Super cheese dip or tasty sauce . . . soup?

I may have shared this before but summer is always a good time for a reminder. One of the most popular items I can offer at an informal party or barbecue is a spicy cheese dip. The recipe is simple and you can get very creative with it and it can't go wrong.

1-2 pounds of processed cheddar cheese. This is the block of semi-soft cheese you can find in the refrigerated section of the store.
1 16-ounce jar of your favorite salsa
1 small can of chilies - your choice for hotness
1 small can of sliced black olives
Lots of tortilla chips and a platter of crisp vegetables like broccoli, celery sticks, cauliflower, Bell pepper, jicama, etc.

If you have a crock pot, you don't have to worry about it at all. Just put all the ingredients except for the tortilla chips into the crock pot, set it on low and come by to stir it once in awhile as it melts.

You can also do this in a stove top pot but have to pay more attention so it doesn't burn.

You can set the crock pot right on your serving table with a ladle so people can help themselves. If you are putting it out from the stove, make sure your serving dish is microwaveable so you can reheat it from time to time.

This also makes a nice sauce for burritos or over grilled chicken. I like it over boiled potatoes for a fast lunch. I've even thinned down leftovers of this dip with milk, added 2 cups of steamed mixed vegetables and 1 1/2 cups of diced chicken for a hearty soup.