Tis the Season to be hosting holiday parties, attending pot luck parties, work parties, kids in-class parties and more! Are you the type that likes bringing the “cool” dish? Most home chefs want to awe or inspire friends and family with their culinary delights. One of my favourite things to bring to a party is a dip. They’re typically easy to assemble and can be complex in taste and texture as well as the dipping vehicle can be unique and interesting. We all know those dipping, dunking and scooping vessels are purely carriers for the good part, the dip! So I reached out to my friends and asked, what is your “trick dip” that you bring and the crowds go wild? Let’s check out this dozen of dip doozies. Spinach Dip  We've all had a spinach dip or two.  Possibly even the Spinach Artichoke dip made available on almost every restaurant menu in town.  Popular in the 90s and still hanging on strong.  Here's our version that's heavy on the vampire side, if you know what we mean. Ingredients 12-ounce package of cream cheese, softened Chopped and frozen spinach from the freezer section (it’s fine, this is not about health) 3-6 cloves of minced garlic pending size and taste preference Salt / Pepper Red pepper flakes, if you dare 1 cup Mozzarella cheese grated 1/2 cup Romano cheese flakes / peels 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese (Kraft is fine) Directions

1. You can do this in a dutch oven or a slow cooker. Combine  your cream cheese, minced garlic, chopped frozen spinach, salt and pepper, red pepper flakes, cup of mozzarella, ½ of your Romano cheese and ½ your Parmesan in a bowl until thoroughly mixed. Add mixed ingredients into your Le Creuset oval dutch oven or baking dish. Set the other halves of these 2 cheese aside to top your dip.
2. Heat oven to 375 and yop remaining of cheese on mixture in dutch oven.  Bake for 35 minutes.  Remove lid at 25 minute mark to brown your top.

Dipping, dunking and scooping vessels good for this dip: Tortilla chips Toast points Bagel toasts Sourdough bread (pop open a Pillsbury can for warm bread with this dip) Pair your favourite or a couple options as the crowd will be on both sides of the pot for this dip. Enjoy! Sarah’s Buffalo Crack Chicken Dip Sarah told us that she leave this recipe next to the slow cooker the night of the party to make it easy for her and the guests; as in earlier years she was not ready for the out pour for the crack! Ingredients 3 poached chicken breasts (buy frozen and just boil them while still frozen) 1 cup ranch Dressing 3/4 cup WING sauce (not hot sauce) 1 bag shredded cheddar cheese 2 soft 8oz cream cheese blocks. Directions

1. Cut your chicken breast into bite sized chunks by cutting all breasts vertically first and then horizontally, leaving you with the perfect bite-sized chunks.
2. Soften you cream cheese and cut into small chunks as well for easy mixing. Pour the rest of the ingredients into a baking pan and mix in your chicken chunks.
3. Bake at 350 for 15-20 minutes or warmed through.

Eat with tortilla chips - or hands if no one is looking. Spicy Herb Whipped Goat Cheese This is such a refreshing dip or we may be cheating here, this may be more of a spread, but we’re confident that you’ll be okay with the cheat. Probably not one that will make your BIG Game tray, but maybe a Christmas party! And ‘Tis the Season! Ingredients 8 ounces Goat Cheese 2 tbsp. Whole Milk 1.5 tbsp. Fresh Herbs (Rosemary, Thyme, Basil) 1 tsp. Red pepper flakes Salt & Pepper Directions

1. Combine whole milk, herbs, pepper flakes and goat cheese in food processor.
2. Process on high until all ingredients are thoroughly combined and cheese is light and fluffy in texture.
3.  Add salt and pepper to taste. Combine with food processor.
4.  Serve with assorted crackers and toast points.

Bon Appetit! Black Bean Dip 8 Ounces Black Beans 2 tbspn. Olive Oil 2 Cloves Garlic (minced) 1 tbspn. Onion powder Heat of Choice (Tapatillo or such) Salt & Pepper Sour Cream Directions

1. Drain your beans, leaving just a smidge of water in the bottom of your can and empty into your food processor. Turn on high and get your black beans smooth.
2. In a sauce pan on the stove, bring your olive oil to a sizzle and add your minced garlic and onion powder. Once your garlic is translucent, add mixture to your smooth black beans. Combine using food processor.
3.  Add salt, pepper and heat to taste. Combine with food processor.

Serve with blue corn tortilla chips. Serve with sour cream on side with black bean dip. Hot Crab Dip ala Mica Pound of Crab Meat (Jumbo will be best) 1 cup jack cheese 1/2 cup mayonnaise 1/4 cup grated Parmesan 1/4 cup green onions Enough garlic that you like it and don’t scare away your friends 3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce – secret sauce! 2 tablespoons fresh lemon or lime juice 1 teaspoon hot pepper sauce 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard Directions

1. Combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix. Nothing special and no order of operations from this little gem – just mix it all together.
2. Add your mix to your perfect casserole dish and bake at 325 for 45 minutes.
3. Get yourself some bread for dunking or the traditional tortilla chip vessel will work just great.

Famous Five Layer Dip We all have our favourite version of these. Here is our personal fave! Ingredients 1 Can Refried Beans (cheap and easy way) 1 16 ounce container of cream cheese 1 16 ounce container of your favourite salsa As much grated sharp cheddar cheese as you like Guacamole Ingredients 2 Avocados Salt & Pepper 2 Garlic Cloves minced 1 thick slice of purple onion diced Optional: finely chopped Serrano pepper

1. Find a nice sized platter and spread your beans as layer one.
2. Next mix your guacamole ingredients together using a fork so you can mash all the ingredients together. Guacamole is pretty personal, so add ingredients to taste and do not mash too much or you will loose the consistency and it will not hold its own here. Once the ingredients are mashed to perfection and taste, spread on top of the beans as your 2nd layer.
3. Next you spread your salsa over the guacamole in a nice layer to your liking – some like it thick and some do not.
4. Now the tricky part, getting your sour cream to stick to your salsa. Dollop large table spoons across the platter, on top of your salsa layer and gently smooth this out.
5. Final layer is the best! Grate your sharp cheddar cheese, approximately 10 ounces is what I use and sprinkle generously on top.
6. Some folks like to garnish with olives and tomatoes – that’s up to you.

The obvious dipping and scooping choice here is the corn tortilla chip, yellow, white or blue will work.  And an off the all Frito lover will dare you to try these and we do too, you may be surprised by the delight. Home-made Hummus This is one of the easiest and healthiest recipes. You will need a food processor for this. We use a mini one that is easy to clean and can make smaller portions for single servings. It’s so easy, you can make this at the time of eating, or snacking. Ingredients Can of Garbanzo Beans Salt & Pepper 3 cloves of garlic (minced) 2 tbsp olive oil ½ jar of roasted red peppers, drained 1 tbsp Parmesan cheese Sprig of basil Couple Pitas sliced in triangles 1. Add garbanzo beans and red peppers to food processor to mix until smooth and creamy. 2. Add rest of ingredients to food processor and mix in thoroughly 3. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese on top for garnish with basil BOMB Guacamole Our south of the border friends has given us this recipe that we cannot deny is the BOMB! Guacamole is either a fan favourite or a pass. Happens to be a FAN favourite for me -thus making it in our dip blog. Guacamole is a pretty personal taste – so take the ingredients in this one and have some fun. Adjust to your taste accordingly by slowly adding each of these and stop when you find your sweet spot, for this savory treat. Ingredients 4 large avocados 4 cloves of garlic 3 tbsp. red onion chopped 2 tsp. red pepper flakes Salt & Pepper Directions

1. Cut the avocados in half with a chef’s knife and remove the pit. You can remove the pit by gently stabbing with your chef’s knife and pulling out cleanly. You may know easily remove the skin and drop the halves into a bowl. Repeat this on all avocados.
2. Mash the avocados using a fork until you have the desired consistency of lumpy mash with much room to remove lumps while blending in remaining ingredients.
3. Add onions, chopped or minced garlic, red pepper flakes and salt and pepper. Mash with fork until all ingredients are well mixed.

Tortilla chips are your best friend for dipping here. Accompany with your favorite salsa and you have a fantastic dip set here! EASY Nacho Cheese Slow Cooker Dip This recipe has been around since Velveeta was concocted and has been adapted from the Kraft website where they recommend using the Taco Bell salsa. We think you can find better salsa than that. So find your fave and march on with this simple recipe that has been satiating party-goers for decades. Ingredients 16 ounce Velveeta Cheese Brick Your Favourite Salsa Sour Cream

1. Cut your Velveeta brick into 1” squares making it easier to melt down. Place all chunks into your crockpot on medium. Melt these guys on down and keep on low until you’re ready to get your party on.
2. Upon Party TIME: Pour 8 ounces of salsa into your warm cheese and you are ready to serve.
3.  Place sour cream on side so folks may dollip on top for a cool combination. Serve with OG tortilla chips or toast points or French bread for the shabby chic at your soiree.

Slow Cooker Pizza Adapted from the DonofFood.com, we thought this to be a clever one – not as simple as some of the rest, but worth the effort to impress. Add some trim to the top of this with some Parmesan cheese and fresh basil on the side. 1 tbsp. olive oil 1 white onion ¼ ground beef ¼ Italian ground sausage (no casing) 3 cloves of garlic, minced 1 ½ tsp. dried oregano 1 tsp. salt ½ tsp. pepper 2 jars (30 ounces) tomato basil sauce 1 ½ cups of shredded mozzarella cheese 1 ½ cups shredded Monterrey Jack Provolone 3 Bobole Pizza Crusts Directions

1. Add olive oil to sauce pan and heat until sizzling. Mince onions. Add onions and heat until translucent.
2.  Add sausage and ground beef to sauce pan. Once meat is almost completely browned, add your oregano, garlic, salt and pepper.
3. Once the meat is completely browned, reduce heat to medium and add your sauce and cheeses. Stir until cheeses are completely melted.
4.  Move your delicious sauce to a slow cooker to keep warm all evening for a party full of guests to enjoy.
5.  Heat Bobole Pizza Crusts in oven and slice for dipping

  Everyone’s FAVOURITE Chili Cheese Dip Love when we get to rely on the trusty slow-cooker as it has so many virtues, like, easy and always warm dip! Ingredients Can of Hormel Chili – meat or no meat, up to you! 1 package of Philidelphia Cream Cheese 1 package of Velveeta cheese – the stuff that sits on the shelf, un-refrigerated ½ Half red onion diced Tortilla Chips Directions Pop all of this in a slow cooker and walk away for an hour – presto – bomb dip done! Start dipping! We hope you find some dips you enjoy from our dozen dips to delight. Hopefully you can adapt some of these to make your own recipes and inspire your friends and family just the same. Happy party dipping for the Christmas Season. You will find all your dip preparation needs at Williams Food Equipment. From knives to Food processors, to roasters to slow cookers and presentation dishes, we’ve got you covered and it’s probably on sale too! Merry Christmas from our family to yours!