Hot Shrimp Creamy Cheese Dip

I’m finishing up my unofficial, undeclared week of delicious cream cheese dips with just one more cheesy wonder: Hot Shrimp Creamy Cheese Dip.

While I’ve been slathering my Smoked Salmon Spread on bagel crisps, and dipping chips into this Porter Caramelized Onion Dip (check out the cookbook giveaway that features it), I figured what better time than this very moment to break out a Hot Shrimp Creamy Cheese Dip.

Because I haven’t broken into the crackers yet!

Click here to get my Hot Shrimp Creamy Cheese Dip.

So speaking of potato chips, Kristen was talking about the new Lay’s Chocolate Dipped Potato Chips on Facebook and people were going nuts!

Then yesterday at Target, there was more dip drama, I mean besides the newsstands creeping out on Chloe taking back Lamar.

When I was at Target—at 9 a.m.—a woman approached a sales associate—at 9 a.m.—and demanded to know why she couldn’t find the new Chocolate Dipped Lays Potato Chips (take a look at this taste test, hmmmm.)

I mean, this woman was UNHAPPY—at 9 a.m.

Apparently, she had big plans for the day that involved both salty and sweet and doing a lot of finger-licking. She must have been a food blogger.

Food shoppers are funny animals. Which must make food bloggers hilarious, because we’re always at the grocery store.

Case in point. Some of us just can’t seem to be bothered with making a list to take to the store. Yep that’s me.

Who needs a list? Why not just wing it when I’m making 4 recipes in one day? I mean I’d done most of the shopping throughout the week, I just needed three things to finish things off. I may not be 20 anymore, but I can remember that, right?

don’t be a dork shopper like me, download a free version of the shopping list above

At 8:30 a.m., I was at Smith’s, my usual grocery store, cruising the aisles like a NASCAR driver in the hunt for the championship. At 9 a.m. I slid into Target’s parking for holiday prop shopping, then raced over to HomeGoods to look for what I couldn’t find at Target, and then circled the corner to World Market. I was making good time, striking off my mental list and it was only 10:30 a.m.

Then I remembered I was out of oregano so back to Target I went AGAIN. This time I left with yet another 3 bags (including the cutest desk calendar, see my Friday Faves below) and a receipt for $43 because all I needed was OREGANO.

Then home. Where I realized I forgot peanuts. So a quick hustle to Dan’s Market, because it’s closer than Smith’s, but generally costs more coin. Then home AGAIN and the cooking commenced.

Halfway through recipe #2, I couldn’t find the can of Dulce de Leche I KNOW I had (this was not for the recipe with oregano or the peanuts, silly!) So back to Smith’s, because while Dan’s is closer, they only carry the Dulce de Leche at Smith’s. Which is what I discovered juuuuust before I trekked it to Smith’s.

Back home to finish the recipe before I have to pick up Smudge (2:45 p.m. by this time) and what was waiting for me in my pantry?

My can of Dulce de Leche. My head nearly exploded.

My lesson: Even when you go for just one thing, go ahead and make a list, and check it twice. And check the pantry twice, too. Better yet, have someone ELSE check the pantry.