Diptacular 2009

Yesterday when BooMama blogged about getting ready for college football and all of the fun and food (especially dip) that comes with it, I got about as giddy as a kid on Christmas. I'm serious, y'all. The start of college football means a lot of different things. It means that fall is fast approaching, which is my very favorite time of year. It means that pretty soon, we are going to be pulling out the long sleeve shirts and blankets and pumpkin decorations! We'll get to have fires and drink cider and go on hay rides. Oh, I just can't wait! But, before we get to all that...we get to college football. And all the tailgating, screaming, cheering, and eating that comes with it! Oh, the eating.

I have searched high and low for some of my favorite dip recipes to share with y'all and believe me - you and your guests will thank me. These are some great ones. If you haven't tried them, you really are missing out. If you have already tried them, make them again - you know how good they are!

Sausage Cheese Dip

Ingredients:

• 1 box of velveeta
• 1 roll of Jimmy Dean sausage
• 1 can of Ro-Tel tomatoes

Directions:

1. Brown sausage in a skillet and drain the grease off.
2. Cut up the Velveeta cheese into small cubes.
3. Put sausage, cheese and can of ro-tel tomatoes (undrained) into your crockpot on low.
4. After the cheese is completely melted, stir to incorporate.
5. Then, I turn the crockpot on “keep warm” and just keep an eye on it.

I normally use mild sausage and regular ro-tel. It has a little kick, but its not so hot you can’t enjoy it. Serve with tortilla chips.

This is my favorite dip! We have it for every occasion in our house. We make it on game/race day. We make it for Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, birthdays or just because. It's easy and delicious and if you've never made it - you have to now!

Touchdown Taco Dip

Ingredients:

• 1 can refried beans
• 1 package cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup sour cream
• 2 tbsp Pampered Chef Southwestern Seasoning Mix (red pepper, onion, garlic)
• 2 garlic cloves, pressed
• ½ cup grated cheddar cheese Optional toppings such as diced tomatoes, thinly sliced green onions, sliced pitted ripe olives, snipped fresh cilantro or additional sour cream.

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Spread refried beans over bottom of a casserole dish.
3. Combine cream cheese, sour cream, seasoning mix and garlic; mix well.
4. Spread cream cheese mixture evenly over beans.
5. Grate cheddar cheese over top.
6. Bake 15-20 minutes or until cheese is melted.
7. If desired, sprinkle diced tomatoes, thinly slice green onions, sliced olives, and cilantro over the dip. Garnish with additional sour cream, if desired.
8. Remove from oven; serve with Tortilla Chips.

Hot Pizza Dip

Ingredients:

• 1 package cream cheese, softened
• ½ teaspoon dried oregano
• ½ teaspoon dried parsley
• ¼ teaspoon dried basil
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 cup pizza sauce
• 2 tablespoons chopped green bell pepper
• 2 ounces pepperoni sausage, chopped
• 2 tablespoons sliced black olives

Directions:

1. In a small bowl, mix together the cream cheese, oregano, parsley, and basil.
2. Spread mixture in the bottom of a 9 inch pie plate, or a shallow microwave-safe dish.
3. Sprinkle ½ cup of the mozzarella cheese and ½ cup of the Parmesan cheese on top of the cream cheese mixture.
4. Spread the pizza sauce over all.
5. Sprinkle with remaining cheese, then top with green pepper, pepperoni and olive slices.
6. Cover, and microwave for 5 minutes. Serve hot.

I like to serve this dip with some toasted french bread. Or if you don't want to go through all that trouble, just put out some triscuit crackers. And if you really don't want to go through the trouble, just set out a box of triscuit crackers because honestly - when people have the opportunity to eat this dip, they don't care what crackers or bread was served on. They probably won't even care if its served with something. Give them a spoon and tell them to dig in.

Buffalo Chicken Wing Dip

Ingredients:

• 2 packages cream cheese, softened
• ¾ cup Franks Red-Hot Buffalo Wing Sauce
• 1 cup ranch salad dressing
• 2 cups diced cooked chicken
• 1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese

Directions:

• Preheat the oven to 350°.
• In a medium bowl, stir together the cream cheese and hot pepper sauce until well blended.
• Mix in the Ranch dressing, chicken and Cheddar cheese.
• Spread into a 9x13 inch baking dish.
• Bake for 30 minutes in the preheated oven.
• If oil collects on the top, dab it off using a paper towel.
• Serve with tortilla chips.

If y'all have the time, I completely recommend that you make your own ranch dressing. You just take one of those little packages of Hidden Valley ranch dressing mix, and mix it with 1 cup of milk and 1 cup of mayonnaise. It is so much creamier and more delicious than anything you can buy pre-made. It is definitely worth the 3 minutes that it will take you to make it. Seriously.

Chili Cheese Dip

Ingredients:

• 1 package cream cheese, softened
• 1 can chili without beans
• 4 green onions, thinly sliced
• ¼ cup diced green chilies, drained
• 1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°.
2. Grease a 9-inch pie plate.
3. Spread cream cheese into the prepared pie plate.
4. Top the cream cheese with chili, onions, chilies, and cheese.
5. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes.
6. Serve with Fritos.

Just for the record, I use Bush's Original Homestyle Chili. For God know's what reason, you cannot buy it at Wal-Mart. You have to go to Kroger or HEB or some place and get it. And I will be the first to tell y'all that if I need/want chili for something I will leave Wal-Mart with all of my loot and drive across the street and stop at Kroger to get this Chili. Yes, it really is that good!

Ok, I might have a breakdown. I just went to the Bush website, to get the link for the chili so that I could share it with y'all and this is what I found:

"Thank you for visiting on our Homestyle Chili page but we regret to inform you that we are no longer manufacturing our Homestyle Chili products. We apologize for any disappointment this may have caused. Although our Homestyle Chili products are no longer available, it is our hope you will enjoy our other great Bush’s products highlighted on this website".

Let me tell you this, I will have a hard time enjoying other Bush's products knowing that I will no longer be enjoying any chili. And I don't like the grilling beans! Take that Bush Brothers!

Ok, back to the dips. I hope you make one, or all of them and I hope that you enjoy them. In fact, I know that you will. And if you need anyone to enjoy them with, you just give me a call. I'm already on my way.

And because they play the University of Louisiana at Monroe Warhawks tomorrow....

HOOK 'EM HORNS!

Y'all have a safe, happy and dip filled weekend!