Beauty salons are not only in existence for the task of magically altering our hair and nails, they are also a perfect place to socialize, give and get advice, and of course share recipes. Kari Coates, who is a very talented nail technician and beauty salon owner, is one who often gets recipes from clients, and then shares them with other clients. Case in point: Tauna’s Creamy Southwestern Dip. Although it's unlikely that any of us know Tauna, those of us who have tasted this incredible dip, revere her and are most likely trying to lose the extra pounds which are a side effect of eating an entire batch. The ingredients are simple, and, with the exception of the vegetable medley, are probably in the fridge or on the shelf ready to be transformed into this creamy, chunky, and addicting dip.

The Southwest Vegetable Blend can be found in most larger grocery stores in the frozen vegetable section. Wal-Mart carries it, as well as Winco and Target in the West. Hopefully, this medley won’t be difficult to find in your area because it would be a major ordeal to put the individual components together as a substitute. The mix contains corn, black beans, roasted peppers, and onions. There is no actual cooking involved; the vegetables are simply set out to thaw or quickly microwaved and drained so any ice crystals don’t make the dip watery. Although store-bought tortilla chips will do, if you plan to serve this to guests at a holiday party or gathering, it will be worth your while to make homemade ones – they are very easy, but do require a deep fryer. Simply cut stacks of corn tortillas into 8 wedges, separate them, fry them in hot oil until crisp, and drain them on paper towels, salting them immediately as they come from the deep fryer.

24 Servings

1 14-ounce package Southwest Vegetable Blend, such as Birds Eye C&W Ultimate Southwest Blend
1 cup mayonnaise
1 cup sour cream
1 10 oz. can tomatoes and green chilies, such as Rotel
1 bunch green onion, thinly sliced
2 cups shredded cheddar jack cheese

1. Place the vegetables in the microwave in the bag and cook on high power 10 minutes or rinse the vegetables under hot water and drain well; set aside.
2. Whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, and tomatoes.
3. Stir in the green onions, cheese, and vegetables.
4. Cover and chill (if you have the willpower to wait), and serve with tortilla chips.

Amount Per Serving
Calories 153 Calories from Fat 115
Percent Total Calories From: Fat 75% Protein 9% Carb. 16%

Nutrient Amount per Serving
Total Fat 13 g
Saturated Fat 4 g
Cholesterol 17 mg
Sodium 131 mg
Total Carbohydrate 6 g
Dietary Fiber 1 g
Sugars 1 g
Protein 4 g

Vitamin A 6% Vitamin C 1% Calcium 0% Iron 1%