Friday, May 29, 2009

Just one of the many reasons I will always live in the South


Do they really not have Rotel in the north????
I've had several of you ask me what it is????

http://www.ro-tel.com/index.jsp

We use this in everything. Melt a block of velveeta and a can of rotel and you have the best cheese dip. It goes in tons of casseroles. Please tell me you don't have to live without it! :-)

113 comments:

  1. I know what you mean, Kelly. I use it all the time. There are so many dishes that we just couldn't do without Rotel. I use mild, because I don't like it too hot. This Texas weather is usually hot enough!!! LOL

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  2. Kelly - your recipes sound delicious! I am going to try them asap!! What could I use in place of the Rotel - I live in Michigan and have not ever seen it in a store!
    Thanks for all you share!
    Hugs from Michigan

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  3. I Live in northeast Indiana and we have rotel. I know we have it at our Kroger, and almost positive Walmart carries it too! I've only made a few recipes that call for it in the past. I'm going to have to try the velveeta with it. I have a friend from Arkansas and I know she uses it a lot! Gotta love you southern cooks! Keep those recipes coming!!
    Rhiannon in Indiana

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  4. I live in Michigan and have bought it several times. In fact there is a can in my cupboard at the moment. Walmart, Meijer, Family Fare, etc. carry it for Michiganders who were wondering. It's usually by the tomatoes rather than the Ethnic section.

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  5. I can't believe that people have to live without Rotel! I use it in a lot of recipes, including cheese dip and Chicken Dorito Casserole!

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  6. The Midwest has Rotel. Aldi even carries their own version of it (I really can't tell a difference between the two). I think a lot of people just haven't heard of it, or don't know where to look for it at the store.

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  7. Our stores have it in the northeast.

    I know God doesn't make mistakes, but I think I was supposed to be born in the south. There's nothing about the south (food, location, weather, etc.) that I don't love!!

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  8. LOVE Ro-Tel. Just used it last night in my chili!

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  9. We have it in Connecticut but I've had a hard time finding it at times. It is hard to find true Mexican queso at restaurants (with white cheese of course).

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  10. Well I live in Ohio and we have it here. It would be a shame if anyone had to live without it. I buy it at Sam's Club and use it in tons of recipes! So good!

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  11. I live in Illinois and use it all the time.

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  12. we have it in Oregon Kelly! It's good melted in cheese.

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  13. We have it in Washington state... although it can be difficult to actually find on the shelf and most people don't know about it! :)

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  14. we currently live in ohio (but our family lives in the south) and yes we do have rotel, in fact we have several different brands that make this mix of chiles and tomatoes.

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  15. We live in northern Illinois and I use Ro-tel frequently. GREAT stuff.

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  16. Hi Kelly! On the east coast we have it here in Maryland (guess we are sorta north?) :)

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  17. I honestly had not heard of it here in Ca., but we do have the same thing, just with a different name. It's usually diced toms and you can buy them with herbs, garlic, green chilies or who knows what else. Don't worry, we're not so deprived out here. ;)

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  18. Hi Kelly! Just wanted to tell you quick that they sell Rotel in the North! I live in N. Wisconsin and every grocery store I've ever shopped in carries it. Gotta have Rotel in your cheese dip! lol

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  19. We have it in Chicago!! (Actually, NW Indiana, but I'm sure they have it in Chicago too!)

    Ditto on the Velveeta + Rotel. YUM!!! Add 1/2 lb. of browned and drained pork sausage for an added bonus!

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  20. I live in Canada, and I have never heard of Rotel!

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  21. don't worry. us good ole southern girls can mail you cans!

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  22. Kelly, love your recipes! Funny enough my husband and I once had a discussion about Rotel when we were still dating. I'd never heard of it, but he and his family love it and mix it with Velveeta to make "Rotel dip." He's originally from Missouri. Turns out we have Rotel where I am from in Indiana and where we live now in Nevada. I think some of us just don't know what it is!

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  23. rotel is very different than the flavored diced tomatoes. We are in UT, we have both. Rotel has a REAL kick to it. Spicy!

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  24. Rotel is the best! Thankfully, I live in the south!

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  25. They don't have this up North? Seriously? Rotel dip (Rotel and Velveeta with sausage in it) is probably in my top 5 favorite foods list. I couldn't live without it!

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  26. I live in Iowa and all of the grocery stores carry it. It's very common here.

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  27. I had to google it the first time I saw it in one of your recipes and have had to use a similar substitute! I live near Salt Lake City and have never seen it - and I've been on the hunt for it for months!

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  28. Yes, we do have to live without it. But that's OK. :)

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  29. I live in Missouri, and we have it. Stores carry generic versions, too. I had no idea that other people didn't have Rotel until I posted a recipe on my blog and a Canadian reader asked what it was. So now I know to say "diced tomatoes with chilies" instead!

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  30. i am from indiana. and YES they have Rotel in the North! I have made the cheese dip with it many times up there! So sorry. there is Rotel in the Northern states. yeah! but now i live in Florida and still use rotel..lately in a spinach dip!

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  31. For those of you who don't have Rotel, all it is is diced tomatoes and green chiles, which you can also buy sperately in can. The chiles are usually with the mexican type foods (taco seasoning, salsa, enchilada sauce etc.) in the store. I am from the south but actually don't care for Rotel too much (don't deport me up north now, ya hear? lol) so I just sub a can of my fave diced tomatoes (the italian style with garlic, onion, and oregano) instead.

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  32. Take that block of velveeta, that can of Ro-Tel, and add a package of (browned) Jimmy Dean sausage and you will thank me! It is delicious!! Hamburger meat also works, but it's not near as tasty as the sausage.

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  33. I love in Northern CA and we do not have rotel, but I really wish we did, because that dip sounds amazig!

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  34. Well I live a little bit north of you and yes we have RoTel. Plus MckMama lives north of me and she talks about RoTel all the time!! she makes great things with it besides cheese dip.

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  35. Use 2 blocks of melted Regular Philly Cream Cheese, 1 can Rotel (I drain the juice) and 1/2 to 1 lb (your preference) of crumbled, cooked sausage (I use Bob Evans). Stir all together... WAY BETTER than Velveeta dip. This stuff is a hit at all my parties.
    Julie in Cincinnati

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  36. Huge fan of the Rotel/Cheese Dip! I like to add sausage and hamburger meat to mine. Yum! Here is another recipe that I "borrowed" from Glam Housewife. I haven't tried it yet but it looks yummy!

    http://glamlifehousewife.blogspot.com/search?q=rotel

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  37. I've been wondering what that is, thanks for clarifying! I'm in CA and was like, "what the heck is Rotel???" I love to cook and seeing your recipes is so much fun, keep posting them!

    -Jennie in CA

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  38. Oh girl! Anytime rotel tomatoes are on sale I STOCK UP!!! There are at least 10 cans on my pantry shelf right now and I use them in A LOT of dishes!!!

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  39. I'm from Michigan and have lived in Boston and never saw Rotel (ok, never LOOKED for it I guess) until I went to go shopping at Kroger for ingredients to your chicken recipe today and decided to use diced tomatoes with jalapenos instead...as I was looking for those, I found four cans of Rotel!!!! WAHOO!!!!

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  40. Hi Kelly. Yes, we have Rotel in the north. If people don't know what it is they are so missing out. I am simple and love just mixing it with cheese sauce. I know it may be gross to some, but Rotel mixed in with melted Velveeta is absolutely the best. :)

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  41. Use it ALL the time. We live in Alabama (WAR EAGLE!!!) I can't believe some people dont use this or know what it is. We always have several cans in stock - just in case! :)

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  42. Is Missouri in the North?? :-) We have it here and couldn't do without it!

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  43. I wish they would sell rotel here in DR :(

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  44. I grew up in Syracuse, NY and we have Rotel! That is pretty far north so I am not sure where it is that they don't have it....
    I love it with velveeta too! Think I may have to make a little of that today now:)

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  45. I had to google it to find out what it was! I'm from Pittsburgh and we do have it in our stores, I just have never used it before! Now I will because your recipes sound yummy!

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  46. I don't know why people in Utah can't find it! It is available in every store around here. It is down the vegetable aisle by the canned tomatoes. Western Family brand makes a version of it also. Just look harder people! Also, every grocery store has request forms that you can ask them to get in an item they don't carry!
    Stephanie in UT

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  47. I'm live in a suburb an hour outside of Vancouver, British Columbia in Canada and cannot find it anywhere. And sadly, a tiny can of green chiles cost about $2.50 so isn't an ingredient I think about using freely.

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  48. Great news for all of you that cannot find Ro-Tel in your local grocery store....you can buy Ro-Tel on Amazon!!!

    http://www.amazon.com/Rotel-Tomato-Green-Chilies-10-Ounce/dp/B000H151LA

    How awesome is that! If you have never tried it, you need to! Kelly is right...we put it in EVERYTHING! : )

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  49. Hi Kelly - I've never heard of Rotel before. But I do make King Ranch Chicken the same way you do, just using a jar of salsa! We also use salsa in place of rotel in the chip dip you mentioned. Delish! I grew up in Pennsylvania and now I live in NH.

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  50. I live in Michigan and we do have Rotel. They sell it at Kroger, Meijer and Wal Mart. (just a fyi for the people who haven't heard of it or haven't seen it in Michigan!)
    xoxo
    Melissa

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  51. There is no Rotel in Canada. I was stumped as to what it was when I came across it in a recipe. Had to make a trip to the states to get it!

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  52. I know that McKmama uses it up in the frozen tundra, you can usually find it with the tomato paste!!!!

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  53. I love RoTel. We have it & I am in NJ.
    I can usually get it at Walmart, Target & Shop Rite. :>)

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  54. I had no idea what it was until I looked for it at our local Kroger's grocery store. We have it in Ohio and I've used it!!!

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  55. I live in Minnesota and we also have Rotel in our stores! I had not heard of it until a few years ago, but now I use it in my chili and it is awesome!!

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  56. I live in Utah and we have Rotel. I have a killer guacamole like dip that I use it in. It is soooo yummy!

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  57. hi, I was just passing by and I clicked on your web page as it was on a friend of ours page, I fine your post funny, yes we have it in the "North", we live here in Iowa, and yes we got it, I use it on taco's, so we do have it in Iowa, at a store called Fareway, and the Walmart Supercenter also has it. Take Care !

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  58. I never heard of Rotel before I moved to Texas. I lived in California. There were similar things, but there is nothing that beats Rotel. I love it and use it ALL the time. I buy it in bulk at Sam's Club! ha!

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  59. ok so last week i tried the king ranch chicken, huge hit! then last night i did the rotel with velveeta for like a pre dinenr snack and it was a huge hit! keep those rotel recipe's coming... my husband doesn't do spicy food at all i have to beg him to eat anything mexican but he gobbles this stuff up!! thanks Kelly!

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  60. I'm in West Virginia and we have it!!

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  61. Kelly, I've been reading your blog (all of them) for some time now. I'm a southern girl (born in Texas, raised in southern AR) and now I'm living in Vancouver, BC. I can honestly tell you that these folks in the north do not have a clue what Rotel is. They've never even heard of Rotel Dip...I know, it's heartbreaking and such a shame. I miss the Rotel. The only way I can get my hands on it is if I ask my mama to pack it into her suitcase (right next to the cornbread mix) when she comes for a visit!

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  62. I am from Pittsburgh and we do not have it. I had NO idea what you meant when you said can of Rotel - now that I know...there are other brands that make diced tomatoes and chilies that I can ude instead I assume?
    Thanks for such an awesome blog!

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  63. We have it in WI! Well, most everywhere. I have been at stores that don't specifically have Rotel, but they at least have some kind of tomatoes with chilies.

    If anyone reads MckMama's blog, she wrote a funny post about Rotel a while back.

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  64. Florida is covered in the Rotel department : )

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  65. We use it ALL the time. I love the stuff. I grew up in Alaska and we had it there. Now I live in Colorado and we have it here as well. My husband never heard of it until he met me and my cooking.

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  66. I live in Ohio and we have it. I love it over cream cheese with black beans. Yum!

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  67. THey have Rotel in the North but you have to look for it. When this southern girl moved up north and asked where the rotel was, I got a blank stare. I turned many people onto rotel!!!

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  68. I live in New Jersey and I know what it is. I find it in Wal-Mart.

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  69. As an ex-NYC'er you will be happy to know that they do carry Rotel at the D'Agostino's (grocery store) there! MMM yum! I think we use it differently down south though. Either way it's still good!

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  70. After reading this yesterday I went straight to Wal Mart after work and got rotel, Velveeta and sausage and made a yummy dip! I have always loved Rotel but have not had it in a while...after reading all the comments yesterday, a strong craving kicked in!! Love your blog!!

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  71. We have Rotel here in Southeastern Connecticut! We use it in a yummy recipe called Taco Soup. And I just made the King Ranch Chicken this week and it was delicious! I actually made two and put one in the freezer. With four little kids, a 9 week old being the youngest, these easy no fuss meals are just what I need!! Thanks so much. The kids are begging for me to make the Dirt Cake now. Jen in CT.

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  72. I live in Fargo, ND, and I've got 2 cans of rotel in my cupboard right now. So, yes, we do have it even way up north!!

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  73. Here's another version of "Rotel Dip" that my family calls "Good Dip". Take a can of Rotel, a can of Cream of Mushroom Soup, a block of Velvetta, and a pound of cooked sausage and let it all melt together in a crock pot! YUMMY!!!

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  74. LOL! I was joking with Veronica the other day that I'm going to send her a can of Rotel in the mail because she didn't know what it was in CA either. I had no idea it was only in the South!

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  75. Kelly,

    Kristin just sent me an email with a link to this post. I've been to your recipe blog before but haven't been back in a while. When Kristin emailed me the link to this post, I headed over this way and laughed when I first saw the can of Rotel. What's so funny is that I had no clue what Rotel was so one day when we were talking on the phone, I asked her if she could tell me what it was. She thought it was crazy that I had no clue what it was. Anyhow...here in CA we do not have Rotel although we do have other brands of diced tomatoes with chilies. Kristin always threatens to send me a can of Rotel one of these days. Maybe I should take her up on the offer, LOL!!!

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  76. I agree with all the other Northerners - there is plenty of Ro-tel in the North!

    I make the same queso you do, except I add browned & drained Jimmy Dean sausage. It's amazing!

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  77. I agree with all the other Northerners - there is plenty of Ro-tel in the North!

    I make the same queso you do, except I add browned & drained Jimmy Dean sausage. It's amazing!

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  78. yep we have it in michigan (kroger stores)!

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  79. Hi Kelly!!! I live in California and I DO buy Rotel all the time. I don't know why no one else in CA can't find it. I tried your King Ranch Chicken recipe and it was great. I shared it with a couple of my friends. I love your blogs and am looking forward to your next recipe. By the way...all you ladies in CA....I buy Rotel at Ralph's market. :)

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  80. I know Jamaica does not have it because when we went down there on a mission trip we had to take some to my parents (who live there as missionaries) It was fun packing and making sure we took the roltel with us so we didn't get in trouble!!

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  81. it's true only people in the south know about rotel dip. I moved from TN to OH and they all look at me like I am crazy when i talk about it. We even had a "southern food" cookout last year on the 4th and had all southern food. It was GREAT!! I miss the south soo much!! One of the many reasons why i love your blog!!
    Jane

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  82. I live in Michigan and just saw this product in a DOllar General near my home. I will have to try it out!!

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  83. Hi Kelly. I have been reading both blogs for quite some time, but recently, within the past 2-3 weeks, I cannot get onto your Kelly's Corner blog. Everytime I try it comes up with an error message. My brother said maybe the webpage has a virus. Has anyone else had any trouble accessing it? I really miss reading your blog.

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  84. I usually take a can or two whenever we vacation. I haven't often found it in Colorado, New Mexico (!!!), California....so I learned my lesson and travel with it:) It may go along with the grits in my suitcase

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  85. Yes, Rotel is very much enjoyed (and easily found!) here in Cincinnati, Ohio! Like you, I find many uses, and it always turns out fabulous!

    My latest discovery was putting Rotel in my Stuffed Pepper recipe (which only suggests using 14.5oz chopped tomatoes). This has now become a fav among my family and friends ... and it's all due to one simple ingredient - Rotel!

    :o)

    Would be happy to share this recipe, if you're interested!


    micheller@cinci.rr.com

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  86. You can also add some browned ground beef to that and it's REALLY good as well!!!

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  87. I don't know if you have every tried this Rotel recipe but I had to share because people go crazy for it.

    16 oz cream cheese
    1 roll of mild sausage
    1 can Rotel

    Brown the sausage. Add the cream cheese until melted. Add Rotel and serve with tortilla chips. How can you go wrong with cream cheese and Rotel :)

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  88. Time for another recipe! :-) How about something for a BBQ? Side..dessert. mmmm.

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  89. I agree with the best dip is

    block of cream cheese

    roll of ground sausage..i like the hot kind (cook it first of course)

    and 1 can rotel..... it is AMAZING and way better then the one with velvetta.

    I was born and raised in SC and now live in Italy with my husband because of the Air Force. I am so glad we have the commissary because i am pretty sure the Italians would look at me like i am crazy if i asked for rotel!

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  90. That's funny! When I lived in Louisville I met some people who had never had rotel dip! What's up with that??

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  91. I'm so glad I came across your blog! Your recipes look amazing. I'm gonna try the Mexican one (the chicken and tortillas recipe) this weekend!

    Blessings,
    Beth E

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  92. P.S. How can I follow this blog? I didn't see a "follow" button on your page anywhere. Thanks

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  93. I've lived in southern Indiana and now Western Kentucky and have always seen Rotel in the stores. I get mine at either Walmart or Kroger.

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  94. I live in Michigan. We definitely have Rotel up here. I buy it all the time. Sounds like a rumor someone started to make the South sound cooler than us :)

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  95. From North Dakota and we have rotel in almost every grocery store!!

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  96. We have it in Minnesota. I have to admit I've never had it though. The Velveeta dip sounds heavenly though.

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  97. I'm in New York and my mom used to live in Michigan and she was the one that introduced me to Rotel tomatoes so you CAN get them up here ... they can be hard to find though and may not be at all stores. Try WalMart. I love Rotel in my white chicken chili!!

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  98. LOve RO-Tel here in Alabama too!!

    I really enjoy reading your blog daily, but for some reason my internet cannot support your blog and it shuts me down. If you know anything about it or how I can fix it I really would appreciate. I love watching Harper grow.

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  99. I can't believe how many people have never even heard of rotel. I'm just shocked.

    Queso dip is considered a meal in our house (LOL) and we have it at every party. :)

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  100. Thank you for posting this! I live in Northern Va. and people think I'm absolutely nuts with this recipe! We usued to always have it at the pool because of my mom! Both of my parents are from North Carolina, so we've always loved the southern taste! Good stuff, lady! :)

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  101. Too funny...I mentioned Rotel on my blog about a year ago, and I got a million emails asking what it was!!!! Haha! I didn't realize that folks up north don't have it or use it.

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  102. Love Ro-tel, I agree with some of the other girls velvetta with jimmy dean sausage is the best cheese dip!

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  103. I'm from Massachusetts and we definitely have Rotel! I always have a can or two on hand. No worries.

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  104. Yeah! I just found a can of Rotel the other day up here in New Hampshire! Now I just need some good recipes to use with it!!!

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  105. Kelly you can get Rotel at the Walmart in Calais Maine I just bought some last week. Not sure if they sell it at all the Walmart stores.
    I will have to try some of the recipe ideas.
    alma

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  106. My daughter learned in college to substitute 2 8 oz pkgs of cream cheese for the velveeta and add some browned ground beef to this and serve warm. She says it is slap-yo-granny good

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  107. I live in South Dakota and we use Rotel all the time. Have you tried the rotel that has celantro and lime! Also very good.

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  108. We just don't use it as much here in Michigan but I get coupons for it all of the time. Are there some health benefits to this mysterious mixture? Or does it just taste good?

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  109. Just came across your recipe site. I have that exact can in my pantry right this minute. Bought it last week in my local Albertson's store. I live in the Pacific Northwest.(Seattle area)

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  110. I use Rotel a lot too. I mix it with Cream Cheese and Bob Evans sausage (White Package) We call it Rotel dip and everyone loves it... If you want to keep the guys in one room while you talk crafts, Vera Bradley or Twilight throw a bowl in with them and they won't say a word for hours.

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