Mexican Layer Dip

My daughter recently had a camp out with a few friends in our backyard. They slept in a giant, 14-person tent. What fun! 🙂 The camping was combined with another event on their summer bucket list- a “dip-night.” (inspired by TikTok 😉 )

The girls each contributed a different dip, savory or sweet, to create the feast. We made this Mexican layer dip and served it with tortilla chips and Trader Joe’s corn dippers. The recipe was adapted from ThePioneerWoman.com. I loved that her version incorporated warm beans as the base of the dip. It was an easy crowd-pleaser.

• 1 can refried beans (I used Trader Joe’s Fat Free Refried Beans)
• hot sauce, such as Tabasco or Cholula, to taste (I omitted it for this crowd)
• 1 can diced green chilies (I used Trader Joe’s mild green chilies)
• ground cumin, to taste
• 3/4 to 1 cup grated cheddar cheese (mild or sharp)
• 1 cup sour cream
• freshly made guacamole (about 1 cup)
• 3/4 to 1 cup Monterey Jack Cheese
• 1 cup Pico de Gallo (I used Trader Joe’s)
• 1 can sliced black olives (I omitted them)
• kernels from 1 ear of corn
• chopped cilantro, for garnish, optional
• sliced or diced jalapeños, for garnish, optional
• tortilla chips (and/or other corn chips), for serving

1. Begin by heating the refried beans in a small pan over medium-low heat.
2. Add one or two dashes of hot sauce, if using, and a small can of undrained diced green chilies. Stir well.
3. Sprinkle the bean-chile mixture with a little bit of ground cumin. Stir to incorporate.
4. Spread the beans on the bottom of a glass bowl or high-sided or wide serving dish.
5. Sprinkle the shredded cheddar evenly over the top.
6. Next, dollop the sour cream over the cheese. Spread it into a single layer, as much as possible, being careful not to disturb the cheese underneath.
7. The next layer is the guacamole. (I used my favorite guacamole recipe (link above) using 2 avocados and garlic-chipotle salsa. This time, I omitted our traditional add-ins of chopped tomatoes and red onions.)
8. Next, sprinkle an even layer of shredded Monterey Jack cheese over the guacamole.
9. Top with a generous layer of Pico de Gallo.
10. Sprinkle chopped black olives over the top, if using.
11. Microwave an ear of fresh corn for 1 minute on high. When cool enough to handle, place upright in a bowl and slice of the kernels. Sprinkle the kernels over the top as the final layer.
12. Garnish with jalapeños and cilantro, if desired. Serve with tortilla chips.

Mother’s Day Vanilla Naked Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting & Strawberries

Not to brag, but Mother’s Day was my daughter’s favorite holiday when she was little. ❤ It has now been surpassed by her birthday, Easter, and Christmas, of course, but she still recognizes it is an important day. 🙂 She tirelessly made this cake- completely independently- for Mother’s Day this year.

My son made a family favorite (my choice!), Penne with Vodka-Cream Sauce, for our Mother’s Day dinner. He served it with garlic bread and a giant salad. This lovely dessert topped off our celebratory meal. Lucky me! 🙂

The recipe was adapted from one of our favorite birthday cakes, Rainbow Sprinkle Cake, contributed to The New York Times by Julia Moskin. She used 8-inch pans, omitted the sprinkles, and modified the proportions and baking time. She also topped the cake with fresh strawberries. Delicious.

For the Cake:

• 1/2 cup/110 grams unsalted butter (1 stick), slightly softened, more for pans
• 1 1/2 cups/190 grams all-purpose flour, more for pans
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
• 2/3 cup/158 ml whole milk
• 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 1 cup/200 grams granulated sugar
• 1 whole egg plus 2 egg whites

For the Cream Cheese Frosting:

• 6 ounces cream cheese, slightly softened
• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter (3/4 stick), slightly softened
• scant 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt, more to taste
• 2 1/4 cups/225 grams confectioners’ sugar, sifted, more to taste
• 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 pound fresh strawberries, optional

To Make the Cake:

1. Heat oven to 325 degrees, preferably on convection, and place a rack in the center.
2. Butter and line the bottoms of two 8-inch round cake pans with parchment paper. Butter the parchment. Flour the pans, coating the bottom and sides, then tap out any excess flour.
3. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
4. In a small bowl, stir together milk and vanilla.
5. In a mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter and sugar at medium-high speed until light and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes.
6. Reduce speed to low and, with mixer running, slowly add egg and whites and beat until smooth and creamy, 1 to 2 minutes. Scrape down bowl.
7. Add half the flour mixture, then the milk mixture, then the remaining flour mixture, beating to blend after each addition.
8. Scrape down bowl and blend once more.
9. Remove bowl and use a spatula or spoon to fold in sprinkles by hand.
10. Divide batter evenly between the pans (approximately 400 g per pan), and bake until the tops are just dry to the touch and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 20 to 25 minutes. Rotate the pans halfway through baking. (She baked the cakes for 22 minutes.)
11. Transfer pans to a wire rack and let cool completely, at least 2 to 4 hours, before turning out.

To Make the Frosting & Finish the Cake:

1. In a mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat cream cheese, butter and salt together at medium speed until light and fluffy, 2 minutes.
2. Reduce speed to low and, with mixer running, slowly add sugar and beat until smooth.
3. Beat in vanilla just until incorporated.
4. Taste frosting; you should be able to taste the cream cheese and a little bit of saltiness, as well as the sweetness. If desired, add more salt or sugar. Keep refrigerated.
5. Turn cooled cakes out of pans.
6. Using a bread knife, cut off any domed or uneven parts of each cake to make flat surfaces.
7. Place one of the cakes on a platter or a cake stand, cut side up. Line the edges with parchment or wax paper to keep the cake stand clean.
8. Using an offset spatula, frost the top.
9. Stack the other layer on top, cut side down.
10. Place remaining frosting on top of the cake and, working from the center outward, frost the top and sides of the cake, as desired. (She kept the sides relatively naked.)
11. Top the cake with sliced strawberries, as desired.
12. Refrigerate cake 30 minutes or longer to set. Serve cool.