Remembering One of Our Own, Elle! Elle's Favorite Bean Dip #ElleAPalooza

January 28th, the food blogosphere lost one of it's own. Elle of Elle's New England Kitchen suddenly passed away leaving her wonderful family and many friends both online and in her life offline shocked, and devastated.

Friends and foodies on Facebook are celebrating Elle's life this weekend by choosing a recipe from Elle's food blog (www.ellesnewenglandkitchen.com) and blogging about it. We're using the hastag #ElleAPalooza on all social media to remember her.

Friends of Elle are also working on an auction where funds will go directly to her family, please follow along on her Facebook remembrance page to learn more.

I met Elle probably a year after I started blogging back in 2007, I believe it was on the Foodie Blogroll site. She was always visiting and commenting on my blog posts with such friendliness. We followed each other on Facebook and she was always there to lend support and reply back to anyone in need. Her witty posts made us all laugh.

I was just on a new-to-me blog the other day and they had a google friend connect gadget in their sidebar, and who's little pink haired icon did I see? Elle's! 

Elle had recently alerted her facebook fans of a great site and company for pet ID tags. She loves her pets, we all knew, so of course I checked into it since we recently adopted a rescue doggy. Winks' tag arrived soon before Elle passed and I posted a "Thank you" to her with Winks' photo. She was, as always, polite to reply back. Now I'll forever remember Elle when I think about his dog tag. 

The recipe I chose to make from Elle's blog is actually one of two I want to share about right now. This Bean Dip and her Mocha Toffee Brownie Chunk Ice Cream. I'll make that (gluten free) soon, I promise!

everything's in the pot!

In her post she says this is her most favorite bean dip and would even eat it from the pot at the stove, lol. Of course I had to try it! It is delicious! I love bean dip and corn chips. I made this for Superbowl (WHAT? We're not football fans really, but Broncos are who MR. roots for, he was born there and it was his mom's fave team, but during the season you won't find us watching a game, MR. watched Nascar). Anyways, I served this up with some nachos and we all sat on the couch to watch the commercials game. I loved how the adobo (chipotle) flavored this, I actually used less and it was still great. It's very smooth and dippable.

I freaking love this Bean Dip 
Makes about 4 cups 

 1 (16 oz) can refried beans
 1 cup shredded cheese, I use a Mexican blend
 1/2 cup chopped green onions
 1/4 tsp adobo powder (I used some chipotle sauce)
 1 jar (8 oz.) taco sauce
 1 can (4 oz.) diced green chilies
 dash of garlic powder (I used chopped garlic)
 Corn chips for dipping

 Mix all the ingredients, but not the corn chips, in a small saucepan. Cook over low heat, stirring often, until thoroughly heated and cheese is melted. Keep warm. Serve with corn chips. So simple! And if you want more heat, go ahead and add it.

 enjoy,