Top Summer Food

When it comes to the warm weather of summer, my mind instantly thinks of pool parties, backyard BBQs, and family get-togethers. That means my mind starts thinking of all the delicious foods made and enjoyed during these events. When it comes to foods, I could list a million different things as the top summer food, and it took a lot of work to pick just one to be the top summer food. Fruit is always a must at summer events and to be enjoyed on a hot summer day, but nothing beats a delicious dip that can be enjoyed hot or cold. Now, plenty of different kinds of dips can be found and enjoyed, but my go-to dip has and will always be Touch Down Taco Dip. It is a favorite among my friends and family and is often asked for at events, and the best part is that it is super easy and quick to make. Over the years, I have changed the recipe to meet my taste buds, but below is the original recipe. When I make this recipe, I only use the refried beans, cream cheese, taco seasoning mix, shredded cheese (I use a Mexican mix, not cheddar), and tortilla chips. I also use more taco seasoning then what the recipe calls for as I prefer a stronger spice taste then what most people want.

Touch Down Taco Dip Recipe (via Pampered Chef)

Ready In: 15 to 18 minutes

Yield: 16 servings of ¼ cup of dip

Ingredients:

1 can (16 ounces/450 grams) of refried beans

8 ounces (250 grams) of cream cheese, softened

1 cup (250 milliliters) sour cream

2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) taco seasoning mix

2 garlic cloves, pressed

1/2 cup (125 milliliters) shredded cheddar cheese

1 medium plum tomato

3 green onions with tops

2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) snipped fresh cilantro leaves

1/2 cup (125 milliliters) sliced pitted ripe olives

Additional sour cream for topping optional

Tortilla chips are optional for scooping the dip

Directions:

Step 1) Preheat the oven to 350°F (176°C).

Step 2) Spread the beans over the bottom of a small baking pan using a baking scraper.

Step 3) Combine the cream cheese, sour cream, taco seasoning, and garlic that has been pressed in a batter bowl. Make sure to mix well and that the cream cheese is very soft before mixing. (If the mixture is too firm, it will be impossible to spread it.)

Step 4) Spread the cream cheese mixture over the beans.

Step 5) Bake for 15 to 18 minutes or until hot.

Step 6) Remove from the oven and place onto a cooling rack.

Step 7) Sprinkle the cheddar cheese over the top while it is still warm.

Step 8) Return the baking pan to the oven and bake for an additional 2 to 3 minutes or until the shredded cheese is melted.

Step 9) Slice the tomato in half lengthwise and scrape out the seeds.

Step 10) Dice the tomato.

Step 11) Slice the onions into thin slices.

Step 12) Snip the cilantro.

Step 13) Sprinkle the olives, tomato, onions, and cilantro over the dip once it is out of the oven again.

Step 14) Garnish with the additional sour cream if desired.

Step 15) Serve with tortilla chips for scooping if desired.

Nutrition Info:

The nutrition information may change depending on the brands of the ingredients bought and used to make this. This is just a basic rendition of the nutritional information you can expect from a batch of this dip.

Calories: 140

Total Fat: 10 grams

Saturated Fat: 6 grams

Cholesterol: 35 milligrams

Carbohydrate: 8 grams

Protein: 4 grams

Sodium: 330 milligrams

Fiber: 0 grams