Batty Garlic Spinach Artichoke Dip

Is it just me, or is October 31st one of the busiest days of the year??

The "trick" is  getting everything done... the clock is moving so much faster today than usual... and I am hurriedly trying to tie-up loose ends for a third-grade Halloween party, getting costume details in order and making sure I'm in order!

 No matter how much prep work I seem to do, Halloween day is a flurry of activities and a race to the starting bell at 6 PM sharp when the real fun begins...  

The treat will be seeing all the cute kiddos on our door step.  This year I'm planning to present them with a basket of shiny apples...APPLES!?? Not really, the treat will be when I show them the real candy-- I have full-size candy bars to pass out!  I'm so excited...I hope they will be too!!

It's going to be a chilly Halloween night, with haunting winds and possible snow flurries!!  

 Brrrr... I will need something to warm up those frosty trick-or-treater's and their trusty chaperon when they return home!

Once they sink their fangs into this Dracula's Revenge, a gooey-cheesy dip; they will be sure to thaw out.

Quick, easy and marvelous for a bevy of hungry bats, or starving kids and husbands...

 Cheesy Garlic Spinach Artichoke Dip

1 box or bag of frozen chopped spinach, thawed, drained and all the water squeezed out.

1 can of artichoke hearts, roughly chopped (5-7 in the can I used)

1/2 red bell pepper chopped fine

1 garlic clove minced

1 cup of mayo- We use Hellman's or Dukes

1 cup of shredded Parmesan

pinch of salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

Shredded Monterey Jack cheese for the top

***

Mix the first 8 ingredients together.  Spread dip into a baking dish.  Top with a sprinkle of Monterey Jack cheese. Pop into a 350 degree oven for 30 minutes or until the top is lightly browned and everything is melted and bubbly.

What to serve with Dracula's Revenge?? 

 I like sliced french bread, tortillas, or celery... but for Halloween night... bat chips!!

For fun I added bat shaped tortillas to scoop up the cheesy goodness.

Take your favorite tortillas and on a cutting board, cut out the bat shapes with a cookie cutter.  Of course, you can use whatever shape you like...ghosts or pumpkins would be cute too!

***If you like the tortillas crisped, lightly spray batty tortillas with cooking oil, lightly salt and pepper and bake on cookie sheet, in a 350 degree oven for about 5-7 minutes (keep a watchful eye...the tortillas can go from crisp and toasty to burned and gross in two seconds)  

The toasted bats can be made ahead.

Wishing you and yours a hauntingly good Halloween!!!