My family gets together for hot summer fun days throughout the warm months of June, July, and August.  You can bet your bottom dollar there will be water balloon fights involved, swimming, and lots of laughter.  The food is always the main highlight of the gathering with an assortment of everyone’s favorite dishes… a smorgasbord if you will.  We have to make sure to have salsa and chips for my Mom, cheeseburgers for the kids, macaroni salad for my Aunts, bar-b-qued ribs for my Uncles, and THE MUST HAVE  for everyone else (me included) is the classic chili dog.  Of course I make my own version of a classic chili dog, and my twist is adding flavorful RO*TEL.

You start off with an exquisite pot of chili beans.  I make mine simple and ultra tasty, with only 5 ingredients.  It’s the RO*TEL that gives them that burst of zesty flavor that makes you lick your chops and eat like there is no tomorrow.  They’re so good you serve them on top of your hot-dogs and serve a little bowl on the side for more chili bean goodness.  I look forward to my summer, getting splashed by the kids in the pool, dodging water balloons, spending quality time with my family and eating chili dogs!

Last one in is a rotten egg!

Ingredients for turkey chorizo chili:

1 – package pork chorizo (casing removed and cooked)

1/2 – cup chopped onion

1 – pound ground turkey (cooked)

5 – cups cooked pinto beans

1 – can RO*TEL (mild)

In a medium sized pot over a medium flame add chorizo and onions and saute for a minute or so.  Then add in cooked turkey meat.  Mix well.  Add in cooked pinto beans, and entire can of mild RO*TEL.  Mix well and allow for mixture to get hot.

Try to resist eating the entire pot…. you still have dogs to grill.  Take a few frankfurters and slice them with a knife, here and there adding some slits.  Then throw them on a hot grill and cook till they are to your liking.  I like mine slightly charred.

Place your warm frankfurter in a bun and top with turkey chorizo chili beans for the best chili dogs ever!

Garnish with cheddar cheese and onions…. Mmmmm my mouth is watering.

Here’s a picture of the “Chili Dog Vulture”… Identify him now and be on the look out, he may show up the next time you are enjoying a chili dog made with RO*TEL and snag your plate. 🙂

All photos taken by: Nicole Presley and Mando Lopez

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post.  The recipe and all opinions are my own.

I hear the word ‘party’ and my eyes light up.  I don’t need a reason to celebrate, something as easy as a game day with some friends is reason enough for me.  I instantly go into food mode, start craving all the fiesta foods that are not usually on the table.  Dishes that only a celebration can bring on.  Stuff that is reserved for a small serving but at a party can be a divine indulgence.  Now it’s an absolute necessity to have a party…. Let’s Spring into Summer with a game day.

Food: I wanted something easy to prepare and could be left on the table for the guests to help themselves.  In order to invite some zesty-ness into the menu I would have to use my beloved RO*TEL.  The vine ripened red tomatoes blended with green chiles and a savory mixture of spices always brings out the PUNCH in dishes.  I knew it would knock the socks off my guests.  I decided to make mini shredded beef tostada bites, creamy cheesy corn dip, and turkey chorizo chili beans to top our hot dogs off with!  The bounty of finger foods was a SMASH!

Ingredients for mini shredded beef tostada bites:

3 – tablespoons olive oil

1/2 – teaspoon chipotle powder

1/2 – teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 – teaspoon salt

1/4 – teaspoon black pepper

24 – mini corn tortillas

5 – cups shredded beef (I cooked a small roast in a crock pot, then shredded it)

fresh lime juice from 2 limes

salt and pepper to taste

2 – cans of original RO*TEL (drained)

Preheat oven to 375  degrees fahrenheit.

In a small bowl combine olive oil, chipotle powder, garlic powder, salt and black pepper.  Then take a corn tortilla and lightly brush with oil mixture. Place in a muffin pan, and continue till all are done. Bake in oven for 15 to 17 minutes or until crisp.  Set to the side.

Then in a dish combine shredded beef, lime juice, salt, pepper and RO*TEL. Mix well and serve with tostada cups. Top with cheddar cheese or guacamole.

And the guests were hungry… After a long day of playing horse shoes and cards we were ready to eat.  Some of my friends had never tried RO*TEL before and were surely happy to discover it. 🙂

Would you like to have a game day with friends and RO*TEL snacks yourself?  I have a gift set for two lucky readers.

• Two cans of RO*TEL Diced Tomatoes & Green Chiles
• Recipe Cards
• Chip-and-dip serving bowl
• Green chili string lights
• Outdoor game set

How to win the Summer Party Kit:

Like Presley’s Pantry on Facebook!

Follow Presley’s Pantry on Twitter!

Like RO*TEL on Facebook!

Tweet:  I just entered to WIN a @ro_tel Summer party kit via @PresleysPantry !  Wanna win one? Enter here! #FiestaROTEL http://wp.me/p1mJLS-1cW

You can have up to 4 total entries each; however, please note that you have to comment back and let me know which of the actions you took, so that I can keep track of them.

Open to U.S. Residents only.  No PO Boxes, please. Must be 18 years or older to enter.  Contest ends May 31, 2012 at 11:59 PM, PST and two (2) winners will be randomly chosen from all entries through random.org.

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post.  All opinions and recipe are my own.