Cheesy Black Bean Bacon Dip

Cheesy Black Bean Bacon Dip is loaded with Southwest flavors. It's made for sharing amongst friends, but you may be tempted to keep this easy, delicious recipe all to yourself. It's that awesome.

Go easy on yourself. I say these words to others all the time, but I frequently fail to take this advice myself. How do we find the balance between driving towards our dreams and being in the moment? How do we tend to our minds and bodies when our brains know there's work to do? I find it especially hard when that work is something I'm really passionate about.

But we need a break from our passions as well. A fire cannot be sustained without the proper fuel, so to keep our spark of inspiration alive, we must feed ourselves with rest, with peace, with a few hours of doing something totally mindless and fun. Hopefully you can all see the irony of the fact that I'm currently writing this post on a Friday evening when I wish more than anything that I could be lying on my sofa watching The Golden Girls. But seriously, kids. Take it easy. It's not a luxury. It's a necessity.

What makes Cheesy Black Bean Bacon Dip so awesome?

One way to totally take it easy is to make some Cheesy Black Bean Bacon Dip and call it dinner. It's got healthy black beans which are high in fiber and salsa which is just pre-chopped vegetables. And did I mention the cheese and the bacon? They're not exactly healthy, but they taste freaking awesome. Pair that with a bag of salty tortilla chips, and you've got an awesome night ahead of you.

This dip is great for a football party or a game night. You can control the spice level and keep it mild or crank it up to suit your style. Serve it hot for maximum awesomeness. You could even have it in a small crockpot if you wanted it to be out for a while if people are grazing. Oh, and it's totally easy to double this recipe if you're making this for a crowd. People will want to eat a lot of it.

Magical Properties of Beans

Beans have been used in magical practice for centuries. They're good for banishing and protection, almost as a form of sound cleansing. Fill a rattle with beans and shake to repel low-level malevolent entities.

You can also sprinkle them around your property to ward off ghosts for a year. If the beans sprout and grow, the protection will last longer. Ancient Greeks belived you could also spit or throw beans at ghosts to drive them away. Work with the color magic of black beans to make your banishing even stronger. (Source: Element Encyclopedia of 5000 Spells by Judika Illes)

For more on the magical properties of other ingredients in this recipe, check the Kitchen Magick page.

Tips for making Cheesy Black Bean Bacon Dip

This really is ridiculously easy. Start by cooking chopped bacon until crisp. Remove the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate to crisp up, then add the black beans to the bacon fat. Use a potato masher or a fork to give the beans a bit of a smash. We're looking for a bit of texture, so no need to make everything perfectly smooth here.

Then all you have to do is add some of your favorite salsa, and some cumin and garlic powder and bring it to a simmer. If you wanted to make it a bit spicier, a pinch of cayenne or a dash of hot sauce would also be good. It depends on how hot your salsa already is, though, so give it a taste before you go too crazy. Once it starts to bubble, stir in the cheese until it's melted. Boom. You're done.

Serve this warm with tortilla chips. Try not to eat it all yourself. It's not easy.

Keep it simple. Keep it awesome. Make Cheesy Black Bean Bacon Dip and know that life is truly good.

Looking for more awesom dip recipes? Try some Mexican Spinach Dip or my favorite Swiss & Bacon Dip.

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