As a kid growing up in the 1970s, I didn't have a real firm grasp on who Joan Crawford was. But, because my parents were film fans and encouraged my interest in the medium (hah! I always remind them of that when they ask why I do the things I do), I soaked up old flicks on UHF and VHF-late night like a mop on a 42nd Street grindhouse floor!

This made me familiar with Crawford flicks like JOHNNY GUITAR and MILDRED PIERCE, but I was more drawn to the likes of STRAIGHT-JACKET and WHATEVER HAPPENED TO BABY JANE. Ooops, guess Mom and Dad should've been keeping a close eye on what their baby was viewing.

Unfortunately, I was also viewing Saturday Night Live (back when it was funny, that is) as they did their vicious take on Christina Crawford's book, Mommie Dearest. A harrowing tale of Joan's adoption of Christina and her brother, the book was a best-seller and immediate fodder for parody and the inevitable silver-screen retelling.

Fans of cult/camp cinema are, of course, familiar with the Hollywood version of the tale starring Faye Dunaway and Diana Scarwid. The SHOWGIRLS of its day, MOMMIE DEAREST was a flop upon release, but has become a favorite for sickos, degenerates, drag queens, and female impersonators the world 'round.

What any of that has to do with chips and dip is beyond me, so when we were sent the Frito-Lay dip, spread, canape, and party dish recipe book shown above, we had to peruse its pages for a suitable recipe. The "Joan Crawford Dip" that follows spoke to us...

JOAN CRAWFORD DIP

2 (3 oz. each) pkgs. cream cheese
2 tbsps. milk
1/2 cup sour cream
1 twin-pack FRITOS Horseradish Dip Mix
1 twin-pack FRITOS Green Onion Dip Mix
2 tbsps. lemon juice (1/2 lemon)

Soften cream cheese with milk; add sour cream and mix well. Add remaining ingredients and let stand 30 minutes. Serve with FRITOS King-Size corn chips or LAY'S potato chips.