Not Just ANOTHER Seven Layer Dip

I don't call this a seven layer dip, because it seems to me that it has more than seven layers.  I guess it all just depends on what you consider a "layer."  ANYWAYS...I love this dip, and every time I've taken it to a party, I've been asked for the recipe.  So it seemed like a good one to share as we approach the Super Bowl holiday season.

Ingredients
3 cups shredded lettuce
1 (15 oz) can black beans, rinsed and drained
2 chopped fresh red chile peppers
1/4 cup sliced green onions
1 (8 oz) container sour cream
2 fresh jalapenos, very finely diced
1 tbsp grated lime zest
1 cup chunky salsa
1 avocado - peeled, pitted and diced
3/4 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
1/2 cup chopped black olives, drained
2 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro
Delicious corn chips (like Tostitos with lime...YUM!) for serving

Instructions
1) Layer shredded lettuce on a 12" serving platter.

2) In a medium bowl, stir together black beans, red chile peppers and green onions.  Spoon the mixture evenly over the lettuce.

3) Gently spread sour cream over the beans.  Sprinkle with jalapeno peppers and lime zest.

4) Drain excess liquid from salsa.  Spoon salsa over sour cream layer.  Place avocado chunks on top of salsa (OR you can mix the avocado into the salsa before you spoon the salsa on).

5) Sprinkle with Monterey Jack cheese.  Top with black olives and cilantro.  Serve immediately, or chill in refrigerator.

TA DAAAA!!!

enjoy!
 ~ j

Pass that guacamole!

Guacamole is one of our favorite random things to whip up in Casa de Sharp.  Ryan knows my recipe by heart now, and will even volunteer to make it...which is nice when I don't feel like getting green goo all in my cuticles.  Pretty much every time we have guac, I think of this commercial...  "Pass that guacamoleee!"  (You have to wait until the very end for the big pay-off!)

ANYHOW...this is definitely a recipe that I never use measurements in, so I'm going to do my best to guesstimate how much of everything I use (but just a warning, I could be way off...or even just way off for your own personal tastes).  According to other recipes I've been looking at, I think this recipe would be considered to be about 8 servings (sure seems like a lot less than 8 in our house, though!).

Guacamole
Ingredients:
6 avocados, mashed
1 - 2 limes, juiced
2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground cayenne pepper
1 tsp ground cumin
1/3 cup fresh cilantro, finely chopped
3/4 cup red onion, finely chopped
2 - 3 cloves garlic, crushed
2 Roma tomatoes, seeded and finely chopped

Instructions:
Combine all your ingredients in a bowl, and stir!  Serve with tortilla chips (Tostitos "hint of lime" are our personal favorite with guacamole).

enjoy!
 ~ j