Get the party started with these delightful dips from locals. Some are savory, some are sweet, but all are guaranteed to please your taste buds.
By Mary Beth Wallace
Photography by Emily Long
Annual Food & Drink Issue
Get the party started with these delightful dips from locals. Some are savory, some are sweet, but all are guaranteed to please your taste buds.
By Mary Beth Wallace
Photography by Emily Long
COURTNEY BROOKS PAINTER’S
“Serve with your favorite crackers or toasted rounds. It’s great with Ritz crackers or the toasted rounds from Fresh Market!”
Rinse fresh cranberries thoroughly and dry on a clean dish towel. Chop cranberries by hand into quarters. In a medium-size bowl, combine chopped cranberries with green onions, jalapeños, and cilantro. Add coconut sugar, lemon juice, and salt and stir gently to combine. Cover bowl tightly with saran wrap and place in the fridge overnight. The next day, remove cranberry mixture from fridge and stir. Use a handheld fine strainer to strain out liquid (reserve this strained liquid to make the best jalapeño cranberry Grey Goose cocktails for your guests!). Whip softened cream cheese until smooth, or you can alternatively purchase the pre-whipped variety to skip this step. Spread cream cheese over the bottom of a shallow dish or pie pan. Pour cranberry mixture on top and keep in the fridge until ready to serve.
Lee Easterly’s
“Many years ago, I came across this recipe in a favorite cookbook. It travels well to tailgates and parties. There have never been any leftovers, so cleanup is a breeze!”
Combine refried beans and taco seasoning in a bowl, then spread mixture evenly in an 8×8-inch baking dish. Layer remaining ingredients in order listed. Refrigerate at least 2 hours before serving. Serve with tortilla chips.
Leslie Morris’
“This dip is best paired with a slightly sweet cracker, such as Wheat Thins, or pita chips! I prefer to place the peanuts on top to make sure anyone with a nut allergy will see them.”
Mix softened cream cheese and mayonnaise until well-blended. Add curry powder and cheddar cheese and combine thoroughly. Spread mixture on a large serving platter (larger than a dinner plate). Mince larger pieces of mango in chutney, then return to the chutney. Spread chutney over cream cheese mixture. Sprinkle green onions on top.
Top with chopped peanuts and serve.
Cindy WIlson’s
“I love the versatility of this dip! You can top it with apricot preserves for a sweet appetizer or bruschetta for a savory option. I pair the baked Brie with sturdy crackers or pita crisps for deep dipping.”
Prepare bruschetta topping. Preheat oven to 425° and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Prepare bread bowl by cutting a hole in the middle of the loaf and hollowing out the inside. Tear removed bread into small chunks, place on the baking sheet, and drizzle with olive oil and a sprinkle of salt. Using a serrated knife, skim the thin top rind off of the Brie cheese and place inside the bread bowl. Place bread bowl on the baking sheet along with the bread chunks, and then bake for 15 minutes until cheese is melted and bread is toasty.
Add all ingredients to a small bowl and mix gently. Allow to sit for 15 minutes and stir again. Taste and add salt and pepper as desired.
Paul Schoner’s
“This dip works well whether at a party or tailgating. Put the cast iron skillet on the grill, and let it do the work for you. Served with strong crackers or sliced French bread, it will be sure to impress your guests!”
Preheat oven to 400°. In a large skillet, melt butter over medium-high heat. Add sweet onions. Cook for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally until golden brown. Add wine to deglaze pan (about 2 minutes), scraping the pan as you work. Place cooked onions in a mixing bowl. Add gruyère cheese, sour cream, mayonnaise, ranch dressing, 2/3 of the bacon, and 1/2 of the green onions. Mix well. Spread mixture into a warm medium cast iron skillet (or other baking dish). Bake for 20 minutes. Garnish with remaining bacon bits and green onions and serve warm.
Chuck Goodhard’s
“You can garnish the dip with a sprig of fresh basil. You can also add some chopped Kalamata olives, roasted red peppers, or nuts for color and texture – but it works as is!”
In a small blender or food processor, blend feta and pesto together. Alternatively, mix ingredients together in a bowl using a fork. Gradually blend in milk or oil 1 Tbsp. at a time as needed until you reach your desired consistency. Feta packed in liquid may not need any additional milk or oil, but dry-packed may require a few extra Tbsp. Taste and adjust with more feta or pesto if needed; products can vary in strength. Serve with pita chips or Za’atar bread for dipping.
Preheat outdoor grill or oven broiler. In a small bowl, mix oil and Za’atar together and let sit for at least 30 minutes. Stir mixture and then brush on one side of the pitas or naan. Place bread on hot grill, oil side down – the objective is to warm the bread and pick up some grill marks, not to make toast. This should take 1-2 minutes. When ready, brush the top side with oil and flip to grill the other side. Tear or cut the finished bread into pieces and serve with feta pesto dip.