Cracklin' Crab Dip

Ingredients:

• 1 pint sour cream
• 1 cup mayonnaise
• 3 tablespoons chopped green onions
• 1 teaspoon Blenditup! Southwest Spice Blend
• 1/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1 cup finely chopped crab meat

Directions:

Cut-up fresh vegetables (celery, green peppers, carrots) and crackers or potato chips (set aside). In a large bowl MIX the sour cream, mayo, Blenditup! Southwest Spice Blend, green onions, and cheese. Mix well, and transfer into a serving bowl. Chill at least 2 hours before serving. Arrange veggies, crackers or chips on a platter and serve chilled.

Fresh Salsa

Yield: 2 cups (480 mL) 

Ingredients:

• 3 (186 g) fresh tomatoes, quartered
• 1/4 to 1 (27-110 g) medium onion, quartered
• Thin slice of red bell pepper
• 1/2 inch slice of jalapeño pepper
• Small clove of garlic
• Handful of fresh cilantro
• Juice from 1/2 lime
• 1 tbsp (or to taste) Blenditup! Southwest Spice Blend

Directions:

Place all ingredients in Vita-Mix^® container in order listed. Secure 2-part lid. Select VARIABLE, speed #1. Turn on machine and quickly increase speed to #3. Run machine for 3 to 5 seconds or until ingredients are chopped to desired consistency. If necessary, use the tamper to push the ingredients into the blades while processing. Do not over mix. Serve with tortilla chips.  

Low Fat Cantankerous Chicken Salad

Serves 4

Ingredients:

• 4 cooked chicken breasts (skinless)
• 1 lb. baby spinach
• 1 apple with skin, chopped into 1/2" cubes
• 1/2 cup raisins
• 1/2 cup honey roasted peanuts, chopped
• 2 celery stalks, chopped
• 1/3 cup plain yogurt
• 1/4 cup mayo (fat free)
• 2 teaspoons Blenditup! Southwest Spice Blend

Directions:

Chop cooked chicken breasts into 1/4 inch pieces and place into a medium sized mixing bowl. Rinse spinach well and set aside. To the mixing bowl add yogurt, mayo, Blenditup! Southwest Spice Blend and mix well till all the chicken is coated. Sprinkle celery, peanuts, apples and raisins into the mixture. Stir just till everything is coated and chill in the fridge at least one hour. Serve over chilled spinach and enjoy.

Also makes great chicken salad sandwiches, and wraps.

Panko Crusted Tilapia

Ingredients:

• 4 Tilapia fillets
• 1/2 cup flour
• 1 cup Panko crumbs
• Blenditup! Southwest Spice Blend
• 1 egg, whisked
• Butter

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375°F. Spray cast iron skillet with olive oil. Rinse tilapia fillets and pat dry with paper towel. Sprinkle Blenditup! Southwest Spice Blend on both sides of fish, and rub in gently, then coat with flour. Next, dip the fish into the egg, and coat with Panko crumbs. Place fish into skillet. Place a small dot of butter onto each fish fillet. Bake for 10-12 minutes.

Pita Chips

Ingredients:

• Blenditup! Southwest Spice Blend
• Whole Wheat Pita Bread, cut into 4-8 wedges, then separate
• Olive Oil spray 

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350°F. Arrange pita wedges on baking sheet. Spray pita wedges with olive oil spray, then sprinkle with Blenditup! Southwest Spice Blend. Spray again lightly with olive oil spray. Bake pitas at 350°F for 15 minutes until crisp. Serve with dip or guacamole.

Red Deviled Eggs

Serves 6-8

Ingredients:

• 10-15 large hard boiled eggs
• 4 cups water
• 1 tablespoon vinegar
• 3 drops red food coloring
• 3 tablespoons low fat mayo
• 1 tablespoon low fat sour cream
• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• 1 teaspoon Blenditup! Southwest Spice Blend
• 2 tablespoons sweet relish

Directions:

Peel eggs and soak them in water, vinegar and food coloring for 30 minutes. Rinse thoroughly. Cut in half lengthwise and remove the egg yellows. Mix the rest of the ingredients with the egg yellows. Scoop into the eggs and chill for 1 hour.

Spiked Shrimp Mango Lettuce Wraps

Serves 8

Ingredients:

• 1 lb. large cooked shrimp
• 2 mangos, peeled and cubed
• 1/4 green onion, finely chopped
• juice from 1 lime
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons jalapeño pepper, minced
• 1/2 teaspoon Blenditup! Southwest Spice Blend
• 1/2 teaspoon rice vinegar
• 1 can pineapple chunks
• 1 can diced tomatoes, drained
• 1 head romaine lettuce

Directions:

Mix lime juice, rice vinegar, brown sugar and Blenditup! Southwest Spice Blend in a bowl and set aside. In a medium bowl, mix shrimp, mangos, onions, jalapeño pepper, pineapple and tomatoes in a bowl. Add dressing mix and toss. Chill for at least 20 minutes. Divide lettuce into 8 servings and divide equally on lettuce and serve.

Temper-Tantrum Tuna Salad

Serves 8

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
• 1 tablespoon Blenditup! Southwest Spice Blend
• 2 tablespoons sweet relish
• 4 tomatoes, finely chopped
• 1 small red onion, finely chopped
• 1 hard boiled egg, chopped
• 1 stalk celery, finely chopped
• 1 can tuna

Directions:

Mix lemon juice, mustard, olive oil and Blenditup! Southwest Spice Blend in a bowl.  Stir in relish, tomatoes, onion, egg, celery and tuna.  Chill in fridge for 30 minutes.

Tortilla Soup

Yield: 5 cups (1.2 L) 

Ingredients:

• 3 cups hot water (the hotter the better)
• 1 Blenditup! Bouillon Cube
• 1 roma tomato
• 1 small carrot
• 1 rib celery (slender)
• 1 thin slice of onion
• 1 thin slice jalepeño (optional)
• 1 thin slice of lemon
• 1 slice (1/2 - 1 inch) cheese - cheddar or pepper jack (optional)
• 1 garlic clove, peeled
• 1 thin slice of yellow squash
• 1 thin slice of red bell pepper
• 1 handful of green cabbage
• 1 mushroom
• 1 rounded teaspoon Blenditup! Southwest Spice Blend

Directions:

Blend above ingredients on high until smooth (1-2 minutes).  To add texture, turn variable speed dial to 1 and add: 1/2 cup corn, 1/2 cup blackbeans and 1 large handful of tortilla chips.  Blend on variable speed 1, 2, or 3 until desired texture is reached. 
 
Variations:
Add any or all of the following to the end of recipe for texture:  cilantro (pinch), cooked chicken (1/2 cup), cooked brown rice (1/2 cup), black olives (1/4 cup).

Ultimate Whammy Burger

Ingredients:

• 2 pounds extra-lean ground beef
• 1 tablespoon Blenditup! Southwest Spice Blend
• 1 (1 ounce) package dry onion soup mix
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 1 tablespoon steak sauce or BBQ Sauce
• 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1/2 cup rolled oats

Directions:

In a large bowl, combine the beef, Blenditup! Southwest Spice Blend, onion soup mix, egg, wet ingredients, butter and oats. Mix well (with hands is best) Shape into 6 patties. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour. Preheat an outdoor grill for medium high heat and lightly oil grill. Grill patties over medium high heat for 10 to 20 minutes, or to desired doneness. Dress appropriately on a nice Kaiser or sesame seed bun.

Vegetarian Southwestern Salad Wraps

Serves 4

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons fat free mayo
• 3 tablespoons low fat plain yogurt
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• 2 teaspoons Blenditup! Southwest Spice Blend
• 1 red pepper, chopped
• 1 green pepper, chopped
• 1 yellow pepper, chopped
• 1 cup sweet corn, drained
• 1 cup black beans, drained
• 1 sweet onion, diced
• 1 tomato, chopped
• 1 small bunch, finely chopped cilantro
• 4 flour tortillas
• 2 cups shredded pepper jack cheese
• 1 head iceberg/romaine lettuce
• 1 ripe avocado, thinly sliced

Directions:

Mix mayo, lemon juice, yogurt and Blenditup! Southwest Spice Blend in a bowl. Mix in peppers, corn, beans, onion, tomatoes and cilantro. Place wraps on counter top, layer on vegetable mix, lettuce, avocado and cheese. Wrap up and serve immediately.

White Bean and Turkey Chili

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 4 garlic cloves, finely minced
• 1 1/2 pounds ground turkey
• 3 tablespoons flour
• 1 1/2 tablespoons Blenditup! Southwest Spice Blend
• 2 (15-ounce cans) cannelloni or navy beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 bunch (about 1 pound) Swiss chard, chopped
• 4 cups low-sodium chicken stock
• 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Directions:

In a large pot, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the ground turkey, garlic and Blenditup! Southwest Spice Blend. Cook until meat is cooked through. Stir the flour into the chicken mixture. Add the beans, Swiss chard and chicken stock. Simmer for 45-50 minutes until the chili has thickened. Mash some of the beans for a creamy sauce as chili is simmering. Add the red pepper flakes. Serve in bowls and top with Parmesan cheese as desired.