There was once a time in my life when I sat through long, cold football games pretending to know what the hell was going on. After uprooting my life in New Brunswick and moving to Ontario with my mom, I was the new girl at a new high school where I met the man I would someday marry. But first, I would avoid him like the plague.
“He’s cute.” I gushed to a new friend while pointing to this tall, confident guy walking out of class.
“Tell anyone and I’ll kill you.” I added.
The next day, the entire school heard about the new girl’s crush on Eric.
I did what any mortified girl would do and avoided all eye contact while hiding down random staircases whenever he was within 100 feet of me. Or I would suddenly, urgently, need to go to the washroom. Libraries also made good hiding spots. I was willing to keep this up for the entire year if I had to. I only had a year until I graduated anyways.
That morning, Eric was in the locker room getting ready for football practice when his teammates told him about my rumoured crush. He didn’t believe them. “Why would she go after someone like me?” he asked. “You guys are messing with me.”
When my girlfriend confirmed to him it was true, Eric decided to mortify me even more by approaching me during student photos later that afternoon. I was stuck in a line up, going nowhere fast. Shoot me, he’s coming over!
“Hey Angela…” he said with a quivering smile.
My face turned the shade of a beet…no, make that a fire truck.
“Hey,” I replied casually.
“I’m Eric”
Awkward shaking of hands. Very awkward.
“Nice to meet you.”
“Waiting to get your photo taken…?”
“Yup…”
“You…?”
“Same…”
“Cool…”
“Cool.”
……….
……….
“Hey, are you going to the party on Friday night? I think someone mentioned you are going with the girls…” he asked
“I think so. It should be fun to meet some people. Are you…?”
“Yup, I’ll be there. Hopefully we can talk at the party…”
“Ok, see you then…”
“Thanks…I mean, bye…”
Whew he’s finally gone, I thought to myself.
Then it was time for my photo op.
Does my face look a bit flushed to you in this photo?
That’s what I thought. Thanks for flustering me Eric.
We played this awkward cat and mouse charade for a couple months. I showed up to his football games half watching, half ignoring him, as he tried to show off for me like guys often do. I was really there to examine his butt in spandex and talk with friends, though. He showed up at my locker every morning and waited for me after class. Sometimes he even drove me to Subway for lunch.
Two months later, we had our official first date on October 27, 2001. Football season also came to a close soon enough, and later, my confession that I had zero interest in football. I was a hockey girl through and through. Thankfully, he didn’t seem to mind. He does, however, refuse to give away his stinky football jersey hanging up in our closet. I decided to let him win that battle.
Featuring all new, protein-packed salads, hearty toppers, flavour boosters, and dressings you'll want to drink, my new cookbook will transform the way you think about salads. Oh, and be sure to flip to the back for a surprise dessert chapter!
Black Bean Chili Dip
Yield
2.5 cups
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
Reminiscent of a hot bowl of black bean chili, this chunky dip is great to pair alongside your favorite corn chips or crackers. I love Food Should Taste Good blue corn chips or sweet potato chips. To garnish, add some chopped green onion, avocado, cilantro, or your favorite cheeze.
Ingredients
- 1.5 cups chopped sweet onion
- 1 large garlic clove, minced
- 1 jalapeno, seeded and chopped
- 1.5 cups cooked black beans, rinsed and drained
- 3/4 cup mild salsa
- 1 cup frozen corn kernels
- 2 tsp chili powder (or to taste)
- 1 tsp ground cumin (or to taste)
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt (or to taste)
- 1 tbsp nutritional yeast (optional)
- for garnish: chopped avocado, cilantro, cheeze, or green onion
Directions
- In a large skillet over medium heat, add a bit of oil and sauté the chopped onion and garlic for about 5-7 minutes. Meanwhile, remove seeds from jalapeno and chop finely (I use gloves so the seeds don’t sting my fingers). Add in the chopped jalapeno and sauté for another few minutes.
- Add in the drained and rinsed black beans, salsa, and corn. Stir well and cook for a few minutes. Now add the chili powder, cumin, and salt all to taste. Stir in the nutritional yeast if using. Cook on low until heated through and serve warm with corn chips. Garnish with green onion, chopped avocado, or fresh cilantro.
Nutrition Information
(click to expand)
I love easy appetizers like this one. I was done in 20 minutes and didn’t have to dirty a bunch of dishes or food processor. Touch down!
I’m also working on some crispy cornbread crackers…but they need some work.
If you need me, I’ll be hogging the black bean chili dip, wrapped in a warm blanket reading my book.
Just be sure to let me know when the halftime show begins. Then I’m all over it.
You can also email me the best Super Bowl commercials on Monday. I’ll watch those too.
Ange!! I love this adorable confessional post – that brought back wonderful memories of the now long lost (where did 10 years go) sometimes (but not always) missed time… aka High School and crushes on boys.
Congrautaltions on such a long lasting relationship! Not always easy, but ultimately so rewarding – CLEARLY you guys ahve a great thing going!! xoxo
Agreed! You took the words right out of my mouth!
Also? That dip looks INCREDIBLE Angela! Are those FoodShouldTasteGood chips alongside? If so, I like your style ;)
Thanks ladies! :) Yup, those are FSTG chips…We’re obsessed! Esp. since finding you can buy the huge bags at Costco. ;)
This looks delicious! I made something similar last night, but poured it over sweet potato fries and called it nachos.
Cornbread crackers sound like a great idea!
Omg…the story how you guys met is really cute! And I’m for sure adding this dip to my Super Bowl snacks lineup! Thank you!
Mmm… that looks divine! I want to dive into that bowl of deliciousness..
The photo of you is so cute…and I loved the back story. I’m not a football fan, either.
Love the backstory. And isn’t it funny what we would do for boys or just to impress other girls back in junior high and h.s. or what made us all nervous and flustered Love the story.
And I’m digging the bean dip and that you have Coronas staged in the background. Great food styling and the pics in this one are fab. Great colors!
I knew you would notice that! I discovered beer is the easiest prop ever :)
I loved this post. Such a sweet story and your high school picture is so cute! The food looks amazing as always!
Your face may be flushed but look at your smile! :)
I love the photographic evidence! That’s a really sweet story. :)
That is the most adorable “how’d-you-first-meet” scenario. I couldn’t help but smile :)
This dip looks amazing, sadly… I don’t think I can make it since I’m not a football fan or going to a superbowl party… partially because I still don’t even know when the game is! :O
I loved your story! Thanks for sharing :)
I used to turn beet red myself in high school…wait…that hasn’t gone away completely! Rats!
heh story of my life…
Wow – I remember those high school days (and intense emotions!), even though they were a long time ago. My husband Chris and I got together towards the end of high school as well.
The chili dip looks great! I love the Food Should Taste Good sweet potato chips – sounds like a winning combo. Their multigrain chips are amazing as well… I sometimes manage to find them at Costco.
Looking forward to your cornbread cracker recipe…
that is the most endearing story ever! How cute!
You 2 are so cute!!! I had no idea that you started dating in high school – how sweet. The dip looks delicious :)
I love ‘how we met’ stories. Thanks for sharing.
Dip looks great.
Cute story! I also have a boyfriend who enjoys watching football, but I couldn’t care less about the game. A bean dip like this would be the only thing interesting for me at a Super Bowl party ;)
I absolutely loved this post! It took me back to the cat and mouse game of meeting my Mr. (I was 17 and he was 19) There’s something about young, enduring love! Oh and bean dip! :-)
Um…adorable!! Much cuter than the story of my boyfriend and I!
Also- this dip looks amazing, I think I’ll be making it this weekend!
Hi Angela,
What a sweet story! And what a wonderful idea (and photos!)! I’m not sure how it’s possible than I have never come across a chilli dip before. It makes perfect sense because I love dipping my tortilla chips into chilli…but I had never considered actually just making a dip out of it! :-)
~Emily~
Oh my goodness- what a cute story!! Wish my story about how I met my husband was that adorable… we met in a bar. Not quite as charming. :)
The dip looks really good- I might just have to make it on Sunday! We’re having a vegan potluck and I definitely needed another “snacky” idea (and didn’t want to make the same old boring hummus… though I did want it for the endurance crackers… guess I can do both!)