Dip Buffet

Let us take a clue from the Americans, who take the games as no child’s play. Count on them to turn football games into a party with a dip buffet. If it were up to me, I would not even need a game or a party. I just need the dips.

A dip or dipping sauce is a condiment that compliments and adds flavor and texture to a food. Unlike typical sauces, which are poured or placed on food, food is dunked or dipped into the dipping sauce.  Fresh vegetables, fruits, cold cuts of meat, chips and pretty much anything can be paired with dips. Dips have taken hors d’oeuvres into a fun and comfortable level.

DIP BUFFET

 THE DIPPERS

• Tortilla chips
• Pita triangles
• Vegetables (carrots, celery, jicamas)
• Chips
• Crackers
• Bread rounds or sliced baguettes
• Cold cuts

THE DIPS

• GUACAMOLE DIP

Here’s what you will need:

• 2 avocados
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons chopped onion
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons olive oil

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Cut the avocados into halves; remove seeds and spoon out the meat into a small bowl. Use a fork to mash the avocado. Stir in lemon juice, onion, salt, and olive oil. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least1 hour before serving.

• REUBEN DIP

Here’s what you will need:

• ½ cup mayonnaise
• ½ cup thousand island dressing
• 1 cup sauerkraut, rinsed and squeezed dry
• ½ cup shredded corned beef
• 1 cup Swiss cheese, shredded

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Preheat oven to 350˚F (175˚C). In a small bowl, combine mayonnaise and Thousand Island dressing. Spread the ingredients into a baking dish, start with corned beef, then the Swiss cheese, Sauerkraut and top with mayonnaise-dressing mixture. Bake for 20-25 minutes.

• HOT PIZZA DIP

Here’s what you will need:

• 1 (8-oz) package cream cheese
• ½ tsp dried oregano
• ½ tsp dried basil
• 1 tsp fresh parsley, chopped
• 1 tbsp. green bell pepper, chopped
• 1 tbsp. red bell pepper, chopped
• ¼ cup pepperoni sausage, chopped
• 2 tbsp. black olives, sliced
• 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
• 1 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
• 1 cup pizza sauce

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In a small bowl, mix oregano, parsley, basil and cream cheese. Spread mixture in a microwave-safe dish. Sprinkle 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese and 1/2 Parmesan cheese on top of the cream cheese mixture. Spread the pizza sauce over. Sprinkle with remaining cheese, and then top with green pepper, pepperoni and olive slices. Cover, and microwave for 5 minutes.

• BUFFALO CHICKEN DIP

Here’s what you will need:

• 1 can (10 oz) chicken chunks, drained
• 1 package (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
• ½ cup Ranch dressing
• ¼ cup pepper sauce
• 1 cup Cheddar cheese, shredded

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Put chicken and hot sauce in a skillet and cook over medium heat. Stir in cream cheese and ranch dressing. Cook until well blended and warm. Mix in shredded cheese and cook on Low setting until hot and bubbly.

Put in the variation on the dips, the dippers and even on the serving plates and bowls. Go crazier with a theme – a rainbow dip buffet, around the world or cheese feast. Dip Buffet is fun for the Super Bowl games, movie nights, Sundays in the garden, summer days by the pool and every day.