Let the partying begin!
Our New Year’s celebration got off to an early start last night when my alma mater, the Wisconsin Badgers, beat Miami in the 2009 Champs Sports Bowl. Not even the bite-sized cheesecake could top that sweet victory.
Of course, the party included much more than a few desserts. The main attraction was the snack and appetizer table, which featured dozens of unique dips, chips, cracker and assorted crudite. The buffet was delicious and appropriate for a large gathering.
If you are looking for outstanding dips to serve at your college football bowl party or a New Year’s Eve bash tomorrow night, consider the following:
SHRIMP SALSA
Ingredients:
1 cup fresh tomatoes, peeled, chopped; reserve the juice
2 teaspoon Serrano chile, minced
1/4 cup fresh lime juice
1/2 cup cilantro, chopped
1/2 cup white onion, minced
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
4 to 6 dashes of Tabasco sauce
1-1/2 cup cooked shrimp, chopped
2 clove garlic, minced
Pinch of sugar
Salt and freshly cracked black pepper
Directions:
Mix all ingredients in a large bowl. Toss to combine flavors and refrigerate at least 30 minutes before serving.
Serve with tortilla chips.
SPICY ARTICHOKE DIP
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 cup minced onion
1 large jalapeno pepper, minced
1 14-ounce can artichoke hearts, drained
1-1/2 cups grated sharp Cheddar cheese
1 cup mayonnaise
Salt and pepper
Directions:
Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat.
Saute onion and chiles until tender, about 5 minutes. Set aside to cool.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Finely chop artichokes and place them in a bowl. Add onion mixture, cheese and mayonnaise. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Spoon mixture into a 1-quart baking dish. Bake until lightly browned and bubbly, about 30 minutes.
Serve warm with tortilla chips.
BUFFALO WING DIP
Ingredients:
1 package (8 oz.) cream cheese, cubed
1-1/2 cups finely chopped cooked chicken
1/2 cup Blue Cheese salad dressing
1/2 cup buffalo wing sauce
2 stalks celery, finely chopped
Directions:
Mix all of the ingredients in a medium microwaveable bowl.
Microwave on high 5 minutes or until cream cheese is melted and mixture is heated through, stirring about midway through.
Serve hot with celery sticks.
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