Secret Family Recipes

Do you have a secret family recipe? You know, a tried and true dish that is such a crowd pleaser you just can’t bring yourself to share.  I have several recipes that fall into this category.

1) Corn Dip.  I have to admit the recipe for corn dip is sadly not mine to share.  We are going to have to work Mia over before I can give away this crowned jewel.  Corn dip has been our most carefully guarded family recipe for over 25 years.  Many have tried to replicate this delicious madness, but none to full success.  Corn Dip is a summer crowd pleaser, so if we start a campaign now begging Mia’s permission perhaps, just perhaps, I’ll be allowed to share our corn dip recipe with you in the future.  No promises.

2) Tres Leches.  This is my most requested cake recipe.  It should really be called cinqo leches because it calls for five kinds of milk. The moist, perfectly sweetened cake is mouth watering, pan licking good.  I make it for Easter and when someone near and dear to me requests.  But first they have to beg, bribe, and prove they love me for ME and not just my Tres Leches.

3) Hot Onion Souffle. Hands down this is the biggest crowd pleaser appetizer.  I served hot onion souffle at my little sister’s wedding a couple weeks ago and one of our guests actually requested the recipe for ‘that delicious vegetable dish’.  Trust me, this hot gooey dip does not in any way qualify as a vegetable serving, but I’m glad it was (as always) well received.

In the spirit of sharing, I am going to break into The Schell Cafe vault and give you the Hot Onion Souffle recipe today.  Because it’s Christmas.  And I love and appreciate each of you for coming back to my little blog so faithfully.

The recipe is not really mine. It comes from one of my favorite cookbooks The Dallas Dish.

This is a more recent (2005) publication of the Dallas Junior League, and I truly love it.  Maybe because I was born and raised in Dallas and these recipes seem so familiar.  Or maybe just because they are all just so darned good.  Who knows? But, if you can get your hands on this cookbook, it’s well worth it.  Or just keep coming back to the cafe for more…

See, there it is in black and white.  The coveted recipe that I’ve held secret and falsely as my own.  You’ll forgive me as soon as you take your first bite!

If you can’t (for some reason unrelated to age) see the fine print in this photo, here’s the recipe.

Hot Onion Souffle

Dallas Dish, page 57

1 (12-ounce) package frozen chopped onions, thawed

1 small onion, chopped

16 ounces cream cheese, softened

2 cups (8 ounces) grated Parmesan cheese

1/2 cup mayonnaise

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Pat the frozen onions dry with a paper towel.  Combine the thawed frozen onions, 1 small chopped onion, cream cheese, parmesan and mayo in a bowl.  Mix well so there are no large clumps of cream cheese.

Spoon onion mixture into a baking dish and bake for 20-30 minutes or until heated through.  Serve with assorted party crackers.  Serves 25.

I served Hot Onion Souffle last night as an appetizer for 4 adults and 8 children.  First, it doesn’t serve 25 people.  Or at least not normal folks.  If you are serving a large crowd, this recipe doubles easy.  I always serve the dip with Carr’s Whole Wheat Crackers (which are really just thick cookies!).  But, my dear friend Mrs. Kravitz informed me last night that Carr’s crackers are too heavy for the amazing dip. She prefers tostada chips.  Husband suggested thin water crackers.  I’m not sure it really matters what you serve  with the Hot Onion Souffle.  The result will be the same: an empty bowl and full bellies.

For as many times as I’ve made and served Hot Onion Souffle, sadly I do not have any photos.  I snapped a few while I was preparing the dip yesterday, but they just don’t do the dish justice.  Here’s all I have as proof.

Two bites worth.  One for me and one for Mrs. Kravitz who will be here soon for the last bite her Littles.  We scraped the bowl last night in anticipation of the final savor today.

So what are your secret family recipes!?!?