We got home this afternoon from picking up F from school, and we are all tired as dogs. F has been sound asleep ever since we got home. She virtuously brought home some things to study with, but I won't be surprised if she mostly sleeps before she goes back on Sunday. Don't know what it is about coming home from college ... but I seem to remember that I slept my head off every time.

So for kind of a late supper, we are going to have a very simple and easy-to-prepare although probably heartburn-provoking dish called "It's Bean Dip". We call it that because when you open a can of bean dip it sounds similar to the opening of a can of cat food. The cats can hear the difference now, but when I first began to prepare it they would all run into the kitchen and start hollering. I finally realized that R and F would go into the dining room when I went into the kitchen and wait for me to say, "It's bean dip! Bean dip, you dummies! You don't want this!" and they would die laughing.

How to make "It's Bean Dip":

Optional: Brown some ground beef.
Optional: Saute chopped onion and mushroom.

Open a can or two of bean dip and smear it around in the bottom of a glass bowl. I have a pretty bowl that has a flat bottom and fluted sides.

If you've browned beef, spread that over the dip.

Open a can of diced tomatoes, any flavor you like; drain and spread the tomatoes over the beef. Your cats, if any, might like to lick up the tomato juice.

If you've sauted onions and mushrooms, spread that over the tomatoes; also chopped black olives if you have them.

Microwave this until it's hot, about 3 or 4 minutes.

Dump a bunch of grated cheese on top and put it back in the microwave until the cheese mostly melts, about a minute or so.

Let it stand another couple of minutes unless you don't mind it being runny. It looks disgusting when you dip it out, but it tastes wonderful. Serve with tortilla chips.