Dried Beef Dip

Hi everyone, Happy Foodie Friday! It's week 4 of my Personal PIGskin Challenge and I promised you a hot dip this week. There's a silly expression that always makes me laugh, but I think it applies here...

This dip is "slap yo mamma good!!!". 

I had it at a party and it was the first thing to disappear, as a matter of fact, those "in the know" were impatiently waiting by the oven for it. The hostess was kind enough to share the recipe.

Hope you love it if you try it:@)

Dried Beef Dip
2 (8oz) cream cheese, room temperature
1 C sour cream
1/2 C finely diced celery-don't skimp!
1/2 tsp black pepper
4 Tblsp butter*
1 (4oz) package of dried beef, diced*
4 Tblsp milk
4 tsp dried onion
1 tsp garlic salt*
Mix sour cream, milk, dried onion, garlic salt, pepper and cream cheese. Add dried beef and celery, mix well.
Put into a casserole and dot with butter.
Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.
Serve warm with Triscuits or assorted crackers.

*My notes:

1. Pictured is half of the recipe. I used a Corning Ware 23oz dish I bought for leftovers.
2. I used a 2.5oz jar of beef, not a problem!
3. I don't have garlic salt and feel salt is already well represented in this recipe, so I just added a heaping 1/4 tsp of garlic powder.
4. I cut back on the butter too, might even leave it out all together.
5. Water crackers are my favorite, but I think this would be good with bagel chips or that fun miniature loaf of rye bread you can get at the deli counter (of every supermarket but the one I shopped at today...).
6. I know Crayola won't be calling to name a crayon after this dip... Please don't let the lack of color stop you from trying this, I think chopped chives would be a pretty addition to the top once out of the oven.
7. This morning I topped my bagel with the leftovers, the BEST bagel I've ever had!
8. Noted variations (I haven't tried), sub 1/4C celery and 1/4C green pepper for the 1/2C celery, and you can also add 1/2 C chopped walnuts.
9. ...no mamma's were actually slapped in the making of this dip!