How to Make Excellent Dips for a Holiday Buffet

Dips can help spread a budget. (Did you get the pun?) Hummus, Guacamole and Tapenade can add some flare to your normal onion and ranch dips.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Recipes
• Non metal serving bowls(I use soup bowls)
• Spoons
• A great food processor
• A blender
• Plastic containers to hold dips in until the party
• Spatulas

1. 
    
   Hummus

   First-I always make hummus because I am a snacker. Grab the following-8 oz chickpeas (or garbonzo beans), drain and dabbed dry, 2/3 c tahini sesame paste, 2 Tbsp of virgin olive oil, 4 Tbsp lemon juice, 2 garlic cloves, 1-2 Tbsp hot water, salt and pepper(to taste). Greatest thing-dump everything except the salt and pepper & water into a food processor and pulse until you have a smooth paste. Then add the water slowly until it is dippable. I test this by dipping a carrot or something. Don't add to much and end up with soup. Salt and pepper to taste. Put away before you eat it all.

2. 
    
   Guacamole

   Next is the guacamole. Grab 2 large ripe avocados diced roughly, juice from 1 lime, 2 tsp olive oil, 1/2 a medium, finely chopped red onion, 1 fresh seeded and finely chopped poblano green chile, 1 crushed garlic clove, 1/4 tsp ground cumin, 1 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro, and salt and pepper(to taste). Add the ingredients into a bowl in the same order listed. Toss until mashed together to desired consistency-either chunky or smooth. Taste and season with Salt and pepper. Put away.

3. 
    
   Olive Tapenade

   Okay almost done. Olive tapenade is a salty dip that can be saved for after party veggie sandwiches. You need 3 1/2 oz canned anchovy fillets(I know, you won't taste them), 12 oz black pitted olives coarsely chopped, 2 garlic cloves coarsely chopped, 2 Tbsp capers that have been drained and rinsed, 1 Tbsp Dijon mustard, 3 Tbsp olive oil, 2 Tbsp lemon juice. Drain the anchovy oil into a bowl and save. In a blender, add all ingredients and blend until a smooth puree. Scrape down the sides to make sure everything is incorporated and serve or reserve for later.

4. Now all you have to do is put all the dips out in nice bowls and add things to dip. Enjoy your party.

Tips & Warnings

• Fresh veggie are EXCELLENT with dips. Just make sure you dry them once rinsed so you don't end up with water in the dips.
• Make crostini, it is great with the tapenade spread
• Pita chips are easy and cheap-Slice pita bread in 8 pieces and toast lightly in the oven, just don't burn them.

Resources

• food network

[Bfastattiffanys]

on 11/18/2008 Great! I always remember the really good dips during holidays. *****

[MI-Sandi]

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