Seven Layer Dip for Super Bowl Sunday 2013

For Super Bowl Sunday, I am determined to make the best Seven Layer Dip my friends have ever had, so I scoured websites for a while, read comments about the adjustments people suggested, and I have come up with a damn good recipe, which will also incorporate numerous techniques from the comments below (just like a Peyton Manning audible!).  

Servings

• 9x13 inch serving tray
• 2 pounds ground beef
• One package of taco seasoning
• 2 (16 ounce) can refried beans
• 4 cups shredded Cheddar-Monterey Jack cheese blend
• 1 (16 ounce) container sour cream
• 2 cup guacamole
• 2 cup salsa
• 1 (2.25 ounce) can black olives, chopped
• 1 cup chopped tomatoes
• 1 cup chopped green onions

Directions

In a large skillet, brown ground beef. Set aside to drain and cool to room temperature.  Add one package of taco seasoning and a half cup of water and mix, with heating, until meat is coated.

Then, make these seven layers:

1. Spread the beans into the bottom of a 9x13 inch serving tray that is about 1 1/2 inches deep.
2. Sprinkle 2 cups of shredded cheese on top of beans.
3. Sprinkle beef on top of cheese.
4. Spread sour cream very slowly on top of beef.
5. Spread guacamole on top of sour cream.
6. Pour salsa over guacamole and spread evenly.
7. Sprinkle remaining shredded cheese, black olives, tomatoes, and green onions on top.

Serve this dish immediately, or refrigerate it over night and serve cold. I think it tastes better at room temperature.

Comments for considerable improvements:

“Brown your beef with a packet of taco seasoning (no water), 1.5 tbs of cumin, 1 tsp of chili powder 1 tsp of garlic and 2 tbs of dried minced onion. Added finely chopped cilantro with the black olives, tomatoes and green onions. Mixture of pepperjack and cheddar cheese gave the dip more complexity than straight cheddar! Superb flavor!!!”

“I substituted cream cheese for half of the sour cream, used a packet of taco seasoning in the beef, and another packet in the sour cream / cream cheese mixture. A half cup or so of canned sliced jalapenos as layer #8 makes this a lot better. If you like guacamole, use about twice as much, because the recommended amount isn't enough to even spread out to make a whole layer.”

“I omitted the guacamole and upped the sour cream to 16 oz. Added 2 TBS of taco seasoning to sour cream. Thanks!”

“Apply the meat while its still hot so it melts into the first cheese layer and really meshes. I also agree that seasoning the meat is the best way to go whether it be with taco seasoning or your own personal spices. Only other thing I love to do is to take all the veggies (tomatoes, olives, and green onions) and dice together well to create a beautiful and tasty mixed layer. You can either take it and apply it on top as instructed or what I like to do sometimes is whisk it into the sour cream to create a more creamy vegetable layer to use underneath top top cheese layer.”

--

I hope this Dandygram helps all the other people looking to bring the best dish you can possibly bring to a Super Bowl Party, but more importantly, I've been getting the bug to blog again (as well as being bugged), so this is just a preview for what's in store for 2013.  

Oh, and I've been painting a lot more lately.  And I am back on Twitter (@trevorsparks).  So there's that.