Armadillo Dip

This is one of those recipes I call 'guy food'. Not that women can't eat it and enjoy it. But usually it's the men who sit by the crock pot and practically shovel it in.

There are tons of types of things called armadillo dip. In fact, it was one of the features in Jackson, Mississippi's own Sweet Potato Queen's Big-ass Cookbook (and Financial Planner) (also available on Amazon.) I think their version is quite a bit different. This one comes from my friend, Donna who is from the south (where armadillos live) and has faithfully served this at many a dinner party to the great satisfaction of our male friends. She writes:

Here’s the recipe for the armadillo dip (also known as Spicy Beef Dip):

1 pound lean ground beef
½ Cup chopped onion
1 clove garlic, minced
1 8 ounce can (1 Cup) tomato sauce
1 tsp sugar
¼ Cup catsup
¾ teaspoon dried oregano, crushed
1 8 ounce package cream cheese
1/3 Cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

In a 12-inch skillet cook beef, onion, and garlic until the beef is lightly browned and onion is tender. Drain fat.
Stir in tomato sauce, catsup, oregano, and sugar. Cover.
Simmer gently for 10 minutes. Spoon off excess fat.
Remove from heat and add cream cheese and Parmesan, stirring until melted.
Serve warm – a small crock pot is ideal – with Fritos Scoops.

Yields 3 Cups

(I made a double batch for our crowd. I really don't think there is anything very spicy about this. And I even added in a few other little things like: cumin, cayenne pepper, chili powder. I think the above recipe is better than mine turned out.)