This post was sponsored by Fresh From Florida as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central, however all opinions expressed are my own.
School ended on Tuesday, camp starts next week, and every time I open my front door I’m met with stifling moist heat…ahhhh, summer has officially arrived in Florida! While the last part of that description may not seem particularly flattering, make no mistake, I’ve been waiting for summer. It’s been a long school year with more homework and projects and extracurriculars than I can count. This mom is ready for the lazy days of summer – a little extra time to sleep in, lounge around the house, and get together with friends. Because for me, that’s what summer is all about.
And let me assure you, we aren’t wasting a minute when it comes to celebrating summer with friends. That’s right, our first summer get together has already taken place, complete with a table full of food and lots of Fresh from Florida produce! 
If you live in Florida, you’ve no doubt seen the Fresh from Florida labels on food, produce, and seafood at your local grocery store. These signs are proof that Florida farmers make it easy for everyone to eat fresh produce year round. And there’s plenty of produce to choose from right now with tomatoes, blueberries, bell peppers, mangoes, and star fruit in season, along with corn and watermelon.
Seeing that corn in my grocers produce case jogged my memory. A friend had shared a corn dip recipe with me on social media earlier in the school year. It looked amazing, and very easy to whip up. I put it on my “must make list”, I even planned to bring it to a holiday potluck, but unfortunately, never got around to actually making it. Because…homework and projects and more extra curriculars than I can count… But the first celebration of the summer? This seemed like the perfect opportunity to break out that recipe and some juicy, ripe Fresh from Florida watermelon. Our get together was quickly becoming a produce party. 
And as it turns out, that corn dip ended up being every bit as amazing as it sounded all those months ago. Tasty, filling, and with just a little bit of a kick. Served along with some grilled peppers and cool watermelon, it was absolutely delicious. It got rave reviews. 
Of course, I changed the recipe a little here and there. I just couldn’t help myself. I added more fresh corn, a dash of cayenne, and extra cheese. Because when is more cheese a bad idea? All adjustments for the better, if you ask me. 
And while the best thing about this dip is most definitely the taste, its convenience is a very close second. Prep for this dip can be completed in less than 10 minutes and the baking time just under a half hour, which leaves you plenty of time to hang out with friends and sip in the sweet taste of summer while you wait for it to be done.
This might have been our first summer get together with friends, but I know it won’t be the last.
And I’m sure that this corn dip will be on the menu in the future. Want to make this dip for your very own summer get together or produce party? Here’s how you can make it:
You will need:
2 cups Fresh from Florida Sweet Corn, cut from the cob
1 (15 oz) can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 (10 oz) can Original Rotel
8 oz cream cheese, softened and diced
1/2 tsp. chili powder
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. cumin
dash of ground cayenne pepper
1 cup shredded Mexican blend cheese
Step 1 – Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Step 2 – In a medium sized mixing bowl, combine the sweet corn, black beans, and Rotel. Stir until evenly distributed and then add in the cream cheese, chili powder, garlic powder, cumin, cayenne pepper, and half of the Mexican blend shredded cheese. Mix by hand until well blended.
Step 3 – Pour corn dip into a small to medium sized baking dish and top with remaining cheese.
Step 4 – Bake for 25 minutes, or until the cheese has melted and you see bubbling in the corners of the dish.
Step 5 – Serve and enjoy with friends!
Want to find some more recipes for your summer get togethers? Be sure to follow the Fresh on social media and check out their Fresh! recipe videos for more information and great summer produce suggestions!
