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Chili Cheese Dip

This dip is so easy it’s embarrassing, but we included it anyway because we love it. We usually make it in two smaller pans, one using chili with meat for me and one with vegetarian chili for Megan. This is the perfect after-school snack, taking less than ten minutes from walking in the door to munching away in front of the television.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    makes one 10-inch pan

Ingredients

8 ounces cream cheese
1 (15-ounce) can chili with beans
1Ā 1/2 cups Cheddar
Tortilla chips

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Spread the cream cheese evenly in the bottom of a 10-inch microwave-safe pan or dish. Spread the chili over the cream cheese and top with the cheese. Microwave on high for 4 to 5 minutes, or until the cheese is completely melted.

    Step 2

    Serve with the tortilla chips.

  2. Kitchen Chemistry

    Step 3

    Here is some real kitchen chemistry. I got this from my AP Chemistry teacher and thought it was instructions for a lab experiment. It was titled ā€œEdible polymers: A partial thermal degradation of carbon dioxide–foamed saccharides with protein inclusions.ā€ The directions were to combine 1Ā 1/2 cups sucrose, 1 cup glucose solution, and 1/2 cup H2O and bring to a boil. Add 3 tablespoons solidified mixed esters and heat to 250˚ F. Add 2Ā 1/4 cups protein pellets and heat to 300˚F. Remove from the heat and stir in 1/2 teaspoon sodium chloride, 1/4 teaspoon sodium bicarbonate, and 3/4 teaspoon 4-hydroxy-3-methoxy-benzaldehyde. After wracking my brain trying to figure out what solidified mixed esters and protein pellets were, she told me the common names of the ingredients (sugar, corn syrup, water, butter, peanuts, salt, baking soda, and vanilla). It was a recipe for peanut brittle.

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