Hot Seafood Dip

I would like to dedicate this post to my Dad.  Last week I went home for Fall Break and it was the first time that I had seen my family since August.  Every time I go home I always try to make this dip for my Dad.  He really likes it and I like doing something special for him!  This dip is really good and one of my favorites, but it is probably one of the more expensive things that I make.  So it might not be something that you make regularly, but it can DEFINITELY be made to impress someone!  Ok, so here are the ingredients:

8 oz. frozen cocktail shrimp (thawed and drained)

8 oz. flaked or chopped crab meat (I always buy imitation crab meat that is packaged in the refrigerator section)

8 oz. cream cheese (light or regular)

½ cup mayonnaise

1 cup sharp cheddar cheese

1 Tablespoon lemon juice

1 Tablespoon chopped parsley (dried is fine)

1 teaspoon onion powder

Salt and pepper to taste

Combine and mix the above ingredients. It is easiest if you let the cream cheese sit out for about thirty minutes because it is hard to mix it with all of the other ingredients.  It is also helpful to cut the cream cheese up into little cubes to make it easier to mix.  Then, coat an 11 X 7 baking dish with non-stick spray and spread mixture into pan. Make sure that you have spread out the dip evenly in the pan or it will not cook correctly.  Finally, put the pan in the oven and bake it uncovered at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until bubbly. Serve warm with TRISCUITS!  Personally, my Dad and I prefer the "Rosemary and Olive Oil" Triscuits the best!