Party dips: Seven layer dip

One of the all-time favorite party dips is the seven layer dip. This is not a new dip, it has been making the rounds in one form or another for more than 20 years. What makes it so popular is that it is simple to make and even though it has a lot of ingredients, all of them are easy to find and inexpensive. It can also be changed up easily but using special purple or blue tortilla chips, celery, and carrots or a well-flavored crostini. You can serve it over and over again and with simple changes it never gets old.

The first thing to do is to decide what serving dish you want to use. Clear glass or crystal is a good choice since visually it is quite stunning but any deep bowl will do.

You will need one pound of ground beef. Any leanness is fine just be sure to drain the fat is the percentage is high. If you like to make your own taco seasoning that is great but for the rest of us, a package of taco seasoning gets added at this point. Put it aside to cool.

Open and drain a 16 ounce can of refried beans, this is the first layer of the dip. I prefer to add a layer of shredded lettuce to the bottom of the bowl, I find it aesthetically more pleasing but it is not the traditional way to do it. Spread the beans out in a nice even layer.

The second layer is the cheese layer. This is fresh grated cheese and you can use cheddar, Colby or Monterey jack. You can buy pre-shredded packages of taco flavored cheese or you can just grate your own. Just be sure that you have two cups of whatever flavor you prefer. Sprinkle it evenly over the top of the refried beans.

Layer number three is the drained ground beef. Using a large spoon, slotted works well, place the meat on top of the cheese.

Layer number four is guacamole. Nothing is quite as good as homemade guacamole however it does take time and if you are in a hurry, store prepared guacamole will work just fine. Spread it carefully and evenly over top of the seasoned beef.

Sour cream is the next layer. Some people like to mix it with cream cheese but that is not necessary. Place it in dollops on top of the guacamole. Now pour a jar of salsa over the sour cream. You need to do this carefully so as not to displace the sour cream. Pink sour cream is not a look you are going for.

The final layer is a combination of ingredients. Shredded lettuce, chopped tomatoes and scallions, a can of drained sliced black olives and another cup of shredded cheese.

Allow the dip to sit before serving, it allows flavor to develop. Place you bowl in the center of a large attractive platter. Place whatever you are using for dippers around your bowl on a platter and you are ready to wow you guests. Be sure to have the recipe handy since there is rarely an occasion when it is not requested at least once.

Ingredient list:
1 head lettuce
1 large tomato
1 bundle scallions
1 16 ounce can sliced olives
1 16 ounce container of sour cream
1 16 ounce container guacamole
3 cups shredded cheese
1 pound ground beef
1 16 ounce can refried beans
1 16 ounce jar of salsa
1 package taco seasoning
Tortilla chips, crudité, and crostini

Special thanks to my friend Andrea for her recipe. She is the one who always brings this dip to parties.