Happy Kids, Inc: Appetizers

By Meg Hodson

The holidays are in full swing. I have got a jam-packed schedule from now until we leave on vacation a few days before Christmas. Between the kids and those last few days of school and the various holiday get togethers we have to attend, it's fun, but a little hectic.

You will probably find the need for a quick, homemade appetizer like the one I have created here. I love dips, but wanted to put a spin on the traditional spinach dips. Although this dip does have a lot of ingredients, preparation is straightforward and easy.

I also decided to serve it with dippers that were a little different from the quintessential baguette or crackers. I love parties and I love good food, but sometimes at these get togethers, you are bombarded with a lot of BREAD. I love bread, but man, I can fill up pretty easily when it's part of every appetizer. So I subbed Old London Melba Toasts. Trust me, these are not the melba toasts you might remember. They are so good!

I chose to pair my dip with their roasted garlic snack rounds. I love the hearty, toasted flavor of them. They are high in fiber, minerals, and are darn delicious. It's a nice option for those that want to steer clear of corn, soy, oats, and other common ingredients in crackers and bread. Plus, with only 60 calories per serving, I won't feel as guilty piling extra dip onto my toast.

Swiss Kale Dip

Ingredients:

1 package cream cheese
1 cup shredded (or finely diced) swiss cheese
1 cup kale (frozen or slightly blanced)
1/4 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
1/2 can of diced green chilis
1/4 sweet onion, finely diced
2 tsp. kosher salt
1 tsp. granulated garlic
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tsp. black pepper
1 tsp. parsley
1 tbl. white wine vinegar

Cooking Directions

Whisk cream cheese in medium size bowl (or in your Kitchen Aid mixer) until very smooth. Add all remaining ingredients and blend well. Heat in microwave for one minute, then stir. Repeat process until cheese is melted. You can also heat in an oven safe dish at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes, stirring often.

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By Meg Hodson

Want a recipe that is easy, upscale, and a crowd pleaser?

My husband and I throw football parties with close friends. We usually invite everyone to bring a side dish to share. So, over the years, I have perfected a few great side dishes and appetizers. I am not the kind of host to just set out chips and salsa! I don't see a football game as a reason to not go all out for high end, homemade appetizers. I know the tendency is to go for dips to serve guests. They are easy and can be deliciously homemade (think hummus and yummy Mexican bean dips). I offer one up below that is a little different. I have to tell you that even people that wouldn't call themselves a fan of feta LOVE THIS DIP!

Feta Dip
This is a VERY simple recipe! I actually don't really measure anything when I am putting it together, so hopefully that will work for you. This recipe was inspired here. I changed it up a little. Here is what you will need:

--Crumbled feta (I like the large size I can get a Costco for a good price)
--Olive oil
--Oregano
--Garlic
--White pepper
--Parsley
--Chili powder
--Finely diced tomatoes (your pick of your favorite tomatoes)
--Green onion, finely chopped
--1-2 french baguettes, or other favorite, yummy bread (it is VERY important to have freshly baked, crusty, soft bread), sliced into 1 inch thick pieces

The feta I use from Costco is about 14 oz. You can adjust the amount you need depending on the size of the crowd you are serving. In a large bowl, add the feta and add the olive oil little by little until you have a thick consistency and the feta is sticking together slightly. Be careful not to overdo the olive oil, as once you serve it, it will separate a bit (which is okay).

Then, add the spices (again, depending on how much feta you have used). For the large feta from Costco, I use 1 tbl oregano, 1/2 tsp. chili powder, 1 tbl granulated garlic, 1 tsp white pepper, 1 tsp parsley, and 1/4 cup finely diced tomatoes and 2 stems of green onions. Stir well and then transfer to a rimmed platter for serving.