A quick post today with 2 of the dips from our Halloween Dinner. Of course, these are delicious any time of year...you just have to make them without the spooky accoutrements.
The brain dip is pretty gross looking...I'm not going to lie...if you are squeamish around gross Halloween food you probably won't survive the brain.
We have also made it in a skeleton mold...yeaaaah....also nasty.
Brain Dip
(Cream Cheese Mushroom Soup Dip)
Ingredients
1 can (10 oz) condensed mushroom soup
1 pkg (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
1 pkg unflavored gelatin
1/4 cup water
1 bunch green onions, chopped
2 cups shrimp, chopped
1 cup mayo
dash hot sauce
Directions
In a medium sauce pan, mix together mushroom soup and cream cheese over low heat until smooth. Remove from heat.
In a small bowl, dissolve gelatin in water.
When gelatin is dissolved, stir into soup mixture.
In a large mixing bowl, stir together onions, shrimp, mayo, and hot sauce. Stir in soup mixture.
Spread evenly into mold that has been sprayed with cooking spray. Cover with plastic wrap. Chill for several hours/overnight.
Unmold by dipping mold in warm water for a few seconds and then inverting onto serving platter.
Pretty easy, yes?
But, if you want something a little bit spicier then you may want to try Sue's tasty bean dip.
This is really super tasty.
Super.
I'm not lying.
Plus...it looks so cool on a Halloween dinner table.
Graveyard Dip
(Black Bean Taco Dip)
Ingredients
1st layer
1 can refried beans (Sue used refried black beans)
2nd layer
2 cups sour cream
1 pkg taco seasoning
3rd layer
1 cup salsa
4th layer
2 avocados, mashed
1 clove garlic, minced
2 Tbsp mayo
5th layer
1 bunch green onions, chopped
Directions
In a small glass dish (you can also use a pie plate), layer beans, then sour cream mixed with taco seasoning, then salsa, then avocado mixed with garlic and mayo, then sprinkle the onions on top.
Sue put the refried black beans on top of the dip instead of on the bottom just so it looked a little more like dirt in the graveyard. Feel free to layer this dish in any order you want.
Chill at least an hour or so...until ready to serve. (Can be made a day ahead and kept, covered, in fridge.)
To make the tombstones and tree you just need 2 large tortillas. Cut out the shapes you want, place on parchment paper lined cookie tray, and bake at 350 until the tortillas are nice and brown.
Place the tortilla decorations in the dip shortly before you plan on serving it as they will go a bit soggy if they sit too long.
There you have it.
2 simple Halloween dips that will impress your guests.
Be sure to stop by these fun blogs for tons of cool links - Kitchen Fun With My 3 Sons, Anyonita Nibbles,
Where do u get the molds love the brain dip
ReplyDeleteThe Jello gelatin company also puts out molds just around Halloween in assorted shapes like a brain and a biologically correct heart. They usually come in some kind of sale with however many packets of jello.
DeleteI got my brain jello mold last year it was free & all I had to pay was like $3 for p&h.
DeletePRANKPLACE.COM HAS SOME PRETTY AFFORDABLE MOLDS OF ALL KINDS
DeleteThey are easy to find!!! Not like a couple of years ago!! This dip is AWESOME!! It quickly became a Halloween tradition!
DeleteI got mine at a SPIRIT HALLOWEEN store......
Delete99cent Only has that mold for 99cent
DeleteI picked my mold from a $store! It's just as sturdy as other much more expensive molds
DeleteWe found some of them at the dollar store and some of them at Michaels. I can't remember exactly which ones we found where...but it was those 2 places.
ReplyDeleteHow did you write RIP on the mini grave tortillas?
ReplyDeleteWith an edible ink felt pen. You can get them at Michaels or the Bulk Barn. If you do not intend on eating the ones placed in the dip then you could just use a regular felt - just remember to tell your guests not to eat those ones! :)
DeleteOH!! Completely forgot about the edible ink pens!! Possibilities are endless!! I never can get my eyeballs just right!! LOL!!
DeleteCouldn't you just use the gel icing?
ReplyDeleteYes. You could also use gel icing...it's just thicker than the pens. :)
DeleteOoh, I just saw a brain mold last night at walmart and was wondering what I'd use it for considering I hate hello. Guess I'll have to go back and pick it up.
ReplyDeleteI saw your graveyard dip on Pinterest and had to stop by and tell you how cute it is. When I got here, I realized you had a whole collection of great dips. They are all amazing.
ReplyDeleteIs there something I can substitute the shrimp with? Or do you think it would still work without it? We have Shrimp allergies in the family but I really want to make this.
ReplyDeleteHmmm..... I'm pretty sure it would work without the shrimp! Please let us know if you give it a try.
DeleteI was wondering the same thing! These are great dip ideas thanks for sharing!
DeleteI think I'm going to try it with chipped beef. Might as well, I already have the mold. I think it will be good.
ReplyDeleteHas anyone tried the brain dip? Is it any good?
ReplyDeleteFresh shrimp or the tiny ones in the can? Need for tonight!
ReplyDeleteWe used fresh ones but I am sure if you drained the canned ones they would work just as well...
DeleteWhen you say one package of unflavored gelatin.. What exactly constitutes a package?
ReplyDeleteAlso, do you reconstitute the soup?
DeleteHi Samantha - The gelatin packages we use are equivalent to 1 Tbsp gelatin. And, no, you don't reconstitute the soup. :)
DeleteOh my gosh, your brain dip is awesome... gross, but awesome!!!
ReplyDeleteVisiting from Kitchen Fun with my 3 Sons - This graveyard is so cute! Every year we have a family Halloween Party and I think I might just have to make my own graveyard to take. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteAlexandra
EyeLoveKnots.blogspot.com
Not a fan of shrimp - any other options that would produce similar look??? This would be great option for a party I am going to....
ReplyDeleteHmmm... not sure what else would work Diana. The shrimp really adds to the color and texture of the dip. You could add little bits of cooked chicken but, of course, that wouldn't have the same look. You could also try the fake crab (Alaskan Pollock) as it has the bits of color similar to shrimp. Let us know how it goes for you!
Deleteyou can use crab or lobster too
DeleteBacon. Enough said.
DeleteMy boyfriend and I just decided to host a small at-home adult Halloween cocktail party and we each agreed to make a few Halloween-themed appetizers and a Halloween-themed cocktail. Of course, we are very competitive and I want to really surprise him (and outdo him - LOL) with some cool and different "creations." The Brain Dip sounds great -- what did you serve it with? THANKS!
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your party!! We usually serve the brain dip with baguette bread. (We made it this year and served it with tortilla chips and that was tasty as well)
DeleteThat's sounds super delicious and I'm so trying to make the brain for this years Halloween party. How pig are the shrimps and do you cut them into smaller pieces as well or not?
ReplyDeleteYes, you chop them up into small bits. :) Hope you enjoy this dip as much as we do! :)
DeleteThis may be a dumb question but in the dip, how long do you cook the shrimp? Also, do you just boil it?
ReplyDeleteThe shrimp we used was bought, already cooked from the store!
DeleteVery cute idea... I've submitted this post to a client to use in a roundup post. I hope it's ok if she uses it :)
ReplyDeleteThank you Amanda - as long as we are credited with link backs for any photos or recipes used then we don't mind at all! :)
DeleteThanks for sharing this wonderful idea! I had a quick question:
ReplyDelete- What else could you use as a substitute of the Soup? My husband hates mushrooms :(
Also, as a suggestions to those allergic to shrimp, ham might do the trick? (just an idea)
You could use another condensed soup - ie: cream of celery or cream of chicken, etc... it will change the flavor but hopefully not too much. And, ham would be a great sub. Thanks for the tip! :)
DeleteI have made this for years! Always at the holidays! I do a a cup of celery diced for a bit of crunchiness. My recipe was from a gal I used to work with. Exact recipe. I serve with the Pepperidge Farm butterfly crackers.
ReplyDeleteI made this last night for my office's Spooky Treats contest and blew away the field! Thanks very much!!
ReplyDeleteThat's awesome! So glad you liked it :)
DeleteHi just got my Brain md today at Dollar Tree
ReplyDeleteI made the brain dip for our last Halloween party and it was a HUGE hit! Instant classic! It's delicious!
ReplyDeleteYay! Thank you for letting us know!
DeleteDo you have to use unflavored gelatin?
ReplyDeleteYes
DeleteI'm doing this! Got my mold at the Dollar Tree! I'm pumped, wish me luck!
ReplyDeleteGood luck! Let us know how it turns out :)
DeleteCream of Shrimp soup instead to "kick shrimp flavor up a notch"???
ReplyDeleteI've never heard of cream of shrimp soup before. I can't comment on how it would affect the dip but I don't see why it shouldn't work.
DeleteAre we supposed to use CREAM of mushroom soup OR just mushroom soup?
ReplyDeleteI bought Campbell’s condensed mushroom soup and now I’m thinking I bought the wrong one :(
Alternative to gelatin because I don’t eat pork and gelatin is made from pork by products.... otherwise this recipe sounds amazing !
ReplyDeleteI loved this idea! I modified this recipe without the soup or gelatin, but added 1/2 teaspoon celery salt, an extra 8oz cream cheese and 3 Tablespoons heavy (whipping) cream to replace the soup and gelatin. I also used just the white parts of the green onion and some finely chopped celery (the less green parts) and a bit of beet juice for color. These modifications were made for guests on a lower carbohydrate diet plan. We served it with a veggie tray (and assorted crackers for those not concerned with carbs). It was a hit! Thanks for the inspiration and the basis for a delicious treat!
ReplyDeleteI spread cocktail sauce on the brain before serving
ReplyDelete