Yet another family favorite.
I come from a big Irish family (my mom’s side) and one thing we always have plenty of during our celebrations is food. You can pretty much guarantee that when we have a family party or holiday this dip will be served, and devoured in about 10 minutes (burnt mouths all around, because it’s just too good to let cool) by my family.
I’ve talked about food nostalgia a bit before and how much I love it and this is without a doubt top 5 on my list. I find myself craving this dip leading up to the holidays. And every single time that I prepare and enjoy it, I do so with the biggest smile on my face when I’m reminded of my late dear aunt Kathy. Kathy was in charge of this dip at every gathering and she made it with pride, knowing it would be enjoyed by all.
My aunt Kathy was an extremely special woman. At the young age of 23 she had a stroke and lost all feeling on her right side as a result. She remarkably made an incredible recovery and taught herself how to do everything left handed. To say she was a strong Irish woman would be an understatement. She was an inspiration. Never in my 20+ years with her around did I hear her complain. I could write an entire blog on Kathy (and I just might someday) and how much I adored her but again, this is meant to be a recipe.
I’ll leave it at this. I owe so much to Kathy. As a kid I just thought it was cool that our aunt would let us pinch her right side and let us ask over and over again “can you feel this?!”. As an adult I grew to discover the great amount of inner strength and physical strength my aunt possessed, and I admired her for just that. Beyond her strength, her humor was top notch. She had the best laugh in the room (hard to claim in a big family) and the brightest smile (which grew bigger when she was surrounded by her family, especially us kids) and she loved so big. Being an aunt is without a doubt my favorite title and I learned just about every trick I know from my aunt Kathy as well as my other aunts and uncles. For that, I’m grateful.
Okay, let’s get to the point. Here is how you make Kathy’s famous Mexican dip:
Ingredients:
- Mexican cheese (usually one full bag)
- One jar of salsa
- One block of cream cheese (or Neufchâtel cheese if you want to feel healthier)
Directions:
- Preheat the oven to 325.
- Use a pie dish (or any square dish is fine) and start by using the cream cheese. With a fork spread it to cover the bottom layer of the dish. It is easier to do this with room temp or softened cream cheese but you can also do it straight from the fridge.
- Next, pour the salsa on top of the cream cheese.
- Finish it off by covering the top layer of the dish with Mexican cheese (the more the merrier in my opinion).
- Pop it in the oven for 20 minutes then check to see if the cheese is bubbling. It’s best to keep it until the cheese bubbles but if you’re tight on time (or just hungry) it tastes great at any point after being warmed.
- Serve it with a big bowl of Tostitos (and be ready for burnt mouths).
Thanks Kathy for this incredible delicious and simple family style appetizer. And thanks for everything else. I plan to make this next week for our family Thanksgiving. We always miss our loved ones that are no longer with us extra on the holidays and this is one way to keep them with us on that day. There is no doubt we will be enjoying this and sharing some of our favorite memories with Kathy as we enjoy it. That’s what it’s all about. Family. Food. And nostalgia.
