Slow Cooker Pizza Dip

Well. Super Bowl Sunday is upon us, and for those who have been here for awhile, you know, that two years ago, I was crying in my beer because my 49ers got beat by the Eagles to go to the Super Bowl. And. Well. Two years later, we are seeing the same matchup, which is just reminding me of what could have been. So, this year, I am not cheering for a team. Well, I am, but not one on the field. I am cheering for the one in the kitchen- Team Food! Let's try a slow cooker pizza dip for the win.

Ingredients/Recipe:

• 8 oz of cream cheese (softened)

• 14 oz jar of pizza sauce

• 2 C of shredded mozzarella

• 1/2-3/4 C of shredded parmesan

• 1- 1 1/2 C of mini pepperonis

• 1-2 tbsp of Italian seasoning/an herb mix

• Crunchy bread for dipping

 Putting it Together:

In your slow cooker, place the cream cheese, pizza sauce, 1 C of the shredded mozzarella, shredded parmesan, 3/4 C of the mini pepperonis, and the Italian seasoning. Place the slow cooker on low for 2 hours. At the 1 hour mark, give the food a good mix, getting everything nicely mixed together, then place back on low for the remaining 1 hour.

After the remaining hour, add the rest of the shredded mozzarella over the top of the mixture, and place the remaining mini pepperonis across the top of the cheese. Then, put your slow cooker back on low for another 30 minutes, until all of the cheese is nicely melted.

 Serving

Crunchy bread is perfect for this as they can be used to simply dip right into the slow cooker, or you can scoop out dip and put on top of each piece of bread for serving. Or, if you are looking for a non-carb item/bread substitution, try slicing mini sweet peppers in half, and using them as a dipper, or, using it as a "boat" for serving the dip in.

 Load of Crock Tip(s):

• Make sure the cream cheese is really softened as it makes the mixing up at the 1 hour mark so much easier, and doesn't require the dairy to be in the slow cooker too long.

• You can bulk this up however your tastebuds prefer; add mushrooms, sausage, make it a veggie pizza dip with banana peppers, green olives and mushrooms. Make the pizza dip like you'd order your pizza!

• As a leftover, buy a pack of the 12 mini Hawaiian buns, slice it down the middle, and spread the leftover dip over the bottom of the buns. Add some shredded or freshly sliced mozzarella over the top, and then place the top of the buns back on it. Bake in the oven for 10-15 mins, until the cheese is nice and gooey, and serve as little pizza dip sliders.

So friends, this year, instead of crying in my beer during the Super Bowl, I will be drinking a beer, and you will hear me cheering…for the food! Gooooo, pizza dip!