Individual Hot Pizza Dip

I’m sorry about this recipe.  I really am.  It’s freaking delicious and takes about 3 minutes to pull together.  It’s going to be a problem around my apartment.

So here’s the thing: it’s not even remotely fancy or healthy food.  It’s hardly even a recipe.  It’s cream cheese, red sauce, and shredded cheese microwaved and served with pita wedges.  But oh god.  It’s finals, I’m graduating from law school in 2 weeks, starting bar review the day after commencement, moving, and sometimes I just want to eat my anxiety, okay?  And this stuff does the trick.  It’s hot and melty and tomatoey- my definition of comfort.

Clearly more excited to eat it than to take a decent photo- or even wipe off the splatter.

Individual Hot Pizza Dip

• 1 tablespoon cream cheese
• 2-3 tablespoons marinara sauce
• dried oregano
• fennel seeds*
• crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
• 1 tablespoon shredded cheese (cheddar, mozzarella, etc.)

In a microwavable bowl (cereal size) spread the cream cheese in an even layer.  Layer on the marinara sauce, a sprinkle of the oregano and fennel seeds and crushed red pepper flakes, if using.  Top with shredded cheese.  Cover with a paper towel and microwave on high for 1 minute, or until the cheese is melted. Serve with toasted pita wedges.

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• Okay, so this probably tastes better if you bake it in the oven instead of microwaving it.  But really people, I’m talking 3 minutes until you have hot delicious pizza dip.  Get over crunchy cheese and nuke this.  If you have more time or want to feed a bigger crowd you can make this in a large pan and bake it for a while and I’m sure it will be delicious.

*The fennel seeds make this taste a little like sausage- this is my dad’s trick and I use it all the time on pizza or in pasta dishes.  Crush the seeds lightly in the palm of your hand before you add them to a dish.  I buy mine in the Indian section of the grocery store.  They come in a bag and are much cheaper than the ones in the tiny bottle in the spice aisle.

**In the photo I sprinkled some nutritional yeast on top.  See, it’s healthy now!