Black Bean Salsa Dip

It's getting to be time to think about those holiday gatherings and those "good" recipes. My niece Leanne posted an Artichoke Dip recipe I plan to try. Hopefully more of you bloggers will post some of your favorites for this time of year.

This Dip is from my Pampered Chef days and I still have it typed as I used it for my demo's using PC products. I don't actually use the fat-free "fats" but the full fat. I'm not sure why as it is very good with the fat-free. You may have to find a PC consultant (Jolynn) to get the Southwestern Seasoning Mix. I have not been able to find a substitution for it. I do believe it is what gives it the awesome flavoring.

Our family LOVES this dip. I have brought it to potlucks and people have "cautiously" tried it and they almost always go back for more and ask for the recipe.

BLACK BEAN SALSA DIP

Dip

2 packages (8 ounces each) fat-free cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup fat-free mayonnaise
3 tablespoons Pampered Chef Southwestern Seasoning Mix
2 green onions with tops, thinly sliced, divided
1 cup diced red bell pepper
1 can (3.25 ounces) pitted ripe olives, drained and chopped
3/4 cup salsa
1 garlic clove, pressed
1 can (15 ounces) black beans, drained and rinsed
1 can (8.75 ounces) whole kernel corn, drained

For dip, combine cream cheese, mayonnaise and seasoning mix in Small Batter Bowl; whisk until smooth using Stainless Steel Whisk. Attach closed star tip to Easy Accent Decorator. Fill decorator with 1 cup of the cream cheese mixture; set aside. Spread remaining cream cheese mixture over bottom and halfway up sides of Oval Baker using Skinny Scraper. Slice green onions using Chef’s Knife; set aside 2 tablespoons for garnish. Finely dice bell pepper. Using Food Chopper, chop olives. In Classic Batter Bowl, combine remaining green onions, bell pepper, olives, salsa, garlic pressed with Garlic Press, black beans and corn; mix well using Mix ’N Scraper. Spoon half of the salsa mixture over cream cheese layer. Pipe half of the reserved cream cheese mixture in a zigzag pattern over salsa layer. Top with remaining salsa mixture. Pipe a decorative border around edge of bowl using decorator. Sprinkle with reserved green onions. To serve, arrange tortilla chips around edge of dip. Serve using Bamboo Spooners.

A Lazy Day

A lazy Sunday afternoon. Dad is out hunting, Gretchen and Kaitlin are napping, Molly has a couple friends over. Jeanie has a friend also. I'm sitting surfing the net. Going from blog to blog to blog. There are some pretty interesting blogs out there and many, many crafty ones.

I had Danny's conference last week. It is always interesting going to his school. As we were waiting for his conference to start, a lady walked by. Not sure if she was a teacher or aide. She stopped and told Danny what an awesome "doorman" he was. He loves to hold the door for the kids leaving the school. I had to inform her that he has almost missed the bus because of his "kindness". I told him he can still hold the door at recess but no more at the end of the day.

The gym teacher was heading into the gym when she saw him and came over and put her arm around him asking, "When do I get to have you? I wish I could have you all year!" Dan says, "I wish!!" I think he will have gym in the spring.

During one of his conferences, he has two teachers, we were looking at his papers and she realized he hadn't finished a paper he was suppose to. She put on her "lecture" voice and Danny turns his head and under his breath says, "Hoo boy........" (as in, here we go again...) I had the hardest time keeping a straight face. Then after a few seconds he goes, "I got it, I got it, I got it."

Bean's Birthday

Jeanie had trick candles and she had a hard time getting them out. Brad was at school and Brett was there also doing assessment tests. Matt stopped by after the picture.

My Baby is 10!!

Since Jeanie said Amanda is waiting to see her cake. Here it is. She decided she wanted a Funfetti Cake and SHE wanted to decorate it. I had no problem with that! We are having Calzones for supper.

Grandkids

Sara sent a CD with pictures of her kids. Thought you girls might enjoy seeing how they've grown since March.

Chicken Tortilla Soup

Tri*sha Ye*ar*wood has a cookbook out. I checked it out from the library and this Chicken Tortilla Soup was in it. It was excellent. It calls for half and half but the store I was at was all out of half and half so I just used my 1/2% milk and it was still awesome and a little less fattening.

Chicken Tortilla Soup

3 tablespoons butter
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 medium onion, finely chopped
2 tablespoons flour
3 14-ounce chicken broth
4 cups half and half
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 cup prepared salsa
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, boiled, drained and shredded
1 15-ounce can kidney beans, drained
1 15-ounce can black beans, drained
1 15-ounce can whole kernel corn, drained
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 1.27-ounce packet fajita seasoning
tortilla or corn (Fritos) chips
Montery Jack cheese, shredded
Sour cream

Melt butter in large pot over medium heat; add the garlic and onion and sauté for 5 minutes or until softened. Add the flour and stir, cooking for 1 minute more. Add the broth and half and half. Bring to a boil over medium heat, about 10 minutes, reduce heat to low. Stir in cream of chicken soup, salsa, chicken, beans, corn, cumin and fajita seasoning. Continue to simmer over low heat for 15 minutes. Serve with chips, cheese and sour cream.