Artichoke Dip

Get ready for the Super Bowl with the Seahawks vs. Broncos on Sunday, February 2, 2014.  You can serve these classic dips with cut-up vegetables or low-salt chips.  Your household of hungry football fans will scarf them up.  All three dips, artichoke, black bean-chipotle and baked onion are included. This dip is delicious unbaked.  Crabmeat and cooked chopped spinach may be stirred into either version. Artichoke Dip Recipe

Artichoke Dip

2 (14 oz.) cans artichoke hearts, drained

1 cup mayonnaise

1 cup sour cream

1 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Mince the artichokes in a food processor; add mayonnaise, sour cream and Parmesan cheese. If desired, coat a small baking dish with cooking spray, fill with dip and bake in a preheated 350 F. oven 20 to 25 minutes, or until lightly browned.           12 – 16 servings

This will take about 15 minutes to make and may be made a day ahead.   Black Bean-Chipotle Dip

Black Bean-Chipotle Dip

½ cup coarsely chopped red onion

½ cup cilantro

1 Tbsp. (or to taste) minced chipotle in adobo sauce

2 (15.5 oz. each) cans black beans, drained and rinsed, divided

¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil

2 Tbsp. fresh lime juice

1 tsp. ground cumin

½ tsp. dried oregano

Chop onion and cilantro together in food processor to 1/8 inch pieces; add chipotle, and mince. Add half the beans, the olive oil, lime juice, cumin and oregano, and pulse the machine to thoroughly combine. Transfer the beans to the bowl; stir in the remaining whole beans and mash lightly with a fork, if desired. 12 to 14 servings

Baked Onion Dip

Baked Onion Dip

1 Tbsp. canola oil

4 cups chopped onions

1 tsp. sugar

4 oz. Neufchatel cheese (low-fat cream cheese)

1/3 cup light mayonnaise

½ cup reduced-fat sour cream

¼ plus 1 Tbsp. grated Parmesan, divided

¼ tsp. Worcestershire sauce

Preheat the oven to 350 F.  Coat a 1 quart baking dish with cooking spray. Heat canola oil in large in a nonstick skillet over medium high heat.  Add onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until somewhat softened, about 4 minutes.  Sprinkle with sugar; reduce the heat to medium and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are soft and deeply golden, about 15 minutes.  Remove from heat and allow to cool. Combine the Neufchatel, mayonnaise, sour cream, ¼ cup of the Parmesan and Worcestershire sauce in a bowl; stir in the onions and transfer to the prepared baking dish.  Sprinkle with the remaining 1 tablespoon Parmesan cheese. Bake until mixture is golden on top and bubbling, about 20 minutes.  Serve warm.          12 servings   (Recipe for Artichoke Dip, Black Bean-Chipotle Dip, and Baked Onion Dip came from the Newsday, January 30, 2014)