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These Mediterranean Flavors Will Knock Your Socks Off

The first time I ever tried Greek tzatziki, I wasn’t sure if I really liked it. My aunt made it and she used so much garlic that its taste was a little overwhelming. A few years after that we traveled to Greece and I got a taste of the authentic tzatziki. It was mindblowing! They served it in all of the restaurants and I simply couldn’t get enough of it. I know it’s supposed to be an appetizer, but I swear, I could have just ordered a big bowl of tzatziki alone for lunch!

Since then this has been my favorite recipe. Tzatziki really is a 3-in-1 dish. You could serve it as a lovely cucumber dip with veggie sticks. It makes a great spread for homemade crusty bread. But most of all, it is an amazing sauce for pretty much any entree you can think of!

If you ask me, tzatziki works perfectly with BBQ dishes. And wait until you’ve tried it with your favorite meatballs! The combination of flavors is incredible. It’s very easy to make and if you want to serve this at a party, I would suggest you make a double batch. It will be gone in minutes!

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Quick Tip: Add the salt to the grated cucumber and let it sit for a few minutes, then squeeze with the cheesecloth. This will help you drain as much liquid as possible.

My husband is a HUGE football lover.  That guy considers his Sunday afternoons after church sacred as he watches football game after football game. 

He really loves it and has taught my kids all about it and now they love it, too! When we first got married many moons ago, I had no idea what football was like, how it was played, what it had to do with, and what in the world you did with that ball.  I was so lost, I hated going to games with him and even more so, spending the afternoon on the couch watching it.

Well, my husband taught me all about the game, and now that I understand it, I am hooked.  I love watching the game with him, cheering on the good team, and booing the bad.  Well, with the Super Bowl around the corner, I thought I would surprise him with a really cool dip that I know he would like.

I put together the dip and then realized I could make it even better by shaping it and decorating it like a football.  Well, I tested it out this week and needless to say, it was delicious.  I am certain he is going to be surprised!

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Quick Tip: Amp up the spice by adding more chilies.

My husband loves just about anything. I am serious, he tries and likes everything. Every time we travel, we find a great restaurant in the area and then eat a classic dish from the area. My husband is not shy when it comes to trying new dishes. He usually tries to stick with meals that are unlike the kinds anyone can make in our hometown, no matter how weird.

One that he loved when we went to Rhode Island was a cheesy crab dip. No, not that weird, but definitely not common in our town. It is expensive and hard to make. Or so I thought. I searched for a recipe and came out with nothing. There was no recipe that was good enough for this cheesy crab dip he so craved! I casually was talking to my father in law about this and since I know he likes to cook, I asked him if he knew any recipe like this because I was falling short. He actually did have a recipe! It was a cheesy dip just like the crab one and had chunks of real crab in it. I made it for my husband on his birthday as a surprise and he loved it even more than the original one!

Photo and recipe courtesy of Will Cook For Smiles

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Quick Tip: Serve this with any type of bread or in a hollowed out bread bowl.

With the holidays just around the corner, I am already planning my Thanksgiving and Christmas feasts. I have all of the traditional foods on the menu as far as sides ad entrees go, but I lack appetizers. In my family, you have to have appetizers sitting out or everyone will be picking at the main dishes before they are done cooking. I hate that! So, I make sure to have at least a relish tray and some cheese and crackers resting on all the nearby tables. This year, i am going to make this lovely pimento spread/dip. You can use this spread in many different ways. shoot, i bet you could even make a sandwich out of it!

I like this pimento cheese spread recipe because it is versatile, tasty, and is very easy to make. Plus, i can make it the night before the big dinner because it needs to chill in the fridge, anyway. Such a time saver!

Recipe and photo courtesy of The Pioneer Woman.

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Quick Tip: For best results, make sure the cheddar and jack cheeses are nice and cold when you mix them in. – The Pioneer Woman

This is quite an easy tip!  When people love the “buffalo” flavor, they tend to love anything that it covers…soooo…this is no exception!

Don’t be fooled by this delectable dish!  Not only is it cheesy, it’s ready in 25 minutes and sure to please to best of the mass mouthies!

Recipe and photo courtesy of  The Food Network

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This Cheesy Bacon Dip is a great choice if you want to make a quick and easy snack for yourself or for any gathering. I love serving it with tortilla chips or crackers. My husband enjoys eating it with pretzels. It’s all up to personal preference as this is a dish that pairs so well with pretty much anything! How do you think you’ll be eating cheesy bacon dip?

As is, the recipe serves six people, but I don’t think that you would have any trouble expanding it as you need. Just some quick mixing and the dip bakes in about half an hour. How can you beat that? This is the perfect dip for any SuperBowl, tailgate, or backyard BBQ party. Just make sure you have the recipe at hand – people are going to be begging you for it!

Recipe and photo courtesy of 12 Tomatoes

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Quick Tip: You can serve this dip in an edible bread bowl. It’s tasty and a lot of fun!

This Mexican delight is great as party or tailgate food but also makes for part of a nice Mexican meal at home, if you prefer. I do love some Mexican food, now and then. This dip is, strictly speaking, an appetizer, but it also makes for a nice side dish, and one or two people could make a decent vegetarian (not vegan, granted, but vegetarian) lunch out of it!  And being what it is, I am sure that you wouldn’t have much trouble expanding the recipe, if needed.

I went with some homemade enchilada sauce, but I am sure that the ranchero would be just fine, as well.  It’s really a matter of personal preference. If you intend for this to be part of a full Mexican dinner, you might consider having some black beans and/or beef enchiladas with it.  Otherwise, just serve with plenty of your favorite tortilla chips.  Enjoy!

Recipe and photo courtesy of Dip Recipe Creations

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Quick tip: Adjust the amount of cayenne to your liking.