Fruit Tray with Dip
1 cup cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
3 apples
3 bananas
1 pint strawberries
2 kiwis
1 cantaloupe
1. In a medium bowl, using an electric mixer, blend cream cheese, brown sugar, granulated sugar, and vanilla.
2. Beat until smooth and creamy.
3. Use as a dip for apples, bananas, strawberries, kiwi, and cantaloupe.
4. Chill 1 hour.
5. Serve with fruit slices attractively arranged on a large platter.
Yield: 8 servings.
Cream Cheese Wontons
Makes 16 wontons or 24 small wontons
Ingredients
* 1 cup cream cheese
* 16 wonton wrappers or 24 egg roll wrappers
* oil (for frying)
* sweet and sour sauce
Procedure
1. Heat oil in a deep-fat fryer or pour into a deep skillet on high temperature. Vegetable oil or peanut oil works best.
2. While oil is heating, lay out as many wrappers as you plan to use. Have a small bowl of water nearby to wet your fingers in. Put a small dab of cream cheese in one corner of each wrapper, about 1/2” from the edges. Use about 2 tsp. for egg roll wrappers or 1 tsp. for wonton wrappers. Using your fingers, wet the two edges nearest the cream cheese, then fold the other half down and seal the edges, making a triangle shape. Seal the edges tightly, but try to leave small gaps at the corners so the triangles will not expand so much that they burst.
3. Drop several wontons into oil at a time. Turn over when the edges start to brown and cook for another minute or two. Set on paper towels to drain, then serve hot with sweet-and-sour sauce.
Artichoke Hearts Attack
Artichoke hearts are readily available in cans and jars in many countries, and are increasingly used in the making of snack dips. Many national chain restaurants in the USA have some variety of artichoke dip, which is usually mayonnaise-based. One of the easiest, yet unhealthy, variations on the creamy artichoke dip is jokingly called the Artichoke Hearts Attack, owing to the amount of mayonnaise and Parmesan cheese it contains.
As an “equal parts” recipe, (with 3 simple parts), it is especially amenable to whipping up at the last minute for a party, and as it is primarily a base to which other ingredients are added, it is popular among those who like to add something distinctive.
Ingredients
Equal parts:
* artichoke hearts, chopped or squeezed
* mayonnaise
* Parmesan or Romano cheese
Procedure
Just mix them up, that’s it.
Notes, tips, and variations
There are many who increase the amount of artichokes used, for health-conscious reasons. There are also versions that replace the mayonnaise with soft tofu.
Various items that are often added to the base artichoke dip, (to taste):
* salt and pepper
* chopped scallions, (green onions)
* dill weed
* finely chopped olives, (often with pimento)
* chopped tomatoes are an especially common addition
* any number of very finely chopped vegetables, sometimes pre-cooked but raw is fine
* chopped spinach, cooked
* ½ cup sour cream
* ½ cup cream cheese
* minced garlic
* small can chopped green chilis
* Dijon mustard (teaspoon or tablespoon to taste)
Serving
At room temperature, it is perfect for the savory dipping of vegetables, potato chips, and all other common party snacks. It becomes even better, however, as a warmed-up dip. Simply place it into a small, shallow, heat-resistant dish and broil it for just a little while, until the top turns slightly tan. It can also work well as a continuously warmed dip in a fondue pot, although it does need to be stirred every once in a while to prevent burning.
Another interesting use, for those who are definitely not counting calories, is as the base for a sandwich. Spread the dip onto a good Italian roll, then broil it. When the dip turns a nice tan color, take it out of the broiler and finish the sandwich with lettuce and tomato.