Espresso Epiphany

It's Labor Day and, in the spirit of celebrating all those who labor, I thought I would treat myself to something junky. And cheesy. That you can eat with tortilla chips. Actually, it has nothing to do with Labor Day or the end of summer vacation or the fact that the neighborhood will be blissfully quiet again tomorrow when all the kids go back to school. I just had a hankerin' for this awesome and slightly curious chile con queso.

This was a family favorite when I was growing up. It made its debut in the 70s and always returned for an annual appearance on New Year's Eve. Maybe other times, too, but I remember it as a New Year's Eve thing.

Anyway, it's not too complicated and you can whip it up in under 30 minutes.

Ingredients:
1 medium onion finely chopped
2 Tablespoons butter
1 15 oz. can tomato sauce
1 can peeled green chiles, chopped
1 8 oz. pkg. cream cheese
8 oz. cheddar cheese, cubed or grated
salt and pepper to taste

Directions:
Wilt onion in butter; add tomato sauce, chiles, salt and pepper.
Simmer about 10 minutes.
Add cheeses and continue to simmer until all cheese is melted.
Stir thoroughly. (a metal whisk is helpful)

Serve with tortilla chips.

I've used spring onions and sometimes throw in some jalapenos if I want to spice it up.

Eat with caution if you have gallbladder problems. Just sayin'.

"D.A. Carson said, 'In the darkest night of the soul, Christians have something to hold into that Job never knew. We know Christ crucified. Christians have learned that when there seems to be no other evidence of God's love they cannot escape the cross. He who did not spare his own son, but gave him up for us all, how shall he not also along with Him graciously give us all things? When we suffer there will sometimes be mystery. Will there also be faith? Yes. If our attention is focused more on the cross and on the God of the cross than on the suffering itself.'

Here's what I've found. Those who recognize that their suffering in this life is never as great or as serious as their sins, find joy in an unexpected place in the midst of suffering. Because the great mystery is not, "Why do I suffer?" The great mystery is, "Why would the sinless Son of God suffer as my subsitute on the cross for my sins, receiving the wrath that I deserve so that I might be forgiven and declared righteous?" That is the great mystery of mercy. And that mystery can and will make all the difference in the midst of the severest forms of suffering."
~ C.J. Mahaney

A favorite from my growing up years... my sisters and I loved these on Christmas morning... or any time!

Chocolate Chip Orange Muffins

1 egg
½ cup milk
¼ cup vegetable oil
1½ cups all-purpose flour
½ cup sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
¾ cup Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips (or MINI Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips)
1 to 1½ teaspoons freshly grated orange peel

Heat oven to 400°F. Grease (or insert paper cupcake liners into) 12 muffin cups (2½ inches in diameter) or 24 mini-muffin cups.

In medium bowl, beat egg; stir in milk and oil. Stir together flour, sugar, baking powder and salt; add all at once to egg mixture. Stir just until moistened (batter should be lumpy). Stir in chocolate chips and orange peel. Fill prepared muffin cups 2/3 full with batter. Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove from pans; serve warm.

Makes 12 muffins or 24 mini-muffins.