Tex-Mex Chile Con Queso - cooking recipe

Ingredients

4 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup unsifted all-purpose flour
2 cups whole milk (though 2% will do in a pinch)
3/4 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 (8 ounce) can mild green chilies, drained
1 -4 jalapenos or 1 -4 chipotle chile, depending on desired heat level
1/2 medium yellow onion, finely chopped (preferably a Vidalia if you can get them)
2 -3 garlic cloves, depending on size, minced
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
8 8 ounces asadero cheese or 8 ounces white cheddar cheese, shredded
1 pinch salt and pepper, to taste

Preparation

Saute onions in olive oil with a pinch of salt and pepper over medium-low heat for 8-10 minutes, stirring frequently, until they begin to brown. Add garlic cloves and cook an additional 1-2 minutes until garlic becomes translucent. Set aside.
Now, a critical step. We're going to prepare a roux, and if you screw this up, your dip either won't thicken properly or will have a funky grainy texture. So, be careful. In a 2 qt saucepan, melt butter gently over low heat. We don't want the butter to brown, so just be patient and melt it slowly. Add your flour, turn the heat up just a smidge until the roux begins to bubble ever so slightly, and using a whisk stir constantly for about a minute.
Next, add about a half cup of milk and continue whisking until the roux is fully incorporated and dissolved. Add the rest of your milk and continue whisking, now over medium-low to medium heat, for about 8-10 minutes until your mixture thickens nicely.
Back the heat down a hair. Add your chipotles or jalepenos, about half the cumin, the onion and garlic mixture, the mild green chiles. Stir to thoroughly incorporate and heat through. Add a pinch of salt and pepper.
Now to add the cheese: Don't add it all at once, otherwise it won't melt properly and you'll wind up with a grainy, stringy mess. Instead, add a small handful and stir until that bit is fully melted. Repeat this process until you've fully incorporated all your cheese and your concoction is thick and creamy.
Finally, you can adjust the seasonings to your liking. Not smoky enough? Add more cumin. Not enough heat? You can add another chipotle/jalepeno or you can cheat and just add a few drops of your favorite hot sauce. Serve immediately as a side for quesadillas, a topping for enchiladas, or simply with some warm tortilla chips as a party dip.