Recipes: Hot Cheese Squares

Combine beaten eggs with green chiles and cheddar cheese or spinach, mushrooms and 2 kinds of cheeses for a tasty appetizer to serve hot or at room temperature.

Not nearly as fussy as a souffle but just as tasty and much easier to make, these two cheese square variations are meant to be baked and served as appetizers. On the other hand, if guests are invited for brunch, both egg dishes make suitable company fare.

Green Chile Cheese Squares

• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 4-ounce cans mild green chiles, chopped and drained
• 3 cups Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
• 1 1/2 cups cottage cheese

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Grease a 9x9-inch square baking dish and set aside.In a large bowl, beat eggs with electric mixer till light, 4 to 5 minutes.
3. In a small bowl combine flour, baking powder and salt.
4. Add flour mixture to eggs in large bowl and beat with mixer.
5. Remove from mixer and fold in shredded cheese, cottage cheese and green chiles. Stir until well blended.
6. Pour mixture into prepared baking dish and spread to corners.
7. Bake in center of oven for 40 minutes or until lightly browned and firm to the touch. Remove from oven and let stand 10 minutes. Cut into small squares and serve hot.

Spinach and Cheese Squares

• 2 tablespoons butter
• 3 eggs
• 1 cup flour
• 1 cup milk
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1/2 pound cheddar cheese, grated (2 cups)
• 1/2 pound Monterey Jack cheese, grated (2 cups)
• 1/2 cup chopped mushrooms
• 4 cups chopped fresh spinach (or chopped fresh chard, stems removed or 1 small box of frozen spinach thawed and drained)
• 1 red bell pepper, chopped

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Butter a 9x13-inch pan and set aside.
3. In a large bowl beat the eggs with a fork.
4. Add flour, milk, salt and baking powder and blend well.
5. Stir in pepper flakes, cheeses, mushrooms, spinach and bell pepper, mixing well.
6. Spread in buttered pan and bake in center of oven for 35 minutes.
7. Cool 30 minutes before cutting into squares to serve.

When serving buffet-style appetizers, arrange both Hot Cheese Square dishes with other foods that will provide some crunch: vegetables or fruit slices with creamy dips like those found in the Cheese Balls and Cream Cheese Dips recipes. Either version (or both!) of Tortilla Roll-ups and some Nuts and Bolts Party Mix will round out the table.

Eggs

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