Bean Dip - Witbier

I have no excuse, but I have completely dropped the ball on the blog lately.  This is one of those recipes that have been in my family for ages.  We have it just about every party.  I believe my mom started it and my brother in law Gage perfected it.  It’s a really simple recipe and most the time I have all the ingredients on hand, so its an easy appetizer to put together for an unexpected party.  This is a basic bean dip and you could add dozens of different ingredients to it, but this is always my favorite.

Bean Dip

Weight watchers – 4/serving using baked tortilla scoops (1/2 cup dip with 5 chips)

Servings – about 20 people

1-16 ounce container light cream cheese

1-16 ounce bag 2% milk Mexican cheese

2-15 ounce cans fat free refried beans

1 packet taco seasoning

*These are the amounts I general use, but adjust to your liking of beans/sour cream/cheese ratio.

1.      Preheat oven to 350

2.      In bowl mix together beans and taco seasoning

3.      In baking dish spread a layer of beans

4.      On top of beans add a layer of sour cream (should be about half as thick as bean layer)

5.      On top of sour cream add layer of cheese

6.      Repeat layering, finish with a cheese layer

7.      Heat in oven about 10 minutes until heated through and cheese is melted

8.      Serve with tortilla chips (baked scoops are great for a healthier choice)

This actually pairs really well with a lot of different beers.  It’s not too bold so you do want to stay away from anything too strong in flavor.  It still being summer, I like this with a witbier.  Mike and I both love witbiers especially in the summer.  Shock Top Belgian White, is pretty good is widely available.

Shock Top is another one, like blue moon, done by the big beer companies, Anheuser-Busch.  If I am craving a wit and I am out a bar and they don’t have blue moon, this is often your only other option.  It’s not the best witbier out there, but it will indeed satisfy the craving.  It is brewed with orange, lemon, lime and coriander.  I always love the coriander spice in a beer and the citrus flavors really come through.  This is refreshing and easy to drink.  It’s a good beer for people who don’t typically like beer.