Monday, December 20, 2010

Holiday Party Dips- AND a Give Away- a REALLY good one!

I love dip.  Its a weird infatuation that I have.  Creamy dips, cheesy dips, salsa, guacamole- if I can use it to enhance a chip or a carrot stick-I'm all for it. So when Frito Lay asked me to come up with a few dips that could be served during holiday parties this season, and to be paired with their tasty chip creations- I jumped at the chance! 

I put together two different dips, one cheesy and toasty warm- perfect way to warm up from the chilly air outside, the other creamy, and spicy, bringing a whole different kind of heat to your parties! 

Frito Lay sponsored my dip creations by sending a long a very helpful gift card for me to use in purchasing my ingredients, and they'd like to do the same for you!  So, do you have a party coming up?  Perhaps to kick off the new year?  Post a comment on this post about your favorite dip, or party food, and the folks at Frito Lay will select a random winner, and send them a $100.00 gift card and a few bags of some tasty chips to help out with a perfect holiday shindig!  Sounds pretty great right? Get those tasty party creations in- winner will be selected on December 27th, 2010!


Warm cheesy dip straight from the oven!
 "Easier than Pie!" Cheesy Herb Dip

12 oz low fat ricotta cheese
2-3 cloves garlic, roughly chopped
1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped
1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
olive oil
salt
1 medium sized tomato, seeded and chopped
1/2 cup shredded, low fat mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese

In your food processor, or a small bowl with an immersion blender (my preferred method), combine Ricotta, garlic, basil, and parsley, slowly adding olive oil until the ricotta takes on a "whipped" consistency, smooth, with all of the ingredients fully combined.  Add salt to taste. Stir in tomato and 1/4 cup of mozzarella cheese.  Spoon into ramekins, or one baking dish, top with remainder of cheese and bake at 400 degrees until the cheese melts (about 10 minutes, maybe longer depending on the depth of your baking dish). 

Pair with Frito-Lay Frito Scoops! or Lay's Original Potato chips for a great dip pairing!

Low Fat Creamy Salsa Dip

1 can cannelloni beans, drained and rinsed
6 tsp chopped cilantro
2 cloves garlic
1/2 an avocado
1 lime (juice of)
Olive Oil
Salt
1/2 cup corn kernels (fresh or frozen and defrosted)
1/2 cup chopped and seeded tomato
1 jalapeno, chopped
1/2 cup chopped red onion

Combine beans, cilantro, garlic, avocado, and lime juice in a food processor, slowly adding olive oil to form a creamy paste- about a tablespoon to a tablespoon and a half.  Salt to taste.  Transfer the blend into a bowl and add corn, tomato, jalapeno, and red onion.  Stir to combine.  

Serve with Tostito's Scoops! (I like the multi grain variety) and Frito Scoops!  to be sure that each bite has lots of chunky salsa goodness!

So now that I've gotten the ball rolling- what are your favorite dip and party creations??  

15 comments:

Evona said...

Ooo ooo ooo ... I have to say my NUMBER ONE party favorite especially when its cold outside is Buffalo Chicken Wing Dip! Warms your taste buds right up & they go perfectly with Scoops!

8 oz. franks hot sauce
12 oz. cream cheese
8 oz. chunky blue cheese dressing
20 oz. canned chicken
2-3 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Bake in casserole dish at about 350 degrees until everything melts together...Mmmm

Bouff said...

My favorite would have to be my cheesy IPA dip in a breadbowl good with carrot sticks, pita chips, or anything really.

16oz fat free cream cheese - room temp
24oz sharp cheddar shredded
1/2 a lg red onion minced
1 head roasted garlic
2 lg minced jalapenos (roasted if you wish)
8oz favorite IPA or Pale Ale (add more for a smoother dip)

Fill your a bread bowl (or a whole loaf), broil on the bottom rack for 20 min and you're done.

Anonymous said...

my favorite dip is homemade spinach and artichoke dip and tostiotos.
tcogbill at live dot com

Delicious Dishings said...

I am a huge fan of spinach artichoke dip. And of course guacamole. What a fun giveaway!

Kristen said...

Guacamole! my friends always request i make it for parties. Fresh Avocado with garlic, lime juice, cilantro and a little s&p can do no wrong.

Kathy said...

I am mad obsessed with Guacamole. Or, in season, corn and black bean dip. They both make me come over all swoony every time.

Melissa said...

I love dipping things too! My favorite thing to dip is bread sticks in marinara sauce. But I also love using creamed spinach as a dip and love guac. Both of your recipes sound fabulous too!

The Small Boston Kitchen said...

What a great giveaway! Good for you! And take a look at those dips! Those look seriously delicious and you are not weird at all for loving dip! Show me someone who doesn't like dip...I dare you!

Anyway, entering the contest, my favorite dip is one that I make around the holidays. It combine cream cheese, dried cranberries, a splash of milk and some shredded swiss cheese. Then I sprinkle in some nutmeg and a little orange zest and top it all off with some more shredded cheese (can a girl ever get enough of that?!) and some hazelnuts. It all gets baked until it's warm and gooey. I serve with bread or crackers.

Wow, I wrote you a lot! Sorry, you said dip and I got excited...

LabMom said...

I am a fan of the traditional ranch and bean dips, but I also love hot artichoke dip.. although I have always been to skiddish to try making that on my own.

nicole said...

My favorite dip is one that my mom got off of velveta years and years ago. It's a spinach dip that you keep warm. I love it with pretzels, toasted cubes of bread, ships, carrots, etc. It is soo good.

Jen said...

The dips look great. I love them as well. I think my fav is guac or this summer salsa

Liz said...

My favorite dip is a spinach dip (the cold kind) that my husband makes! I don't know the exact recipe, but it involves water chestnuts, frozen spinach, sour cream and mayonnaise and it tastes great on chips, crackers or bread!

eemoody77 at gmail dot com

Unknown said...

Awesome giveaway!

I love hot artichoke dip. I don't have the recipe in front of me but it does have artichokes, mayo, cheese, and is baked. I need to cards for recipes.

Kath said...

I love (and have the recipe for) the Curry Dip that was served in First Class on Northwest Airlines, probably during the late '60s and early '70s. I just found it in a box of old recipes. May have to make it soon!

Thanks for the fun give-away!

Sara said...

I'm too late to enter the contest, but I just had to comment, since I'm obsessed with dips too. I use Fritos and Scoops for many of my dips.

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