Planning a party? Need an appetizer? Get the party started with an easy dip for all to enjoy. Throw it in the slow cooker and it does the work.

Preparation time: 10-15 minutes

Cooking time: 1-2 hours

Serving Size: 4-6

Ingredients:

3 pounds ground beef

1 cup ketchup

2 teaspoons oregano

2 packages cream cheese; room temperature

1 15.5 ounce can tomato sauce

1 tablespoon chili powder

3 teaspoons white sugar

1 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1 cup green onions; chopped

1 1/2 cups taco cheese or 1 cup Parmesan cheese

1/4 cup green or black olives; chopped up (optional)

Salt to taste

Directions

1. Brown ground beef in large skillet. Drain grease and pour into slow cooker.

2. Cut cream cheese into chunks. Pour all ingredients except green onions into slow cooker with lid and stir occasionally. Pour green onions into slow cooker the last half hour.

3. Cook for one to two hours or until cheese is melted. Stir together, serve with chips or pita cut into bite size pieces.

Tip #1: If you don’t have green onions use white onions.

Tip #2: Add hot sauce to kick up the volume.