It’s a typical question we get asked; what is your favorite food?
Now we commonly think of the most delicious food that you could eat anytime of the day, every day of the week. Yet, would your answer change if you considered the value behind the meal? For me, of course I have a favorite food that I couldn’t imagine not eating again. However, when I actually think about the meaning behind the food besides just filling my stomach, I have come to the conclusion that a sausage chip dip is my favorite meal. Rotel sausage dip is my favorite meal because of the surface level details and the deeper meaning. The surface level details include the preparation and how I was made aware of it, and the deeper meaning includes values of family and the memories.
How it is made
Despite my mom’s favorite meal being scrambled eggs, “the rotel dip is my favorite appetizer, as it is very delicious and easy to prepare”. I couldn’t agree more with my mom’s take on the dish. Not only is it easy to make, but it does taste amazing.
RECIPE: 1 tube of ground sausage (cooked), 1 brick of cream cheese, 1 can of Rotel
DIRECTIONS: Once the sausage is cooked, put all of the ingredients into a crock pot and turn it on high. Periodically check on it until all the ingredients are melted together. Stir and serve!
The dip can be served with chips or used as a topping. When I get the chance, I love to take my time and make elaborate meals. Yet, with life keeping me busy and on my toes, it’s nice to be able to simply put the ingredients into the crockpot and have a chance to just sit down and relax, knowing a tasty treat still awaits. The fact that rotel sausage dip is an easy dish to make, is one of the reasons it is my favorite meal.
The moment I discovered it
My mom claims “My relationship to the rotel dip is when my sister, Lorraine, prepared it for my sons graduation party. This is the first time I tried the dip”. Lorraine knows how to cook, very well, and works in management designing hotels. Pretty much she knows what she’s doing and makes it known. So, for my brother’s graduation party, my mom brings her sister out to help make all the food instead of catering the party. My mom had a few ideas for foods and Lorraine brought ideas of her own, one of which was the dip. Being simple to cook, she threw it all together while we continued prepping the other foods. Once it was done, my whole family gathered around to try it. I remember being skeptical at first, but we all tried it and thought it was amazing. Many of Lorraine’s meals were made with her experience in the restaurant business. She either was just throwing things in she found in the back of the fridge or going by the taste and not actual the measures. I was overjoyed when Lorraine told us how easy it was to make and how we would be able to pull it off without her, unlike some of the other dishes. Until the party started, it was very hard not to dunk a chip in the dip every time I passed by. A little bit after the party started, and all the food was out, the dip was finished, and who knows if any guests tried it or if it was just my family. Looking back on the party, I had no expectation to stumble across my favorite meal, but I guess that’s how it always works out. Great things come when you are least expecting them.
Representing family values…
My mom believes “The rotel dip has special meaning as it reminds me of family fun time. I make the dip when all my kids come home. I believe that my daughter, Rachel, likes it for similar reasons. How it connects us all as a family”. She knows me well and hit the nail on the head. The dip is so much more than the delicious taste because it always is a way to connect with the family. The memory of trying the dip for the first time is so vague. However, what I do remember from that day is many of my extended family members coming together, all hands-on deck, and helping out in any way possible to prep for the party. Years later when my sister graduated, we threw another party. It was another amazing day full of dip and spending time with family that we only see on the big occasions like so. And a few months ago, it was finally my turn for my graduation party, to complete the trifecta. It was so much fun, and I was so grateful for all the family members that came to celebrate my accomplishments and made me feel so special. It was indescribable, went by too fast, and was a day full of greetings and thanking people. Yet those little moments in between to be with my family meant the world. The weekend was one to remember and one to cherish. Of course, once again there was dip at the party, but it truly is the heartwarming memories that I have with my family that makes the dip so special.
… and memories
My mom remembers the first time we made the dip without Lorraine. She recalls how “We disagreed about the quantities of ingredients and I didn’t want to ask my sister…The funny thing is, that the ratio of ingredients is the easiest to remember 1:1:1. It always makes me laugh when I think of that memory”. What I love about this story is how it’s about the little things. Sometimes it’s the little moments that bring upon a smile or laugh. Although the meaning behind the meal can be elaborate, such as the ability to spend quality time with family, it can also be a moment that is so small that it may seem insignificant to others. Yet to me, the dip is more than the food when it brings memories to life.
What I’ve learned
Over the course of the past few years I have learned that food is sometimes just a vehicle to bring people together. There are many options I could have chosen, as there are many foods that correlate to warm traditions of spending time with family and friends. Any food could be my favorite meal, as long I get the chance to smile, laugh, and share it with loved ones. Liking the meal is just the cherry on top! Life is full of different meals, and with that, life is full of different moments to look back on and smile.
