Hi friends! I’m excited to share not one, not two, but three new recipes with you! I teamed up with Screamin’ Mimi’s to share some ideas to carry you through holiday season – whether that’s entertaining friends and family or an easy dinner that will make life a little bit sweeter while juggling all the holiday to-dos. PS: Scroll down to the bottom of this post for a discount code!
Screamin’ Mimi’s salsa recipe has been passed down through four generations for over 100 years. Donna and Bill Madden started bottling their family recipe in 1993, and shortly after Mimi Milward (is that name a coincidence or what?!) discovered this unique salsa at the grocery store and it soon became a staple for their family. In 2019, the recipe was passed down to a fifth generation, when Lexington native Webb Milward bought the company. I love what Screamin’ Mimi’s says: “No matter the era, or what your family looks like, every family has a Mimi: sweet but strong-willed women who carry on cherished family traditions and create new family memories.”
It reminds me of my own Mimi (my grandmother who refuses to be called a grandmother or grandma, only Mimi), who taught me that gathering around the family table is important. When talking with Webb I can tell he shares that value and wants to spread hospitality via Screamin’ Mimi’s. I’m honored to share their products with you. The original Sweet Hot Salsa is just that, initially sweet, followed by a little kick of heat. Don’t be afraid of the ‘hot’ in the name, Sweet Hot is more of a mild salsa, while ‘Sweet Hotter’ has more of a kick, and ‘Sweet Hottest’ is for spice lovers. You also have to try Screamin’ Mimi’s Hot Pepper Sauce made with aged red peppers. It has just the right amount of heat and is great for marinating chicken for tacos or fajitas. I also use it in my Buffalo Chicken Salad recipe. Pro tip: add a little Hot Pepper Sauce to your eggs or omelet in the morning as a great way to start your day.
Sweet Hot Salsa is unlike any other salsa. I love how the combination of the sweet and the heat balance each other out. While it’s delicious served with chips, I’ve loved cooking with the salsa too! The unique flavors mean you can create a really tasty dish without needing a bunch of ingredients. I baked some chicken in the salsa and ended up with juicy, flavorful chicken your whole family will love. I also used the salsa to create a Sweet Hot Queso Dip that you need at all your holiday parties! It’s rich and creamy with just the right amount of heat. Or maybe Jalapeño Poppers are more your style. The Hot Pepper Sauce adds a kick balanced out with cream cheese and a crispy bread crumb topping. Check out the recipes below!
Sweet Hot Baked Chicken, serves 4
Ingredients
- 2 lb chicken breast
- 1 cup Screamin’ Mimi’s Sweet Hot Salsa
- 10 oz frozen protein blend (beans and corn mixture found with frozen veggies)
- 1 cup Mexican cheese blend
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350
- Place chicken in a greased baking dish and season liberally with salt and pepper
- Cover chicken with salsa
- Pour frozen bean blend over chicken and top with cheese
- Bake for 45 minutes and top with Screamin’ Mimi’s Hot Pepper Sauce, avocado or desired toppings
Sweet Hot Queso Dip
Ingredients
- 1/2 lb ground sausage
- 2 tbsp flour
- 2/3 cup milk
- 1/2 lb white American cheese (find this at the deli counter), cubed
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup Screamin’ Mimi’s Sweet Hot Salsa (or I prefer it with Sweet Hotter for more of a kick!)
Directions
- Brown sausage over medium high heat
- Once sausage is fully cooked, sprinkle with flour and stir vigorously until flour turns golden brown, about 20 seconds
- Pour in milk and stir vigorously until mixture thickens, about 30 seconds (it will look kind of like gravy)
- Turn heat to medium, add in cheese and salsa and stir until cheese fully melts and is nice and creamy
- Serve immediately or transfer to a crockpot on low
Sweet Hot Jalapeño Poppers
Ingredients
- 10 jalapeños, sliced in half with all seeds removed
- 1 block cream cheese
- 1/3 cup Screamin’ Mimi’s Hot Pepper Sauce
- 10 strips crispy bacon, crumbled
- 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/3 cup bread crumbs
- 3 tbsp butter, melted
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350
- Combine cream cheese and Hot Pepper Sauce using a hand mixer
- Stir in bacon and 1 cup of shredded cheese until combined
- Fill jalapeños with cream cheese mixture
- Combine melted butter and bread crumbs and then stir in remaining 1/2 cup shredded cheese
- Top peppers with bread crumb mixture
- Bake for 30 minutes until bread crumb topping is golden brown
Who’s ready for some salsa?! You can shop Screamin’ Mimi’s products online here and use code LEXEATS for free shipping. You can also find them at Kroger, Whole Foods, Good Foods Co-Op, Critchfield, Liquor Barn and Total Wine. Not only is Screamin’ Mimi’s great for holiday cooking and entertaining, but also one of my favorites for gifting. It makes a great hostess, next door neighbor, dirty santa or teacher gift! Pick up a few to have on hand this holiday season!
Biscuits & blessings,
Leels
This post is in partnership with Screamin’ Mimi’s. Thank you for supporting the brands that support Lex Eats!
