Creamy Spinach & Fennel Dip

I decided to make a "Easy Creamy Spinach & Fennel Dip" this recipe that you can whip together easily. It is supper creamy – so I threw everything together and the results were very delicious.

Yield: Makes 6 cups dip

Ingredients:

3 cups fresh spinach, remove stems—rinse and chopped

1 (16 oz.) sour cream

1 cup Hellmann's ® or Best Foods® Real Mayonnaise

1 Knorr ® Vegetable recipe mix

1 (8 oz.) water chestnuts, drained and chopped (optional)

3 green onions, chopped (optional)

1 large fennel bulb, stalk—rinse chopped

1 Tablespoon Olive oil

2 teaspoons butter

2 large garlic clove minced

Directions:

In a skillet add oil and butter; bring to medium heat.

Add fennel, garlic cloves and spinach saute for 10-12 minutes; remove from heat and drain liquids off.

Let fennel and spinach cool for 45 minutes.

Combine all the ingredients in a large bowl and mix well.

Let chill 2-4 hours or overnight.

Hollow out round sour dough loaf and fill with dip.

Garnish with chopped fennel fronds.

Serve with your favorite chips and crackers or hallow out cherry tomatoes or cucumber slices and fill with dip.

Spicy Parmesan Cheese Salad Dressing

"Spicy Parmesan Cheese Salad Dressing" is great to use when making salads, sandwich, sauces, dips and dressings the perfect amount of heat to chicken, burgers, fries and more. Plus it's simply delicious and easy to make.

INGREDIENTS

1/2 cup mayonnaise

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
2/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese 
1 tablespoon white wine vinegar 
1 teaspoon celery seeds 
1/2 teaspoon sea salt 
1/8 teaspoon ground cayenne (red pepper) 
1/8 teaspoon black pepper

DIRECTIONS

Whisk all the ingredients together in a small bowl.

Chill 30 minutes. 

Serve. 

American Cheese Sauce

This classic American Cheese Sauce is a great recipe to use for the base of dips, macaroni, etc... 

Ingredients

½ pound American cheese

1 cup evaporated milk

Directions

Cut cheese into small chunks.

In a double-boiler bring water to a boil, add milk and stir until the milk is boiling hot.

Add cheese and stir constantly until the milk is full combined with the cheese and smooth.

Serve.

Cucumber Tzatziki Sauce

Cucumber Tzatziki Sauce is the perfect combination of ingredients tasted fantastic! The recipe is easy and it is delicious with lamb.

Ingredients

1 cup plain yogurt
1/2 medium cucumber, peeled, seeded and finely grated
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon olive oil
2 teaspoons white wine vinegar
3 mint leaves, minced
1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions

In a small mixing bowl, combine the ingredients, stirring until well-blended and smooth.

Top with dill.

Serve.

Tip: Many recipes say that you dice or chop the cucumber – this is not the correct way. I actually finely grate mine, I then give it a gently squeeze, then place it in a paper towel in a sieve and allow to strain overnight in the fridge . Also, I love the bold, earthy flavor of dried herbs in this recipe, but you can use fresh versions of rosemary and marjoram, too. Since dried herbs are stronger, use 1 tablespoon of fresh herbs as a substitute for 1 teaspoon of dried. 

Creamy Avocado Sauce

This "Creamy Avocado Sauce" recipe is awesome on a turkey, chicken or salmon burgers or Mexican foods seasoned with chilies-lime.

Ingredients

3 large ripe avocados, peeled and pitted
2 green onions, finely chopped

1/4  teaspoon coriander powder
1/4  teaspoon sea salt
1 tablespoon olive oil
2-3  tablespoons lime juice
1/4  teaspoon garlic powder
3 tablespoons plain Greek Yogurt or sour cream

Directions

Put water in a blender first. 

Add remaining ingredients and blend until smooth and creamy. 

Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Baked Crab & Artichoke Dip

Nothing says, “this party rocks” Baked Crab & Artichoke Dip, and when you’re talking about a hot crab and artichoke dip, people have been known to put an extra choice word or two before “rocks.”

Ingredients: 

2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese

1/2 cup sour cream

1/4 cup mayonnaise

1/2 cup finely diced red bell pepper

1/3 cup chopped green onions

3 cloves garlic, minced

2 tsp fresh chopped tarragon leaves

zest and juice from 1 lemon

1 tsp Worcestershire sauce

Sea salt and pepper to taste

1/2 teaspoon cayenne

1 1/2 pounds lump crab meat, drained

1 (14-oz) can artichoke bottoms

6 oz white Cheddar cheese, divided

1 large round or oval loaf sourdough bread

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). 

Line a baking dish with aluminum foil.

Combine ingredients in a large bowl; season with sea salt and black pepper.

Cut the top 1/3 off the loaf of sourdough bread and discard. 

Remove the bread filling and discard, leaving just the crust. 

Place in the prepared baking dish.

Transfer artichoke mixture to the prepared bread bowl; top with 2 tablespoons Cheddar cheese and cayenne pepper.

Bake in the preheated oven until dip is warmed and top is golden brown, about 30 minutes.

Tex-Mex 7-Layer Dip

This "Tex-Mex 7-Layer Dip" recipe is super easy to make, colorful, and just taste great. Perfect for any casual party!

Ingredients

Makes: 12 serving

2 (16-oz.) can refried beans

1 cup tomato salsa

2 cup guacamole dip

2/3 cup non-fat Sour Cream or Greek-style yogurt

2/3 cup shredded Jack or Cheddar cheese

4 tablespoons chopped black olives

4 tablespoons chopped scallions

Directions:

Set aside 1 tablespoon each of scallions, olives, salsa and cheese. 

In a large glass bowl, layer, in order: beans, olives, onions, sour cream or yogurt, salsa, cheese and guacamole. 

Garnish with reserved olives, scallions, salsa and cheese.

Serve.

Here Are a Few More Recipes You Might Enjoy

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Easy Spicy Bruschetta

Shake & Bake Crispy Chicken

Ultimate Nachos

Easy Spicy Bruschetta

This bruschetta  is packed with plenty of fresh flavors and  has a hint of heat.

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups chopped tomatoes,  seeded
2/3 red onion, finely chopped
1 tablespoon fresh parsley, finely chopped
1 tablespoon fresh basil, finely chopped
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 teaspoon course ground black pepper
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 dashes of Louisiana Hot Sauce
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
2 large jalapenos seeded, minced
1  loaf French bread, cut into quarter inch slices
2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese, finely grated

Directions

In a small bowl whisk or oil, vinegar's and Louisiana Hot Sauce.

Add parsley, basil, black pepper, salt, jalapenos, onions, and tomatoes; mix well and set aside.

Place bread slices on in a greased pan.

Place bread in broiler, about 4 inches away from heat.

Could about 2 minutes or until golden brown.

With a slotted spoon top each slice of bread with bruschetta.

Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and serve.

Note: when handling jalapeno's you should wear gloves and wash hands thoroughly.

Jalapeno Bacon Cheddar Cheese Dip

"Jalapeno Bacon Cheddar Cheese Dip" is quick, easy, and delicious! I took this to a party didn't have any leftover to bring home. Warning this is spicy.

Ingredients

1/4 cup (2 oz.) beer or milk

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 teaspoon horseradish powder

1/4 teaspoon yellow mustard powder 

3 fresh jalapeno peppers; halved, seeded, and minced

1 1/2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese

8 slices cooked thick cut Apple Wood smoked bacon, chopped

1 package (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a mixing bowl add cream cheese, garlic, horseradish, and mustard; mix until blended.

Slowly add the beer; mix until blended.

Stir is the remaining ingredients.

Spray a 1-1/2 quart casserole dish or 9 inch pie plate with Pam.

Pour the mixture into the dish and spread out evenly.

Bake for 20-25 minutes or until heated thoroughly. 

Serve with crackers, breadsticks, or fresh vegetables.

Drawn-Butter Sauce

Drawn-Butter Sauce is often served as a dipping sauce for shellfish, especially lobster.

Ingredients

½ cup butter

4 Tablespoon flour

1 pint boiling water
½  teaspoon lemon juice
½  teaspoon garlic powder

¼ teaspoon sea salt

Directions

In a sauce pan melt half the butter using a medium heat.

Then add the flour and garlic, mix until there is no dry flour.

Slowly add the boiling hot water, while stirring constantly until the sauce comes to a boil.

Just before serving, add sea salt and the remaining butter in small bits.

Beating constantly until the butter is full combined with the sauce and smooth.

Serve.

Cocktail Sauce

 Cocktail Sauce is a tangy condiment that goes great with shrimp cocktail, breaded or coconut shrimp and even oysters; just a delicious sauce that goes great with seafood!

Ingredients

¾ cup catsup

¼ cup horseradish

Directions

Mix all the ingredients together well and chill for 1 to 2 hours.

Serve.

Chipotle Lime Mayo Dipping Sauce

Chipotle Lime Mayo and Dipping Sauce is great to use when making salads, sandwich, sauces, dips and dressings the perfect amount of heat to chicken, burgers, fries and more. Plus it's simply delicious and easy to make.

Ingredients

1 tablespoon lime juice (about 1 lime)
1 teaspoon lime zest  (about 1 lime)
2 chipotle peppers, chopped
1 roasted garlic clove, smashed and chopped
1 teaspoon smoked paprika½ teaspoon sea salt
¼ teaspoon pepper
1 1/4 cups Kraft Mayo

Direction

In a food processor, puree the 1/4 cup Kraft Mayo, lime juice, lime zest, chipotle pepper, roasted garlic, sea salt, smoked paprika and pepper until you have a very smooth mixture.

Add mixture to 1 cup Kraft Mayo and mix well. 

This mayo is fantastic served right away, but I like to let this sit in the fridge overnight to let the flavors meld.   It is even better the next day.