Bean Dip for a Crowd

Bean dip is a fun thing to eat as a healthy snack or great to serve for a crowd. This would make a great after school snack. You can serve it with chips and vegetables. You could also use this recipe as a filling for burritos. Beans are a great source of fiber and protein and I love eating them.

Ingredients

1 16 Oz can refried beans
1 4 oz can of green chilies
1/3 C chia (great way to boost up the nutrition )
1/2 C shredded cheese (for non vegan version)
1/2 C salsa *optional


Directions

1. Stir all the ingredients in a bowl. Then heat covered in the microwave it will splatter.
2. Serve warm. Yum!

Cowboy Caviar with Libby's Vegetable Pouches

 

We were given the opportunity through Recipe Redux to try Libby's new Vegetable Pouches. These little pouches were a great substitute for the normal canned vegetables because you can heat the vegetables right in the package. And who doesn't like to do less dishes? :) And considering I just cut my hand on a traditional can last week, it's nice to have a product that won't hurt my clumsy hands.

This Cowboy Caviar is one of our favorite appetizers. We took it to a party and it was a hit. It is a simple, fresh, and healthy salsa that is great on tortilla chips or any of your other favorite dipping devices. This recipe spotlights Libby's farm fresh sweet corn as the primary ingredient.

Ingredients
1 13 oz pouch of Libby's whole kernel sweet corn
2 avocados chopped up
3-4 Roma tomatoes chopped up
1/4 C chopped up purple onion
1 15 oz can of beans drained and rinsed (white, black, garbanzo, or black eyed peas)
1/4 c chopped up cilantro
1/4 C chia (optional)
1/4 C chopped up cilantro
1/4 tsp chili powder
salt and pepper to taste
juice from 2 limes

Directions
1. Toss together corn, avocados, tomatoes, onion, beans, and cilantro.
2. Then toss in chia, cilantro, chili powder, salt, pepper, and juice.
3. Serve at once or put in air tight container in the fridge.

I received free samples of Libby’s new Vegetable Pouches mentioned in this post. By posting this recipe I am entering a recipe contest sponsored by Libby’s and am eligible to win prizes associated with the contest. I was not compensated for my time.

An InLinkz Link-up

Garden Dil Dip

We are having a fun time coming up with ideas of ways to use these cute garden cups. They are great for an outside gathering or inside. they add a new life to the party. I love them. Great idea for an Easter party too.  It is great to make your own garden dip with out all the extra additives of the ones prepared in the store. You can also try these garden granola cup (dirt cups).

Ingredients

2 Cups plain yogurt

2 tsp dry parsley

2 tsp dill weed (I love this :)

1/2 tsp granulated garlic (I got this at Costco)

2 tsp lemon juice

1/2 tsp salt (I used real salt)

dash of chili powder

dash of crushed pepper *optional

Directions
1. First wash the garden pot with soap  and water and let dry.  
2. Put extra deep muffin cups at the bottom and then cut parchment paper in long strip that is the size of the pot. Stick the parchment paper inside of the muffin cup (You could also line the bottom with some extra parchment paper) so the parchment paper over laps.  Cut off the top to be the right height.
3. Mix it all together until all combined.
4. Pour into the clay lined pot.
5. This  dip is great for crackers, chips and vegetables. You could
also use it for baked potato topping, fish tacos. sweet potato fries. Come up with your
own yummy ideas. This was a hit with my family. Enjoy!

* Side note: Cute Garnish idea. I bought mini carrots and then poked the top of them with toothpicks and put in this (see below) edible grass in little pieces. It makes the carrots look so cute. It is a darling garnish. I got the edible grass at Target. :)

Eating Vegetables and Fruit

What you do in the Summertime. We are almost to Summer. I have been reading the importance of getting a minimum  of 5 servings of fruits and vegetables. Only one out of three people get that many.

I love all the health benefits you get from fruits and vegetables. :) It is good to eat a variety because they all have different benefits. One easy way to get a variety of nutrients is to get a variety of colors. There a great variety this time of year. So enjoy it. A new thing I learned is dark leafy greens like spinach can help in eye health. Interesting! 

It's important to make them easier to eat. One thing I am working on is to have them cut up in the fridge ready to eat. I know that I am apt to eat them more often that way. My son loves them with dip. That is an option too. I find that fruits and vegetables fill me up longer and I don't crave the unhealthy foods as much.    

Vegetable Dip

Ingredients
1 package of hidden valley buttermilk dressing
2 C plain yogurt

Directions
Mix together and eat! 

Healthy Spicy Chicken Dip

I hope you are able to gather your family or a group of friends around you for the weekend.  It is Super Bowl Weekend again. We don't watch the game but we enjoy lots of yummy foods and being together. So whatever way you spend it, I hope it is a great one.

Recently  I heard about someone making a spicy chicken dip. I thought that sounded yummy. So I started experimenting on making a healthy one. My son devoured it last night so, that was a sign to me that I had found a winner. This could be a snack, a lunch, or dinner with a nice green salad.

Ingredients:
1 can of cannelli beans rinsed and drained
2 T olive oil or grapeseed oil
3 T cilantro
3 T purple onion diced in small pieces
1/2 C shredded chicken small pieces
2 T plain yogurt
1 sm can of green chiles
1 1/4 tsp chili powder
1 garlic clove minced
1/2 tsp coriander
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cumin
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper * optional
1/2 jalapeno diced small pieces *optional
1/2 cup sharp cheddar cheese shredded *optional
garnish with cilantro

Directions:
1. Blend the beans in an electric mixer or food processor (or power blender) until creamy.
2. Pour in the remaining ingredients blend until nice and creamy. 
3. Pour in an oven proof dish and heat in oven at 350 or microwave until warm.
4. Serve hot with chips, fresh tortillas (would make a great filling for burritos) or with fresh vegetables.             

Black Bean dip

This is a great meal filled with protein that you can fix without heating up the kitchen. It was gobbled up by my family yesterday. I called it dump dip. I always enjoy meals that are quick and easy for summer. Enjoy!

Ingredients:
1 can black bean drained (I had some that were seasoned called Cuban black beans)
1 can diced tomatoes drained
1 can diced green chili's
1 1/2 C plain yogurt
mixed cheese
3-4 green onions chopped
chili verde sauce *optional

Directions:
1. Dump drained beans into a serving dish.
2. Dump the diced tomatoes on top.
3. Dump the green chili's on top. (Evenly)
4. Spread the yogurt on top evenly.
5. Spread the cheese on top. Heat in microwave till cheese melts a little if desired.
6. Sprinkle on green onions and drizzle on chili verde sauce if desired. Serve with chips.  

Layered Bean Dip with Black Beans

This is a nice layered Bean Dip for the holiday weekend. We put it in a glass dish to show off the layers. A narrower dish would work even better if you are going for even more of a visual splash. I really liked the black beans in it instead of the traditional refried beans. It is a great way to eat vegetables too. You could dip vegetables in it as well as chips. Have a safe New Years Weekend!

Ingredients:

6 Roma tomatoes Chopped in bite size pieces
1 tsp sea salt with iodine
4 scallions chopped up ( washed green onions)
3 T lime juice
1/4 C chopped up cilantro
1-2 jalapenos chopped in small pieces
1 140z can black beans drained
4 garlic cloves minced
3/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cumin
1 tsp chili powder
1 3/4 C sour cream
1 to 2 T salsa or taco sauce
3 avocados mashed up or pureed
1 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp chili powder
2 T lime juice
2 tsp minced dried onions

Directions:

1. In a bowl mix together chopped tomatoes, and salt. Let them drain in a colander for 30 min.
Then stir in scallions, lime juice, cilantro, peppers. Set the bowl aside

2. In another bowl pour drained beans in. Mash or puree them in a food processor. Then stir in garlic, salt, cumin, and chili powder. Spread in the bottom of the glass dish.

3. In another bowl mix together sour cream and salsa set aside.

4. In a separate bowl. Mix the mashed or pureed avocado salt, chili powder, lime juice, and onion. Spread the avocados on top of the bean mixture carefully.

5. Then spread on the sour cream on top of the avocado mixture.

6. With the final layer being the tomato mixture. Then toss the scallions on top.

7. You can serve right away, or cover and put in the fridge. You can make up to a day ahead of time.