Dips

I have an easy dip recipe that everyone loves.

1 package Vegetable cream cheese
1 small jar chunky tomato sauce or salsa
1 bag of shredded mexican cheese

Spread cream cheese into the bottom of a 9 x 13 casserole dish or prettier round dish around the same size. Next spread the sauce or salsa then add the shredded cheese to the top. Right before serving heat in the microwave for about 4 minutes or until melted or you can use the oven but it takes longer. Serve with Tortilla chips, I like it with the Blue corn chips but you can use whatever you prefer. Enjoy!

A friend of mine introduced me to a Buffalo Chicken Dip a few years ago... now ALL my friends are hooked! Get the canned chicken (in tuna aisle)...it's easier than baking chicken and pulling it apart. Add cream cheese, Texas Pete hot sauce, shredded cheese and bake. Also, put a layer of shredded cheese on top. Amount of ingredients depend on how big a dish you want to make, and you can season to taste. You can either serve it with fritos or tostitos.

I make a layered taco dip that is always a hit. Refried bean beans on bottom, next sour cream mixed with a packet of taco seasoning, next tomato (or I always use chunky salsa), then cheese, lettuce, black olives, scalions, or whatever else you want to put on! I like it cuz it's easy and tastes yummy too! I think I found the recipe on cooks.com or something?? There are plenty of easy ones out there.

I LOVE taco dip! You put refried beans on a dish then put "taco toppings" on top. The most frequent one I've seen is:

-refried beans
-cheese
-lettuce
-tomatoes
-black olives
-taco seasoning
-sour cream
-more shredded cheese

You can add or subtract to that (I have also seen it with black beans and meat added), but I figure it gives you something to work with. Also, if you have any sort of deep fryer, my friend makes homemade tortilla chips. They are cheap (you just buy tortillas and cut them to chip size and add a little salt), and take no time at all (we have made hundreds of chips in less than 30 minutes). They would be a really great "add-on" to the dip and make it seem like you took a lot of time to make it!

P.S. I looked at Mel's dip and realized I make a similar one that doesn't include peppers. Mine is just one can black eyed peas (strained), one can diced tomatoes (unstrained), one can of sweet corn (half-strained), and a little bit of Italian dressing (maybe 2 TBS). It is simple yet SO good. If you have Fritos, it is even better on them!!!

I don't even know what it is called but here it go....

Get a casserole dish and layer cream cheese on the bottom of it. Then you add pizza sauce or I have even used Ragu Spag. Sauce as well. Then you just layer everyones favorites such as pepperoni, Black Olives, Onions, Green Peppers the list could go on and top it off with some shredded cheese. Pop it in the oven until the cheese melts on top and you are done. I will usually serve with the scoopable fritos. Y.u.m.m.y!!

I love making dips!

7 Layer Bean dip is always a fav! In a rectangle glass casserole or tin.
Layer refried beans
La Victoria med taco sauce
Sour cream (tip: drop spoonfuls of it all over and then spread it and dont worry about how it looks so much as it will be covered with other ingredients. You can also add an envelope of taco meat seasoning to the sour cream before spreading)
Sprinkle shredded cheddar/jack mix
Chopped green onion, mostly for color
Chopped black olives
Chopped tomato (if you use a chunky salsa like Pace you can skip this)
You can do a layer of guacamole after the beans also.
It looks great, filling, but can be pricey.

If you have a Crocpot, warm 2 packets of cream cheese (cut it up so it softens faster), 2 cans of chili no beans, jar of your favorite chuncky salsa and serve warm with tortilla chips. You can serve them nacho style also.

I also like to use Pampered Chef seasonings or anything herb-like you can find in sour cream and serve with pretzel sticks for a change.

I know you asked about dip....but, just in case, you COULD take my cream cheese stuffed jalapenos....just to knock their socks off!!!!
Peopls that invite us over (my husbands collegues) always seem to "ask", "is your wife making those jalapeno's!?!" I think its the only reason WHY we are asked!!!! hahaha ;)

1 8oz Pkg Philly Origanal cream cheese. (softened)
1 (26oz) can of whole jalapenos, sliced in half and de-seeded
2 T dehydrated chives
1 T chopped pimentos
1/4 C mayo (Hellmans Real mayo)

* In mixing bowl, with blender, mix all ingrediants, except jalapenos of course, until light and fluffy.
* put it in the fridge for and hour or so to harden. (I do this while I am slicing and de-seeding the jalapenos)
* fill jalapeno halves with the mixture. (I do this with just a regular spoon...have a wet towel for your fingers on this one)
* place on a serving platter and chill till the party!!!!!

I promise you...everbody lives those things!!!! Its just a little different than the standard old chips and salsa.

I can't tell you how many times I've been asked for this recipe. It has some kick to it, but it's awesome!

* 2 cans mexicorn, drained
* 1 can hot Rotel, drain but save the juice (If you want it hotter, you can add some juice... a little goes a long way so be careful. I don't usually add any and it's still kickin' enough for us.)
* 1 C. sour cream
* 1 C. real mayo (sorry, no Miracle Whip)
* 1 bunch green onions, chopped
* 1 C. shredded cheddar cheese
* pinch of sugar

Combine all ingredients. Chill for at least 4 hours and serve.

I am addicted to this stuff... Cream Cheese, Sausage and Rotel. It is fabulous. I usually use two cream cheeses, one can of rotel and one sausage. It is good with chips, especially potato, and even good on tortillas. Just cook the sausage, then add the cream cheese and rotel until melted.

I know it's a little late to be ordering something for the weekend, but for future reference you should check out the "Tastefully Simple" line of dips. They're awesome. Just look it up online to find a consultant near you.

____________________________________________________________

I had to grab my recipe book and come back. I have a recipe for an awesome spinach dip that is a classic in our family. Someone ALWAYS brings it, and it's always gone faster than you can blink. Here it is:

Combine the following:

2c sour cream
1pkg dry vegetable soup mix (like Lipton or Knorr)
10oz frozen thawed spinach, squeezed dry
1 can sliced water chestnuts, chopped
2 green onions, chopped

Mix well and refridgerate over night (to allow veggie soup mix dehydrated bits to soften in sour cream). Most people serve this in a hollowed out sour dough round loaf and eat it with the pulled out bits of sour dough, but you can serve it in a pretty bowl and eat it with wheat thins and it's just as delicious.

ALSO, here's a mexican dip that is delicious, especially with corn chips:

1c sour cream
3oz cream cheese
16oz refried beans
1/2c picante sauce
2tsp chili powder
1/2tsp cumin

Blend together in a large bowl and top with 2c grated cheese.

ALSO, a good pesto is fantastic with french bread to dip in it. Here's a recipe for a pesto:

2c freshly washed basil leaves, patted dry
4lg cloves garlic
1c pine nuts (available near the walnuts in the baking aisle)
1c EVOO
1/4c grated romano cheese
salt and pepper to taste

Mix together in a food processor and serve with crackers or bread.

We like a good cheese dip with velveta, rotel tomatos, and to spice it up, I put in cooked ground sausage.

Black Eyed Pea Dip (I know, I know....I don't like them either, but this is YUMM-O!!!! I promise!!!!)

2 cans black eyed peas (drained)
1 can white shoepeg corn (drained)
1 can original Rotel (drained)
1 green bell pepper (diced)
1 bunch green onions (diced)
1 small bottle Italian dressing

Combine all ingredients in large bowl and refrigerate for at least 6hrs before serving. I usually make it the night before to allow enough time for the flavors to marinate together. Serve with tortilla chips.

For large groups, I usually double the recipe above. Also...there are MANY different variations you could do. If you like more kick, use the hot version of the Rotel. You could also add black beans or even jalapenos. You really can't mess this one up. Enjoy!!! It's also a big secret that this is a healthy dip, too!! =0) It's cool and refreshing and extremely addictive. Have the recipe handy because I swear to you.......EVERYONE will want it!

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/wh...

this one is great and super easy

try bbq sauce with a dry ranch packet. mixed and chill it's what Texas Roadhouse restaurant uses its really addictive.

This one is super simple and someone in the family always brings it.
We really like it though.

1 container sour cream
1 can tuna in water, drained
1 pack of Liptons onion soup mix

Stir the contents. Grate cheddar, monterey jack or pepper jack cheese
and sprinkle on top then chill. Blend gently before serving. It's really good!

Guacamole is another one you almost can't go wrong with and they make seasoning packs for it. Avocado, seasoning, some lemon or lime juice....
wonderful!

The 7 layer dip IS awesome (I'm addicted to it also) but if you want something SUPER SUPER easy.....

4 pkgs cream cheese (you can also use light or low fat)
1 jar (the bigger size) of medium (or whatever hotness you want) salsa (you can add a little more as needed)
blend with a hand mixer on almost high setting (it might be easier if the cream cheese is left out to get to room temp)
Add one pkg of mexican style shredded cheese and stir in with a spoon
Refridgerate so it thickens a little
DONE!!!
Goes GREAT with nacho chips and keeps really well in the sun and hot weather (whereas stuff with sour cream tends to get watery).

This will actually keep for as long as a week in the fridge with no problem, but I doubt there will be much left at the end of the night. This stuff is also VERY addictive.

I keep cream cheese and salsa and chips on hand at all times (since none of them expire very quickly) and can whip this up in 10 minutes flat when friends stop by. Almost anyone will like this (vs some not liking certain layers of the seven layer dip)

Sort of a dip, but delicious and super easy!

1 block of cream cheese, room temperature
jar of jelly--I like jalepeno jelly or green pepper jelly (in the jelly aisle with the PB&J).

Put the cream cheese on a plate, spread some of the jelly over the top (may need to warm jelly a little bit to spread more easily) and serve with crackers.

Hey!
I have used a "go to" dip and everyone seems to love it. It is called Black Bean Salsa Dip. Use two cans black beans (drained), two cans corn (drained), one medium red onion (diced), one medium/large tomato or 2-3 roma tomatoes (diced), and a bunch of cilantro (diced). Mix together in a bowl and add the juice of 1-2 limes (to taste). That's it! Cheap, simple, and good. Just need to get whatever tortilla chips you like.
And, I've used one more. Take a 16 oz containger of sour cream and mix with 1-2 taco seasoning packets and 1/2-1 jar of salsa. Top with shredded cheese (whatever kind you like). Really quick and simple and almost addictive.
Good luck and have a great, safe weekend!