Susan's Spicy Sausage Cheese Dip

2 blocks cream cheese
1 lb Jimmy Dean hot pork sausage
1 can Rotel diced tomatoes with green chilies
1 can sliced black olives

Cook sausage on the stove. Remove from the pan and set aside. Melt cream cheese in the pan. Add sausage back in along with tomatoes and olives. Serve immediately or transfer to a crock pot to keep warm. Serve with tortilla chips or crackers.

Cucumber Sandwich Spread

8 oz cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup grated onion
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup grated cucumber
1-2 Tbsp mayonnaise *
1/4 tsp pepper

Mix all ingredients together. Serve on cucumber slices or on sandwiches.

* This recipe can be made gluten free or paleo if using gluten free mayo or homemade mayo

Soft Pretzel Bites

1 1/2 cups warm water
1 tablespoon sugar
2 teaspoons salt
1 pkg active dry yeast
4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

10 cups water
2/3 cup baking soda

1 large yolk beaten with 1 tablespoon water

1 tablespoon coarse salt
1 tablespoon white sesame seeds
1 teaspoon black sesame seeds
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

Combine water, sugar and salt in a large bowl of your stand mixer. Sprinkle the yeast on top and let sit 5 minutes until it foams up. Add in the flour and the butter and use the dough hook attachment to mix on low speed until combined. Up the speed to medium and knead until the dough is smooth and pulls away from the sides of the bowl, about 5 minutes. Remove the dough, clean the bowl and oil it up with a bit of vegetable oil. Place the dough back inside the bowl and cover it with plastic wrap. Let it sit in a warm place for about an hour until it has doubled in size.

Preheat oven to 450F and line 2 sheet pans with Silpat liners (or brush with vegetable oil) and set aside.

In a large pot, bring the 10 cups of water along with the baking soda and bring to a rolling boil.

In a small bowl, combine the salt, sesame seeds and garlic powder.

Meanwhile, divide the dough into 4 sections (like cutting a pie) and roll out the dough using your hands into a long snake. Cut the dough into 1 inch sections. Repeat with the remaining dough. Lightly roll each section into balls.

Drop the pretzel bites one at a time into the boiling water for about 30 seconds. Remove with a slotted spoon and place onto the prepared sheet pans. Brush each ball with the yolk & water mixture and then sprinkle with the salty seed mixture. Bake for 12 - 14 minutes or until the pretzel bites take on a dark brown colour. Cool on a wire rack for 5 minutes before serving. Makes about 60 bites.

These are best fresh out of the oven, but still are great cooled off. Next day reheat in the oven. Serve with mustard or fondue.

{Adapted from Alton Brown and poppytalk}

Alton Brown's Guacamole

3 avocados, smashed
1 lime, juiced
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
1/2 medium onion, finely chopped
2 roma tomatoes w/o seeds, finely chopped
1 Tbsp finely chopped cilantro
1 clove garlic minced

Combine and enjoy.

Pimento Cheese

12 oz whipped cream cheese
4 oz cheddar cheese, grated (1 1/2 cups)
4 oz pimentos, drained
1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon Tabasco sauce
Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
Crackers, for serving

Process cream cheese, cheddar, pimentos, and Tabasco in a food processor until coarsely pureed. Transfer to a bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Serve with crackers.

Makes 3 cups.

{From Martha Stewart}

Carmelized Onion Dip

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 large yellow onions (about 1 1/2 pounds), finely chopped
3/4 cup sour cream (low-fat is fine if you like)
3/4 cup Greek yogurt (low-fat is fine if you like)
3 teaspoons dehydrated onion powder/granulates (salt-free, natural)very scant 1/2 teaspoon salt

In a large thick-bottomed skillet over medium heat saute the chopped onions in the olive oil along with a couple pinches of salt. Stir occasionally with a wood or metal spatula and cook until the onions are deeply golden, brown, and caramelized - roughly 40 or 50 minutes. Set aside and let cool.

In the meantime, whisk together the sour cream, yogurt, onion powder, and salt. The important thing is to add whatever onion powder you are using to taste. Add a bit at a time until it tastes really good. Set aside until the caramelized onions have cooled to room temperature. Stir in 2/3 of the caramelized onions, scoop into a serving bowl, and top with the remaining onions. I think this dip is best at room temperature.

Makes about 2 cups.

{From 101 Cookbooks}

Chile Pea Puffs

nonstick cooking spray (HS note: or a bit of olive oil)
2 cups cooked green peas, lightly mashed
1/2 cup crumbled paneer (or any cheese that crumples- I used feta)
2 small green serrano chiles, minced (remove seeds to reduce heat)
1/4 teaspoon salt to start
1/4 teaspoon red chile powder or red chile flakes (less to reduce heat)
1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
1 pack medium wonton wrappers


Preheat oven to 400F degrees. Lightly grease a baking sheet with cooking spray (HS note: or line with parchment paper).

In a bowl combine the peas, paneer, green chiles, salt, chile powder, and garlic. Mix well.

Place one teaspoon of the mixture into a center of a wonton wrapper. Lightly brush the sides og the wrapper with water. Fold the wrapper over to form a triangle, or if you are using round wrappers, fold to form a half-moon. Press the edges firmly to secure the seam so the filling does not fall out.

Place the puffs in a single layer on the baking sheet. Spray them lightly with cooking spray. Cook for 7 to 8 minutes per side or until they are crisp and the skin changes to a lovely golden brown. Serve immediately with your choice of chutney.

Makes about 50

Note: these freeze well, so if you don't want 50 right now, freeze before spraying/baking.

Goat Cheese Pear Tarts

2 pears
10 oz. goat cheese @ room temperature
1/2 tbsp sugar
dash of cinnamon
1 package puff pastry sheets (in the frozen foods aisle @ the grocery store)

1) preheat oven to 400.

2) roll out 1 puff pastry to a 20 x 20 inch square with a rolling pin,
and cut into 2 x 2 inch squares. grease your tins so the pastry does
not stick. press squares into tins and trim off the excess.

3) chop the pears finely with the skins on. (this adds a little color
to the tarts). stir pears, sugar & cinnamon up. you will probably have
a bit of the pear mixture leftover.

4) spoon and press down 1/2 tbsp of goat cheese onto the bottom of the
pastry and add 1 tbsp of pear mixture on top.

5) bake at 400 for 25 minutes. the edges should be golden brown.

6) take out of oven and let cool for 10 minutes. you will be able to
pop them out if you properly greased your tins.

Garlic Mayonnaise

2/3 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup plain yogurt
Juice of 1/2 lemon
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1/4 teaspoon paprika

Stir everything together. Yum! Dip for veggies or shrimp.

Bruschetta

25 french bread slices, preferably baguette size
6 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste

3 cups diced tomatoes
3/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
6 cloves garlic, minced or crushed
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
salt and pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 350° F. Place bread slices on large cookie sheet, drizzle with olive oil, and season with salt and pepper. Bake for 5-10 minutes or until bread is crisp and slightly golden brown.

In a large mixing bowl combine tomatoes, cheese, garlic, basil, vinegar, thyme, and olive oil. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Blend well, cover and refrigerate 1-2 hours. This makes a ton! Spoon on top of bread slices.

Spicy Avocado-Stuffed Deviled Eggs

10 large eggs
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
1 teaspoon wasabi paste (Japanese horseradish paste)*
1/4 teaspoon salt
Pinch freshly ground black pepper
1 plum tomato, seeded and finely chopped
1 scallion, finely chopped
1 serrano chile, seeded and minced
1 firm-ripe avocado, halved, peeled, pitted, and diced

*Available at Asian markets and some supermarkets

Hard boil the eggs. Peel eggs and halve lengthwise. Carefully remove yolks and mash in large bowl with fork. Add mayonnaise, lime juice, wasabi paste, salt, and pepper and stir with fork until smooth. Fold in tomato, scallion, and chile. Fold in avocado. Spoon mixture into whites.

Chipotle Deviled Eggs

12 large eggs
1/3 cup plus 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
2 to 3 teaspoons finely chopped canned chipotle chiles*
24 fresh cilantro leaves

*Available at some supermarkets, specialty foods stores, and Latin markets.

Hard boil the eggs. Peel eggs and cut in half lengthwise. Spoon yolks into small bowl; arrange whites on platter. Finely grate yolks on small holes of box grater into medium bowl. Mix in mayonnaise, then 2 teaspoons chopped chipotle chiles. Add more chopped chiles, if desired, for more heat. Season filling to taste with salt, if desired. Spoon filling into egg whites. Cover and chill eggs at least 2 hours and up to 1 day. Press 1 cilantro leaf into filling in each egg and serve.

Tropical Fruit Salsa

1 red bell pepper, seeded, diced
1 yellow bell pepper, seeded, diced
3/4 cups 1/2-inch pieces peeled papaya (or mango)
3/4 cups 1/2-inch pieces peeled pineapple
1/2 medium-size red onion, diced
2 1/2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
2 tablespoons jalapeño jelly or 1 tablespoon sugar
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 medium jalapeño chili, seeded, minced
1 tablespoon minced fresh cilantro

Combine all ingredients in large bowl. (Salsa can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.)

Cucumber Sandwiches

1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 (.7 ounce) package dry Italian salad dressing mix
2 loaves French bread, cut into 1 inch slices
2 medium cucumbers, sliced
1 pinch dried dill weed

In a medium bowl, mix together the cream cheese, mayonnaise and Italian dressing mix. Refrigerate for at least 6 hours, or preferably overnight.

Spread the cream cheese blend onto slices of French bread. Top with a cucumber slice, and sprinkle with dill. You can make as many or few as you like. The cream cheese mixture keeps for about a week in the refrigerator so you can make them over and over again!

35 servings

Herbed Cream Cheese Cucumber Rounds

4 oz cream cheese, softened
2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh chives
1/2 teaspoon finely grated fresh lemon zest
1/4 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
1/8 teaspoon table salt
Pinch of cayenne, or to taste
1/2 medium seedless cucumber (usually plastic-wrapped)
3 medium radishes
Coarse sea salt for sprinkling
Special equipment: a Japanese Benriner* or other adjustable-blade slicer
Garnish: finely grated fresh lemon zest

Stir together cream cheese, herbs, zest, lemon juice, table salt, and cayenne.

Slice 32 (1/8-inch-thick) rounds from cucumber with slicer. Trim bottoms from radishes, then slice into 32 (1/16-inch-thick) rounds with slicer. Top each cucumber slice with a radish slice and 1/2 teaspoon herbed cream cheese. Sprinkle with coarse sea salt and serve immediately.

Makes 32 hors d'oeuvres

Pesto Goat Cheese Spread

4 oz soft mild goat cheese at room temperature
2 oz cream cheese at room temperature
1/4 cup pesto

Stir together all ingredients with salt and pepper to taste until smooth. Serve with crackers or toasts. Keeps covered and chilled for up to one week.

Olive Spread With Walnuts

1 3/4 cups pitted Kalamata olives or other brine-cured black olives (about 1/2 pound pitted)
3 tablespoons plus 1/4 cup walnuts, toasted, chopped
1/4 cup olive oil
2 teaspoons coarse-grained Dijon mustard
1 garlic clove
1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
1 teaspoon chopped fresh oregano
1 teaspoon chopped fresh sage
Pinch of cayenne pepper

Finely chop black olives and 3 tablespoons toasted walnuts in processor. Add olive oil, dijon mustard, garlic, thyme, oregano, sage, and cayenne pepper and process until coarsely pureed. Stir in remaining 1/4 cup chopped toasted walnuts. (Spread can be prepared up to 3 days ahead. Cover with plastic and refrigerate.) Serve with toasted baguette slices.

Makes about 1 1/3 cups.

Baked Brie

1 tin of crescent rolls (like Pillsbury)
A small round of Brie
1 can of cranberry sauce

Unroll crescent rolls- do not separate. Pinch cuts together. Put a mound of cranberry sauce in the middle (maybe 1/4 C) and place Brie on top. Fold dough around brie and pinch to seal the seams. Turn over so the seams are under the brie and place on a baking sheet. Bake at 350 for 45 min, serve warm with crackers, bread and fruit.

NOTES:
Try it with gouda instead of brie and leave out the cranberry sauce.

Hot Feta Artichoke Dip

14oz can or jar of artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
1 pkg crumbled feta cheese (plain or flavored)
1 C mayo
1/2 C parmesan cheese, shredded
2oz jar pimentos, drained
Garlic, minced- at least 4 cloves, I usually use 6, but I love garlic!

Mix everything together and put in a casserole dish. Bake uncovered at 350 until hot (15-20 min). Serve with breads and crackers.