As this year comes to a close with several weeks of festivities and the all-important gatherings that we were not able to have last year, we get ever closer to that magical day of family, laughter, and cheer. You may be thinking about what to prepare to eat for the day’s gatherings. Do you cook the same old same old or do you add a twist of fun? Invite Gordo’s and surprise the family with new twists on old favorites! 

Christmas morning can be both fun and busy. Santa’s visit leaves gifts under the tree to the squeals and delight of the kids (both young and old). Paper, bows, and ribbons will be everywhere and before you know it, the family is hungry! You will just want to savor the moment of everyone together again. Invite Gordo’s to your Christmas morning and let us help you with the final gift of the morning – Breakfast! Our Gordo’s Breakfast Casserole is easy to make and can be made ahead of time (refrigerate or freeze) and popped in the oven Christmas morning! While you are enjoying the family, let Gordo’s add to the cheer! Soon delicious smells will start to fill the house and you will “unwrap” one last gift to the family when you serve Gordo’s Breakfast Casserole.

As I have gotten older and made friends with people from all walks of life, I have found that for them Christmas day meals are centered around their ethnicity. Carrying on long traditions from family recipes of loved ones no longer with us, it is easy to jazz up the flavors and still honor those decades of memories and flavor. You can add a new flavor to traditional dishes and delight the family even more! From the great Italian Stromboli to kickin’ up the flavor in Carnita Tacos or herding in that awesome goodness in mini Shepherd Pies, Gordo’s can deliver that one last gift of the season with flavor options! Family traditions ring loud during the holiday season as Gordo’s Cheese puts new twists on old flavors making for the brightest and cheeriest of gatherings. Gordo’s Cheeses….where new twists on old traditions “melt” together! 

Breakfast Casserole

The all-important Christmas morning breakfast gift! Let Gordo’s help you deliver the best gift of flavor in our twist on the traditional Breakfast Casserole. The flavor goodness of hashbrowns and sausage cooked in fluffy eggs and the secret deliciousness of Gordo’s Cheese Dip makes this a gift that will be glad family gatherings are happening again this year!  

INGREDIENTS:

  • 6 eggs
  • 16 oz of frozen hash browns (thawed out)
  • 1 tsp salt
  • ½ tsp of pepper
  • ½ garlic powder
  • 1 ½ cups of shredded cheddar cheese
  • ¼ cup of milk
  • ¼ cup of Gordo’s mild cheese dip
  • 1 lb breakfast sausage (optional)

HOW TO PREPARE:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and brown the sausage in a separate pan. Layer the thawed hash browns on the bottom of a greased 13×9 baking dish. If you are adding sausage, evenly layer the cooked sausage over the hash browns and sprinkle the shredded cheese on top on the sausage. In a bowl, mix together the eggs, seasoning, milk, and Gordo’s Cheese Dip. Pour the egg mixture over the sausage and hash brown layers and bake for 30-35 mins until the eggs are set. If you’d like, you can also add veggies like onions, tomatoes, or spinach to the egg mixture before baking!

Once cooked, you can put the breakfast casserole in the fridge and it’ll be ready whenever you want to heat it up! You can either put the whole thing back in the oven and reheat for 10-15 minutes or cut out a piece and heat it up in the microwave for 1-2 mins.

Stromboli

The great Italian Stromboli! Loud and proud! All the cheesy goodness bursting forth between layers of ham and pepperoni but with a new take! Add a container (yes, a whole container!!!) and unwrap a new family favorite and keep the tradition going! Mamma Mia what a gift for the family with Gordo’s!

INGREDIENTS:

  • 1 tube of pre-made refrigerated pizza dough
  • 12 slices of ham
  • 15-20 slices of pepperoni
  • ½ cup of pizza sauce
  • ¾ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 1 container of Original Gordo’s Cheese Dip
  • 1 egg beaten
  • Garlic powder, parmesan, Italian blend seasoning

HOW TO PREPARE:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Lay down some parchment paper and roll out the pizza dough, stretching it into a large rectangle. Spread the pizza sauce all over the dough leaving a little room on the edges. Lay down your preferred meat, in the case it is the ham and pepperoni, and then evenly distribute the shredded cheese over the meat. Heat up some of the Gordo’s Cheese Dip. Use a spoon and drizzle as much of the delicious queso as your heart desires over the meat and cheese. Roll up the dough, like you would roll up a cinnamon roll and then pinch and fold the edges so it is sealed all the way around. Lay the seam side down and brush the top with the egg, then sprinkle garlic powder, parmesan, and the Italian seasoning over the top. Bake it in the oven for 15-20 minutes until the crust is golden brown. Serve warm with pizza sauce or more queso for dipping.

Carnitas Tacos

A fiesta in your mouth with a new take on Carnitas Tacos! As the bold flavors of cumin, chili powder, and garlic fill the air, let Gordo’s cheeses replace the shredded cheese to add a creaminess to the toppings! All the festive Mexican flavor in every bite! Viva la flavor!

INGREDIENTS:

  • 2 1/2 lbs. pork shoulder (also known as ‘pork butt’)
  • 1 tbsp. lime juice
  • 2 tsp. coarse sea salt
  • 2 tsp. ground cumin
  • 1 tsp. chili powder
  • 1 tsp. garlic powder
  • 1 tsp. oregano
  • 1 tsp. onion powder
  • 1/2 tsp. ground black pepper
  • For Tacos & Toppings:
    • Small corn tortillas
    • Gordo’s Cheese Dip (any flavor)
    • Cilantro
    • Cooked rice
    • Red onion, diced
    • Tomato, diced
    • Lime juice

HOW TO PREPARE: 

Cut pork should into large 3-4 inch chunks, removing any excess fat, and place in slow cooker. Combine remaining ingredients in slow cooker. Mix thoroughly. Cover and cook on high for 4 hours or until tender. When ready, pull apart pork with a fork. Serve on warm corn tortillas with rice and top with onions, cilantro, tomato, cheese dip and lime juice!

Mini Shepherd’s Pie

For a nod to old-world English tradition, the Shepherd Pie can be brought to the table again for a new “traditional” spin on an old dish for sure! From the golden-brown pie crust to the meats and veggies, adding Gordo’s in the topping of mashed potatoes brings a bold NEW flavor! Let Gordo’s lead your taste buds to new worlds of flavor! 

Copyright: David Kadlec / 123RF Stock Photo

INGREDIENTS:

  • Cooking spray
  • Muffin tin or 8 small porcelain ramekins (4oz)
  • 2 tbsp. all-purpose flour, plus more for prep surface
  • 1 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 large onion, chopped
  • 2 Carrots, peeled and chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 lb. ground beef
  • 1 cup frozen peas
  • 1 cup frozen/canned corn
  • 2 tbsp. butter
  • 1/2 cup low-sodium beef broth
  • 1 1/2 cups prepared mashed potatoes or Gordo’s Queso Mashed Potatoes 

HOW TO PREPARE

Preheat oven to 375º and coat the muffin tin or ramekins with cooking spray. Make beef mixture in a large skillet over medium heat, heat oil. Add onion, carrots, and garlic and cook until softened (5 min). Add ground beef and cook until no longer pink (6 min). Stir in frozen peas and corn and cook until warmed through (3 min). Move mixture to one side of skillet and melt butter in empty side. Add flour and whisk until combined and golden, 1 minute, then pour in beef broth. Combine with mixture and cook until thickened (3 min). Fill ramekins with ground beef mixture and top with a big spoonful of mashed potatoes. Broil until golden (5 min).

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