Just Because it was Cinco de Mayo

     One thing I love to do is cook, and it's a good thing because I also love to eat! While I love going out to eat, it's more of a thrill to me to have made it myself. There doesn't have to be a special occasion or a holiday to create some magic in my kitchen, sometimes it's just because. Although today, it was Cinco de Mayo, and I have so many favorite Mexican recipes, that we will probably dine on Mexican cuisine for the next week or so.

      To celebrate this holiday, we had  one of our favorite Mexican meals of Chorizos with peppers, mushrooms and onions on the grill, wrapped in a tortillas with shredded cheese and my homemade  picante sauce. Along with that my son and I made a 7 layer dip, which is a combination of several recipes, that I created using our favorite ingredients.

      This is a very easy recipe that can be made in under 15 minutes.

Ingredients:

1 can of refried beans (Fat Free or Original, your preference)

1 16 oz. jar of Pace Chunky Salsa Medium

1 8 oz. brick of cream cheese, softened

1 pkg. of taco seasoning mix or 3 Tablespoons of homemade taco seasoning, which I made earlier from a recipe on this blog: http://www.rachelcooks.com/2011/10/28/homemade-taco-seasoning/

2 cups of shredded lettuce

2 cups of shredded Mexican cheese blend

3 green onions chopped small

1/2 cup of chopped green olives with pimentos, drained

Tortilla Chips

1.  Spread the refried beans onto dish or platter with a rubber spatula.

2.  Put cream cheese in a bowl, if it's not soft enough, give it 25 seconds in the microwave just so it's easy to stir. Add in the taco seasoning and stir.

3.  Spread the cream cheese mixture carefully onto the refried beans.

4.  Next, pour the Pace on top, spreading with either a spatula or back of a spoon. You don't have to use the entire jar, it's completely up to you.

5.  Then cover the Pace with the shredded lettuce followed by the cheese, green onions and olives and refrigerate.

*This recipe could also be more than 7 layers if you choose to add more.*

Other topping ideas: tomatoes, black olives, cilantro, green chilis, etc.

Enjoy making and eating this dip. Please feel free to share your creations with comments or pictures. And Happy Cinco de Mayo!!