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Lew Larason: Thoughts from an Epicure My favorite dips

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With the cooler weather and fewer daylight hours, gatherings are no longer on the patio or outside but now indoors. Also, different foods are being served. When we go to a party at this time of the year, I like to take a dip and crackers. They’re easy, flavorful, and fun to enjoy with a glass of wine. Below are three of my favorites.

This one was taken from a vintage cookbook called “Old New Orleans” I found in an antiques shop.

Old New Orleans Dip

1 teaspoon horseradish

3 teaspoons mayonnaise

1 cup finely chopped ham (Spam works fine)

Mix well and serve in a small bowl with crackers on the side.

This dip recipe was given to me years ago by a good friend:

Blue Cheese Sauce

1 part mayonnaise

1 part blue cheese, crumbled

1 part sour cream

2 parts milk

Red wine vinegar to taste

Mix the first four ingredients well. Then, slowly add vinegar to taste. Put in a bowl and serve with crackers on the side.

This is one I developed years ago from a basic recipe in “The Supermarket Handbook.” Of course, I made some additions! It still is my favorite.

Lew’s Boursin

12 ounces cottage cheese, well drained

6 ounces soft butter

¾ teaspoon garlic powder

1 ½ to 2 teaspoons finely chopped chives

Mix well. A blender is handy for this one. With oiled hands, shape into a ball and put in the refrigerator for at least an hour. Serve on a large saucer surrounded by crackers. It can be garnished with chopped chives, dill, or parsley.

My favorite crackers to use with any of the above are rice crackers. They’re crunchy, a good size, and sturdy when used with dips.

Enjoy and stay safe!

If you have any suggestions or questions for this column, please contact me directly at guthrielarason@verizon.net.


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