Avocado goat cheese dip
•   3 ripe avocados
•   2 gloves minced garlic
•   1/2 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
•   4 ounces cream cheese
•   4 ounces goat cheese
•   2 teaspoons lemon or lime juice
Mix all ingredients at once with a large spoon or hand-mixer in a medium bowl. Serve with blue corn chips, pretzels or crackers.
Smoked salmon dip
•   8 ounces cream cheese
•   1/2 cup sour cream
•   1 tablespoon fresh dill
•   1 tablespoon mayonnaise
•   1/2 teaspoon horseradish sauce
•   1/2 teaspoon salt
•   pepper to taste
•   4 ounces smoked salmon
Mix all ingredients at once with a large spoon or hand-mixer in a medium bowl. Serve with bagel chips or sliced veggies.
Buffalo chicken dip
•   2 c. cooked diced chicken
•   16 ounces cream cheese
•   1 cup ranch dressing
•   2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a saucepan, combine cream cheese and ranch over low heat. Pour mixture over chicken in a baking dish. Sprinkle cheese on top. Bake 30 to 40 minutes, let stand 10 minutes before serving. Serve with veggies, crackers or breadsticks.
Cream cheese pesto dip
•   8 ounces cream cheese
•   1 diced tomato
•   1 cup pesto
•   1/2 cup parmesan cheese
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Place cream cheese in a baking dish. Spread pesto over cheese blocks. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese and tomatoes. Bake 5 to 10 minutes Serve with quartered pitas or breadsticks.
Honey goat cheese dip
•   4 ounces goat cheese
•   3 tablespoons honey
Stir together in a medium bowl. Serve with fresh berries, apple slices or warm cookies.
Vegan white bean dip
•   1/2 cup white beans, drained
•   1/2 cup garbanzo beans, drained
•   1/2 cup juice from either bean can
•   1 teaspoon xantham gum
•   1/4 cup vegan cheddar cheese
•   salt and pepper to taste
Process in a food processor. Serve with carrots, red peppers or pretzels.
Peanut butter dip
•   1/2 cup vanilla or honey Greek yogurt
•   1/2 cup peanut butter (crunchy or creamy)
•   Ground cinnamon
•   1 tbs. brown sugar
Mix together in a medium bowl Serve with celery, graham crackers cookies or apple slices.
This article appears in Nov 15-21, 2012.
