1 lb hot Jimmy Dean sausage
1 lg onion minced
1 red or green bell pepper minced
2 lbs pepper jack cheese grated
8 ounces cream cheese softened
chile powder (Penzey's Chili 9000)
fresh cilantro chopped
Crumble & sauté the sausage till quite brown. Drain well on paper towels and set aside.
Add minced onion & bell pepper to sausage grease. Cook until quite wilted.
Add to sausage, combine & set aside or refrigerate.
To build the queso fundido:
Use a 10"-12" skillet or other heavy oven-proof pan.
Place ⅓ of the grated pepperjack cheese in the bottom of the pan; top with ½ the sausage/veggie mixture; ⅓ of the cheese; remaining sausage/veggie mixture; plops of the softened cream cheese; and finally the remaining grated cheese. Pat the ingredients down a bit to even the mixture.
Sprinkle all over with a generous amount of chili powder.
May cover and refrigerate at this point.
Before baking, return to room temperature.
Bake for about 15 minutes in a preheated 400 degree oven, or until sides are a bit bubbly and center is hot and melty.
Sprinkle with fresh cilantro and serve with tortilla chips or Scoops.
If possible, keep on a warming element to serve.