Artichoke and Green Chile Cheesy Dip

Just stand at the counter and dig in. Oh, sure, you can share with others. But why take it to the table?

In the grand scheme of things, dinner (really, any meal) is sometimes just a stand-up affair. A loaf of baguette with a flavorful dip or sauce is all you need. This dip blends the creaminess of cheese, the texture and flavor of artichoke hearts, and the kick of green chiles into a delicious meal or party food that everyone will scoop up quickly.

SOFTWARE

·         12 oz. jar artichoke hearts, drained

·         4 oz. can diced green chiles

·         8 oz. mozzarella, shredded

·         1 oz. Parmesan cheese, grated

·         1 c. mayonnaise (Duke’s works best)

·         1 t. ancho chili powder

·         1/2 t. garlic powder

·         Crackers, bread, baguette, whatever you want to use to scoop

METHOD

1.       Heat oven to 350 degrees.

2.       In a large bowl, mix everything together. You can cut up the artichoke hearts into smaller pieces if you like. It all depends how chunky you want your dip.

3.       Pour everything into a square 8x8 glass baking dish. Smooth out to fill the dish.

4.       Place in the oven and bake for 25-30 minutes or until the cheese has melted and is bubbling.

5.       Remove from oven and serve with dipping apparatus.

6.       Enjoy.

VARIANTS

You can change up the cheese, but stay away from hard cheeses. Replace spices you may not like. Be wary of spices that have salt in them. If you really want to get crazy, use Hatch green chiles. I applaud your bravery and your taste.