Time for Hot Dips

It's cooling off a bit. Salsa makes a fun dip, but as the temperatures cool, it's time to bake up some yummy dips. Hot and Cheesy, calorie laden dips. YUMMY. There is something comforting about a Hot Dip. Below you will find two common hot dips. Most ingredients can be found at Trader Joe's.

28413 Spinach Dip

1/2 cup frozen spinach drained
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup mozzarella cheese shredded
1/2 cup monterey jack cheese shredded
1/4 tsp. minced garlic
1/8 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. pepper
1/8 tsp. Italian herbs
1/2 cup mozzarella cheese shredded (to top the dip)

In a small bowl, mix the spinach, sour cream and cheeses together. Add the garlic and seasonings and mix. Spray the bottom of an au gratin dish or small souffle dish or large ramekin dish with oil. Transfer dip from bowl to whatever you are going to bake it in and top with the extra cheese. Pop that in the oven and bake for 30 minutes in a 375 degree oven. Sometimes I nuke it first and then put it in the oven so cheese gets bubbly and golden. Microwaving also speeds the cooking time a bit.

This amount of dip will serve 3-4 people as an appetizer. You can double or triple depending on how many guest you are having.

Serve with french bread cubes, or tortilla chips, or pita chips or Miss Vickie's Nine Grain Simply Salted Chips!

28413 Artichoke Dip

1 can Trader Joe's Canned Artichoke (when drained ends up being 8.5 oz)
1 1/2 tsp. minced garlic
1/4 tsp. Italian herbs
1/8 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. pepper
1/4 cup sour cream
1 cube cream cheese (softened)
1 cup mozzarella cheese shredded
1 cup cheddar cheese shredded

approximately one cup of cheese to top.

Chop Artichoke in the Cuisinart. Dump chopped Artichoke in a medium sized bowl. Add garlic and seasonings and stir. Add sour cream and stir. Add cream cheese and stir. Slowly add cheeses, stirring between each addition. Pour dip into a greased 8 x 8 casserole dish or smaller ones. Sprinkle cheese on top. I put mine in smaller oven proof containers, wrap and freeze for later use. Dip freezes well. If baking a frozen one you can speed up cooking time by microwaving. Otherwise, bake for 30 to 45 minutes or until bubbly and cheese is melted.

This amount of dip will serve 6-8 as an appetizer, unless you divy it up into the smaller containers.

Serve with tortilla chips, bread slices, pita chips, whatever your little heart desires. Enjoy.