the chopped beef tamales. ((Be sure to cook the tamales and remove the husks before adding))
- Stir until the cheese is combined and and sauce is smooth. Season to taste and serve.
- Makes approximately 4 cups
- *to make pico, dice 2 Roma tomatoes, ¼ of a medium white onion, ½ to 1 whole jalapeño (depending on your heat preference) and chop ¼ c of fresh cilantro. Combine in a medium bowl and season with salt and pepper to taste.
You may be wondering what Game Day Queso and Sinkology have in common – it’s all about delicious perfection that works for everyday life. My apron front farmhouse copper kitchen sink is exactly that – “delicious perfection for my everyday life”. How is it that a sink can add a much needed detail of warmth and design all the while, requiring no attention or upkeep? It can if it’s copper.
For more recipes from our copper-loving foodie, check out our blog. If you have any questions about copper or copper sinks, our Sinkologists are here to help. Contact us or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Houzz, Pinterest, or Instagram for helpful tips, recipes, and design ideas.