7 Layer Dip

A classic recipe that always gets eaten up at parties, 7-Layer Dip! I made this for a 4th of July Party the other night and thought I would share the recipe. You can also find recipes below for the homemade guacamole and salsa that I used in the layer dip.

Ingredients:

- 1 can refried beans

- guacamole (recipe below)

- 8oz cream cheese, softened

- 1 packet taco seasoning

- salsa (recipe via Pioneer Woman)

- 2 cups mexican shredded cheese

- 1/2 bell pepper, diced

- 4 green onions, chopped

- 1/4 cup cilantro, chopped

Directions:

While you prepare your homemade salsa and guacamole let the cream cheese sit at room temperature so it softens. You can find the wonderful recipe for the salsa by Pioneer Woman, here.

Since this salsa is made in a blender or food processor it has lots of juice. You can strain some of the liquid out of the salsa you are using on the layer dip so it doesn't get into all the other layers. You will not use all of the salsa for the layer dip, but it stores great in the fridge!

Next prepare your guacamole.

Ingredients:

- 4 avocados, ripened

- 1/4 cup onion, diced

- 1 jalapeno, diced

- 3 cloves of garlic, diced

- 1/4 cup cilantro, diced

- 1/2 tablespoon of lime juice

-1/2 teaspoon of salt

Cut the avocados in half and remove the seed. Scoop the avocado into a large bowl. Using a fork mash the avocado. Not too much though, it should be a little chunky. Add the remaining ingredients and gently mix. 

Next mix your softened cream cheese and taco seasoning together in a bowl. You can use a mixer to help get the cream cheese nice and smooth. 

Now you are ready to start layering! I like to use an angled spatula to spread the beans, guacamole, cream cheese, and salsa onto a large tray, in that order. Then top with shredded cheese, cilantro, green onion, and bell pepper. Refrigerate until ready to serve.