Spooky 7-Layer Dip

 A while back we had a "Nacho Bar" for our tailgate.  Which is honestly an easy way to feed a large crowd.  We all bring crockpots full of queso and chips and then pile on the toppings.  Grilled chicken, taco meat, pico de gallo, pickled jalapeno peppers, sour cream, guacamole.  The ideas are endless and it's a hearty treat that is always a hit with our football friends.  I had a few toppings leftover, and spent an entire day creating a feast of frightening treats.  Traditionally a 7-layer dip features layers of refried beans, guacamole, sour cream, salsa, shredded cheese, diced tomatoes and black olives.  Served with tortilla chips for dipping of course.  Since I had a host of nacho topping leftovers, I decided to get creative with what I had on hand, to create my own spooky version of a 7 layer dip.  I made a large batch of my Homemade Mexican Restaurant Relish, and even used some pickled carrots and jalapenos to make a cute little spooky spider to top off the dip.  It turned out really cute, and honestly what is not delicious about a layers of Mexican ingredients in dip form?  You could make your own version with whatever you have on hand, including leftover refried beans, salsa, queso, cooked chorizo etc...Just make sure you your top layer is a ghoulishly green guacamole and you have some sour cream to pipe the spider's web!

Your favorite Mexican Dip with 
a spooky twist for Halloween!

I made this with things I had on hand
leftover from our Nacho Bar Tailgate.
Feel free to use your favorite
Mexican ingredients.

Spread a layer of refried beans or 
bean dip into the bottom of a 
shallow dish.  Top with shredded cheese.

Add a layer of your favorite salsa or 
even chopped tomatoes.

Make your last layer a spread of 
ghoulishly green guacamole.

Make a little spider from pickled 
jalapenos and carrots.

Pipe on a sour cream web as your last layer.

Serve with your favorite tortilla chips
for dipping.

Isn't he cute?

I added a little garnish around the edge of my
dip with the pickled carrots and jalapenos from
my Homemade Mexican Restaurant Relish.
Honestly I did not have a single platter or dish to
serve this in that was remotely appropriate for Halloween,
so I decided to use the carrots and peppers to add 
a pop of Halloween color.  

SPOOKY 7-LAYER DIP

Refried Beans or - I used a can of Frito Lay Bean Dip

Your Favorite Salsa
Shredded Cheese
Guacamole
Sour Cream
Mexican Relish or canned Mexican Carrots & Jalapenos for the spider
Candy eyeballs for the spider
Tortilla chips for dipping

Spread the layer of refried beans or bean dip into the bottom of a shallow dish.  Top with a layer of your favorite salsa, and then a layer of shredded cheese.  Spread a layer of guacamole over the top.  With a pastry bag and thin pastry tip, pipe sour cream on top of the guacamole to create a spider web look.

Optional, use a pickled carrot slice and some pickled jalapeno pieces to create a spider and legs.  Top with candy eye balls.  Serve with your favorite tortilla chips.

NOTE: The sky is the limit on the ingredients you can put in this.  Add some leftover taco meat, or black beans.  I literally just used what I had in my fridge leftover from a Nacho Bar party.