6 Savory and Sweet Dip Recipes

Impress your guests with these delicious and easy dips, perfect for any festive gathering. 

Pinecone Spinach Cheese Spread  

1 pkg. (8 oz.) brick cream cheese, softened

1 pkg. (7 oz.) shredded reduced-fat Mexican cheese blend

2 Tbsp. Dijon mustard

2 Tbsp. canned chopped green chiles

1/3 cup sliced almonds, toasted

 Crackers   

PROCESS  first 3 ingredients in food processor until well blended. Stir in chiles.

SHAPE  into 4-inch oval on sheet of waxed paper to resemble pinecone. Insert nuts in rows to completely cover cream cheese mixture. Transfer to serving plate.

REFRIGERATE  2 hours. Remove from refrigerator 15 min. before serving. Let stand at room temperature to crackersSource: Snackworks

Sweet 'N Hot Cheese Spread

1 pkg. (8 oz.) brick cream cheese, softened

3 Tbsp. apricot jam

1/8 tsp. ground red pepper (cayenne)

1/4 cup slivered almonds

SPREAD  cream cheese onto bottom of microwaveable 9-inch pie plate.

TOP  with jam, pepper and nuts.

MICROWAVE  on HIGH 1 min. or until heated through. Serve with crackers.source:snackworks          

     

Baked Pepperoni Pizza Spread

1 pkg. (8 oz.) brick cream cheese, softened

1 pkg. (8 oz.) shredded low-moisture part-skim Mozzarella cheese

1/2 cup finely chopped pepperoni

1/4 cup finely chopped green peppers

HEAT  oven to 350ºF.

MIX  cream cheese and mozzarella until well blended; stir in pepperoni and peppers.

SPREAD  into 9-inch pie plate.

BAKE  25 to 30 min. or until top is puffed and lightly browned. Serve warm with crackers.source:snackworks

Warm Cajun Shrimp Dip
1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup mayonnaise
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
1 1/2 teaspoons Creole seasoning*, or to taste
1 cup chopped cooked peeled shrimp
1/2 cup shredded pepper Jack cheese
1 (1-pound) round loaf hearty white bread
1 tablespoon sliced green onion
Garnish: lemon wedge, cooked shrimp
Assorted crackers, breadsticks (optional)
Preheat oven to 350°. In a large bowl, combine cream cheese, mayonnaise, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and Creole seasoning; beat with a mixer at medium speed until blended. Stir in shrimp and shredded cheese.
Using a serrated knife, cut a 1/2-inch-thick slice from top of bread loaf. Carefully hollow out inside of loaf, leaving about a 3/4-inch shell. Reserve bread pieces for another use.
Spoon shrimp mixture into bread shell; lightly spray with cooking spray. Wrap in foil; place on a baking sheet.Bake for 15 minutes. Remove foil; bake 15 minutes more or until thoroughly heated.source:celebratemagazine

Apple Cinnamon Dip
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 Granny Smith apples, cored and chopped
1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
2 cups apple butter
1 cup plain or low-fat Greek yogurt
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
Graham crackers

Apple Slices

n a medium skillet, melt butt

er over medium heat. Add Granny Smith apples, and cook until softened, about 20 minutes. To a 2-quart slow cooker, add cream cheese, apple butter, yogurt, cinnamon, and apple mixture. Cook on High for 1 hour, stirring occasionally. Spoon mixture into a 1-quart bowl. Serve immediately with graham crackers and apple slices.source:celebratemagazine

Behold Thy Mother

Words from a wise man on mothers:

"You see, it is not only that they bear us, but they continue bearing with us. It is not only the prenatal carrying but the lifelong carrying that makes mothering such a staggering fear. Of course, there are heartbreaking exceptions, but most mothers know intuitively, instinctively that this is a sacred trust of the highest order. The weight of that realization, especially on young maternal shoulders, can be very daunting.

     How is it that a human being can love a child so deeply that you willingly give up a major portions of your freedom for it? How can mortal love be so strong that you voluntarily subject yourself to responsibility, vulnerability, anxiety and heartache and just keep coming back for more of the same? What kind of mortal love can make you feel, once you have a child, that your life is never, ever you own again? Maternal love has to be divine. There is no other explanation for it...

Listen to the rest of this inspirting talk here