The Covered Dish - Chili Cheese Cubes

This week I made a revelation regarding ‘Jam’. It was only about 5-10 years ago I stopped making as many jellies and jams because I could purchase it for less than I could buy the sugar and fresh fruits. Flip the coin to 2026, we ‘should’ be returning to making our own homemade jams and jellies because the prices have soared tremendously. Probably one of the easiest jams to make are freezer jams. They also taste extremely fresh in comparison to jams that are cooked for long periods of time, on top of the stove. Go a little further it is not uncommon to find pint jars of specialty jams at 8.99 a jar. Pfew...this is crazy, basically my household will be returning to making our jams again! I mean homemade is always best, but there was a time we could purchase a large jar of grape jelly, Welchs’ no less, for around 2.50 a large jar. With Strawberry season upon us I’ll be making several jars of strawberry freezer jam. You can make it in jars and freeze the jars in the deep freeze. This jam is wonderful inside dessert fillings, toast, or stirred into yogurt! Simply follow the instructions inside the Sure-jell box.
With Mother’s Day and graduation parties just over the hill, the chili cheese squares will come in handy as an appetizer or buffet item. The recipe is full of good proteins and could also become a meatless meal. The kids will like the fact you can pick the squares up by hand and have a walking treat. I can honestly say I have not ‘played’ with this recipe since it was handed down to me several years ago. Sure; you could bring in some finely crumbled sausage or bacon, but truthfully, it doesn’t need it. The cheese I have switched around, but nothing else, pepper jack cheese is still best.
On the cottage cheese I would recommend small curd cottage cheese.
Reasoning, the large curd might be too much for those who have issues with the texture of the large curd cottage cheese.
The last time I served these beauties was as an appetizer in an evening meal of biscuits and gravy. I was actually teaching someone how to make gravy that evening.
As you approach the next 3-4 weeks remember to purchase foods in season, like the strawberry or asparagus. You might even freeze some for later use.
The freezer jam would also be something nice to share with others on Mother’s Day. Go forth with positivity and your life will be abundant. Simply Yours,
The Covered Dish.

Chili Cheese Cubes
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
8 eggs, beaten
1⁄2 cup flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
3⁄4 teaspoon salt
3 cups, shredded Monterey Jack Cheese
1 1⁄2 cups cottage cheese
2 small cans mild, green chilies, drained and chopped
Spray a 9 x 13, glass baking dish. In a bowl beat the eggs and combine with flour, baking powder and salt. Beat together combining. Gently fold in the Monterey Jack Cheese, cottage cheese and green chilies. Pour into baking dish and bake at 350 degrees, bake approximately 40 minutes. Should be able to cut the pan into 30-40 snack size bites.