Seven and a half layer salad (or dip...whatever)

Ok, so it took a long time to finally post this. I've been busy and depressed so get off my case.

This was actually made for a Super Bowl party at my mom's house -- a Super Bowl party where everyone brought dip and no "real" food. It's easy to make, as it pretty much requires whatever you have lying around the house.

Ingredients:
4 cups small dark beans
2 cups corn
2 mangoes
8 asparagus stalks
2 bananas
1 can chipotle sauce
2 roma tomatoes
A handful of green onions















Start with your asparagus and chop it into half inch pieces. Then, start a 2-quart pot of boiling water.















Throw your asparagus in the pot and start it a cookin'.















Now start another small pot on medium for the chipolte sauce. Chop up one of the bananas and put that in the sauce, too. You will have to watch it while it cooks and occasionally add water. The goal is to completely reduce the chipoltle sauce and the bananas into something a little more fluid than a paste.















While your asparagus and banana sauce cook (turn it down low when it starts to bubble), dice the green onions and the tomatoes. Peel the mango, core it, and dice that up, too.















By now, your asparagus are done. Drain them and put them in a bowl. Actually, put everything into a bowl -- except the other banana and the sauce, which is probably still cooking (keep an eye on it so it doesn't burn). To recap, here's what we have: tomatoes, asparagus, green onions, mango, corn and
beans.















Now we start to layer everything...like blankets...in February (brrr). Start by putting an even layer of beans in a 9" by 13" casserole dish. Then add your corn, then asparagus, tomatoes, and mango. The idea is to contrast the colors as you add each new layer. You wouldn't put mango on top of corn, would you?















Now your sauce is probably done. Pour it uniformly on top of your layers.















Sprinkle your green onions on top.















Now it's time to chop up that extra banana. I was actually told by a significantly knowledgeable source, that this step should be optional, because of its irrationality. Well, I'll leave it up to you, but I sprinkled the chopped banana on top.















I put the whole thing in the oven on warm, to let the sauce soak in to all the ingredients and to dry out the banana.

Variations:
Of course, the banana is optional. I think it gives the sauce some sweetness and adds to the mango. Any leafy green could be added -- spinach would look great. Another good idea is adding Liquid Smoke or molasses to the sauce for a richer taste.

If you're bringing this to a party, don't forget the plantain chips!