Friday evening, I readied myself for an outrageous , monumental, and ambitious evening of …

Absolutely Nothing!

Donning my clever and appropriate “NAMAST’AY IN BED” tank top, nothing could hold me back.

But what about dinner?

Food consumed without the restraint of cutlery, in bites large and small while relaxing on the couch, something spicy, something crunchy, something cheesy…

That was my Destiny.

Cheddar Pepper Bean Dip

2 Cherry Peppers, Small Dice
2 Jalapeño Peppers, Small Dice – Can substitute with a bell pepper or poblano if you do not do spicy
A Few Shallots, Minced
1 Large Garlic Clove, Minced
1 Fresh Tomato, Diced
2 ¼ Cups Shredded Sharp White Cheddar Cheese
1 Can Black Beans, Drained & Rinsed (15 oz.)
½ Ricotta Cheese – I used this because I had leftover homemade ricotta in the fridge. Feel free to use a different creamy white dairy product such as cream cheese, sour cream, mascarpone, or just cream.
2 Tsp. Tomato Paste
1 Tsp. Cilantro Paste (optional)
½ Tsp. Chili Powder
½ Tsp. Cumin
½ Tsp. Smoked Paprika
Olive Oil
1 Bag of Favorite Corn Chips

In your skillet of choice (get somma dat cast iron!) swirl a tablespoon or two of olive oil around on medium high heat
Sautée the peppers til they start to get a little color
Toss in the shallots, cooking for a couple of minutes
Add the tomatoes followed by the garlic and cook for a minute before adding the black beans

Stir in the tomato paste and cilantro paste, followed by the ricotta
Top with 2 cups of cheese and sprinkle the chili powder, cumin, and smoked paprika on top of the cheese

Lower the heat to a little below medium and cover with a lid for a minute or so
Remove the lid and stir your creation, adding the last bit of cheese

If I had fresh green onion, that would have been sprinkled on the top for presentation purposes, but woulda coulda shoulda
Serve as is and dive in!

This acts as a wonderful party dip; however, it is also ta flawless choice as a night-in-with-a-movie dip.

You can prepare other little toppings like sautéed spinach, salsa (store bought is fine, #inaforanhour), and maybe some leftover ground turkey for your bearded meat-eating life partner.

A side of guacamole would have also been welcome, though unnecessary, especially considering the fact that this massive amount of cheese and co. ended up being consumed by just two people.

And for that I am not ashamed.