Who’s ready to watch some Cowboys action this weekend?  Sunday’s game may have inched my blood pressure a few more unfortunate steps up, but I’m delighted to have more football left to play in the season.  After being chronically disappointed by my Longhorns the last couple of years, I’m still a little in shock that we left the evening with a “W”.  Seriously, I’m contemplating burning all my orange in an actual fire, because I’m extremely superstitious and none of it brought the Longhorns a W when it counted.  Like a phoenix, the Longhorns must rise from the ashes.

I think the answer to Sunday’s shocking comeback win lies in this Caramelized Onion Dip.  It has long been my most requested appetizer and when paired with my Homemade Oven Chips – a game changer is born.  I think the Cowboys lived to see another day solely so we could enjoy this dip once again.  You may have heard that unscrupulous refereeing was the tipping point. But I know the truth, caramelized onion dip and homemade potato chips ensured the real win.  The Ice Bowl starts at noon, Sunday, and I expect you to be ready. In light of this, since Soup Swap starts at 6pm, you better prepare your soup on Saturday.  If you don’t have time to make your own onion dip, let me know.  I’ll make it for you.  In the words of young Hiatt, “Giddy up, Cowboys!”

Caramelized Onion Dip Recipe

(adapted from adashofsass.com)

makes about 2.5 cups, serves 6ish – feel free to double, I almost always do

2 large yellow onions (note **** not sweet onions, maui or 1015, just regular yellow)

2 large shallots

2 tbsp butter

2 tbsp olive oil

1/4 tsp cayenne

1 tsp kosher salt

16 turns fresh ground pepper

6 oz cream cheese, room temperature

2/3 c. sour cream

2/3 c. mayonnaise

Slice and peel onions, slice rings into 4 quarters.  Slice and peel shallots, slice rings in half.  Heat a saute pan over medium heat until hot, then add butter and olive oil.  Stir to melt butter, then add onions and shallots.  Season with cayenne, salt, and pepper.  Stir to combine, then cook over the medium heat about 10 minutes.  

Reduce heat to 25% above your lowest setting.  Stir and cook until soft and browned.  This takes forever.  Onions are easy to burn and that is not the flavor you want, so don’t be tempted to put your heat on high to shave off time.  Sometimes I cook them for an entire hour!  Low and slow, or be prepared to watch like a hawk to prevent over browning.  You want the end result to look like this. Remove from heat and set aside to cool.  

In a stand mixer with your paddle attachment, mix cream cheese, sour cream, and mayonnaise.  Mix until combined and smooth.  If your cream cheese is still cold, it will look lumpy for awhile.  Walk away and let it continue mixing, eventually it will become smooth as silk.  When it looks like silk, add in your onion mixture and stir, just to combine. Dip a chip and season to taste, if required.  Get ready to sit back and bask in the glory, because everybody loves this dip.