Conference turris::cooks

	For a really quick dip, I've always mixed a large container
	of sour cream with a package of Mrs Knorr's Vegetable soup
	mix (you can get both at any supermarket). Just mix and 
	voila! It's pretty tasty, and doesn't take all of 5 minutes
	to prepare. To get a little fancy, I buy a round pumpernickel
	or rye bread at the bakery, cut a hole in the top, scoop out
	the insides, and pour the dip into it. The pieces from the
	insides can be used to eat with the dip, as well as crackers,
	veggies, etc.

	Actually, any of the Mrs Knorr's soup mixes make wonderful FAST
	dips.

	Good luck!

	Marc

    Welcome to the U.S.  Here is another quick snack to whip up.  Sounds
    very strange but tastes really great.  You will need Ritz Crackers,
    your favorite peanut butter (chunky or regular) and a cucumber.
    First spread peanut butter on cracker.  Peel and slice the cucumber
    and place one slide on each cracker on top of the peanut butter.
    This is slightly more substantial since peanut butter is heavy.
    Believe it or not this tastes really great.  Another quickie is
    take celery and stuff it with peanut butter or cream cheese seasoned
    with your favorite spice (dill, tarragon, etc.)
    
    Hope this helps!!

    I'm surprised nobody has mentioned this yet but:
    
    California Dip!!
    
    One large container sour cream and one package dried Lipton Onion soup
    (it even says California Dip on the front).  Let it sit at least
    3 hours so the moisture in the sour cream softens the onions.  Serve
    with potatoe chips.
    
    

    1 pkg. frozen, chopped spinach - thaw, squeeze out liquid
    1 cup sour crean
    1 cup Hellman's Mayonaisse
    1 package Hidden Valley Ranch "Original" Salad Dressing
    
    Blend and chill - wonderful with raw veggies. 

    
    1 - 8 1/2 oz can artichoke hearts, drained
    1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
    1/2 cup mayonnaise
    1/4 tsp. garlic powder

    1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees
    2.  In a medium bowl, mash artichokes
    3.  Add cheese, mayonnaise, and garlic powder to artichokes,
        and mix well.
    4.  Pour mixture into a small soup crock or baking dish, and
        bake for 25-30 minutes.
    5.  Serve hot with crackers (I usually serve this with Melba rounds)

    
    There's also a recipe for spinach dip on the back of the Knorr's
    Vegetable soup mix.  I usually use the leek soup instead of the
    vegetable, but the dip is wonderful either way.  It's also easy, 
    and it makes a lot. 
    

    

	A ** REAL ** easy one .... and most delicious ....
    
    	1 - 8 oz. cube of cream cheese ... softened
    	1 - 3 jar package of prepare shrimp cocktail
    
    	Put it all in the blender ....
    
    	Presto .... a dip for all seasons ....
    
    
    	P.S.   I add a little (actually a lot) of horseradish for 
    	       a little extra "punch"    [;^)
    
    

OK, here are a couple of dips that don't require any special tools:

	dip for veggies:

		Use 16 oz of sour cream, or 16 oz plain Yogurt

		Add 1 package of Good seasons dressing mix
			(italian, blue cheese, french, or anything)

		Mix well with a spoon

		Let sit for a couple of hours (softens the gritty bits,
			and blends the flavors)

	spicy dip for nacho chips: (Chili con Queso (kay-so))

		Cut up 8 oz Velveeta and 8 oz Monterey Jack cheese into
			cubes

		Put in a pan over LOW heat

		Add 8 oz jar of Salsa (old el paso/ortega/whatever)

		Stir until the cheese melts

		Stir in 1/2 cup milk (keeps it from hardening)

		Serve warm, can be regfrigerated and reheated


						     
							- JP

    Another easy one that I've used with success that is not a dip,
    and does not require a lot of prep. is Nachos.
    
    Ingred.
    Nachos,  the large tia sancho ones.
    selsa sauce  A jar of either mild, med or hot.
    1  lb. hamburg.
    cheddar cheese Grated.
    
    Place nachos on baking pan. Brown the hamburg, and put a dab on
    each nacho. add a dab of selsa sauce to each, and a little cheese
    on top. put in a 350 oven for a few min. (watch them) til cheese
    melts.   these are great, you won't be sorry if you try them.

    mega-quick.....
    
	get nachos. put on salsa and cheese.
    	Nuke it.
    
    so fast, so good, so hi-tech !
    
    

    
    A fast easy snack is to go to a Demoulas market and in the frozen
    food section they have packages of assorted cheese puffs. You get
    72 puffs in each package for $1.99.  All you do is seperate them
    on a cookie sheet and bake in the oven.  They puff up real high
    and are ready to serve in about 10 minutes.
    
    Another quick spread for crackers or stuffing celery is a container
    of  Kraft Cheddar Spread (let stand on counter to soften) and mix
    with equal amount of cottage cheese.  Real tasty and easy to prepare.
    
    Happy Holidays!
    
    Judy Tinker

    Two more ideas:
    
    	A container/block of cheese flavored with garlic & herbs
    	  (Alouette is one brand.  Found in dairy case.)
    	Serve with sliced green apples (Granny Smith variety)
    
    
    	A wedge of Brie--room temperature
    	Serve with slices of French bread, sliced red apples & 
    	  seedless grapes
    
    Happy Holidays,
    
    Judy

    Another quick and easy party snack is water chestnuts wrapped in
    bacon.  Water chestnuts are available canned in the super market
    and are usually found in the section with all the foreign food
    (ie: Chinese, Mexican, etc.).  Wrap each chestnut with a slice
    of bacon (you can probably get 2 or 3 lengths out of each full
    slice of bacon) and skewer with a toothpick.  
    
    You can make these ahead of time and just pop into the microwave
    (atop paper towels to absorb the grease), bake or broil until
    they're done and serve hot.  Don't expect them to last too long
    once you take them out of the over...the smell of bacon cooking
    is irresistible and most of them disappear before they make it
    to the serving plate.
    
    Enjoy!
    Evelyn

    Here are a couple of more finger foods using the old standby...
    Crescent Rolls.  (Crescent Rolls are usually found in the dairy
    section and come in tubes - just peel off the outside paper and
    twist the tube and remove the pre-cut pastry.)  I belive they 
    come 8 rolls to a package and I cut them in half for hors d'oeurves.
    
    1.  Mix softened cream cheese and finely chopped onion.  Spread
        on the dough triangle, roll up and cook according to package
        directions.
    
    2.  Place either a cocktail frank or chunk of hot dog and a 
        piece of cheese (I use American cheese but the option is yours)
        on the dough triangle, roll up and cook according to package
        directions.
    
    You can also prepare these ahead but I prefer to cook them just
    before serving to avoid overcooking or drying them out.
    
    Enjoy!
    Evelyn

Little smokies are cocktail size sausages...wrap each little smokie in
a section of crescent roll dough from the can (get in the market in
the dairy section where canned biscuit dough is sold in tubes).  Place
on cookie sheet and bake in 350 degree oven until well browned.

Serve with mustards as dips.

    If you want to try something tasty but easy - go to your local grocery
    store and in the chip section where they sell Cape Cod potato chips
    they usually have this dill mixture put out by Cape Cod (white and
    blue container).  Just follow the directions and you will have one
    of the tastiest dips for potato chips, veggies or what have you.
    
    Everyone always asks for the recipe.
    

    Hi Ann --
    
    Cead mile failte, then!
    
    The easiest dip recipe in the world is this: buy a box of Knorr
    Vegetable Soup or Onion Soup.  Buy a pint of sour cream.  Mix the two
    together in a bowl (a fork will be just fine for mixing).  Chill in the
    refrigerator for about 15 minutes.  Serve with potato chips, Wheat
    Thins crackers, or whatever else you fancy.
    
    Enjoy!
    
    --Karen