Black eyed Pea Dip

Ring in the New Year with this quick and easy black-eyed pea dip!

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Guacamole

 

Guacamole is one of my favorite appetizers, and my husband is usually the one who makes it. It's flavorful, clean, and healthy, but we eat it because we love it. His recipe is simple, but simple is good! He has converted many non-avocado lovers with this recipe.

The trick is to a good guacamole is leave large chunks of avocado; don't mash them thoroughly and having a perfect balance of lime juice, red onion and salt is essential. If you like it hot, you can certainly add some diced jalapeño, some people also like to add diced tomato which is fine, but we like it just like this!

I posted this recipe a while back, but the photos needed some updating so I figured I'd re-post in time for the Superbowl.

Avocados may be high in fat, but they have the good essential healthy fats which we should consume every day. They are also high in fiber, rich in vitamin B, E and K and have 60 percent more potassium than bananas. I love avocado so much I created an entire Avocado Obsessed Pinterest board in their honor. 

Guacamole is great with baked tortilla chips, lentil chips, baked plantain chips, chicken fajitas, or even on a wrap in place of mayonnaise. Sometimes we even make guacamole turkey burgers, I'll have to share the recipe when the weather warms up.


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Skinny Queso Dip

A zesty chunky cheese dip with chunks of tomatoes, hot peppers, garlic, onions, lime juice, cilantro and spices. Get the chips ready, this stuff is good while it's hot!

Skinny queso, it sounds like an oxymoron, right? This is a perfect appetizer to serve for the Superbowl, I'm adding this one to the list.

I stumbled on this recipe on Slender Kitchen and curiosity got the best of me so I decided to try it out. To be honest, while I was cooking it I had my reservations. It wasn't until I scooped some up with my chips that I found myself going for more. Luckily I had a house full of people to help me dip away, and they all gave it a thumbs up.

I served it with Beanitos black bean chips, love them! You can use any light baked chip you desire. For those of you on Weight Watchers, 1/4 cup of this dip is only 3 points plus which is pretty good considering how much cheese is in here!

A few things to note: I personally thought this was best right after making, it was all cheesy and stringy. Later I microwaved the leftovers to see how it would re-heat and it was no longer stringy like it was when I first made it so this is definitely something you want to make and eat right away.


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Hot and Cheesy Crab and Artichoke Dip

Hot and cheesy imitation crab and artichoke dip, serve this with baked chips and you have the perfect appetizer for a party.

My husband was craving an imitation crab meat salad and we made the mistake of going food shopping hungry... at a wholesale store no less, so we came home with 3 lbs of imitation crab meat!

What to do with all that imitation crab? I decided to make a hot dip with it using ingredients I had on hand.

I can see using a good light Swiss, such as Jarlsburg or a light mozzarella instead of cheddar, but all I had was cheddar and I thought it was fine.

This is large enough to feed a crowd. If you don't want as much, you can certainly make half or freeze half for later. Make this a day ahead, then pop it in the oven before you are ready to serve. Let me remind you, this is a dip, so the serving size is 1/4 cup which I think is pretty average knowing people will pick on other stuff. Only 2 points plus per serving, I had to double check and see if I was wrong!

I tried this with pretzel thins, baked lentil chips (pictured here), baked corn chips.. it was great with all. Use what you like, and if you prefer to use real lump crab, go for it! You can even sprinkle some panko on top before baking... I would have but didn't have any.

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Crock Pot Applesauce

Nothing beats homemade apple sauce, making it in the crock pot is easy and your house will smell divine while the apples and cinnamon simmer all day long. The hardest part about making this sauce is peeling the apples (which is not hard at all!).

I love using a variety of apples to make applesauce, for this recipe I used eight different apples; Honey Crisp, Fuji, Gala, Macous, Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Braeburn, and Granny Smith. Gravenstein, McIntosh, Jonagold and Jonathan would also be great options.

Dinner tonight - pork chops and apple sauce. Recipe coming soon!

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Hot Spinach and Artichoke Dip

Bring this hot spinach and artichoke dip to your next football party, no one will know it's light!

Football season is here! I usually like to make my Skinny Buffalo Wings, along with one of my many meatball recipes such as Swedish Meatballs, Southwest Turkey Meatballs, or Asian Turkey Meatballs. I also have tons of fabulous Skinny Dip options for your to bring to your next football party!

This is easy to prepare ahead of time, then throw it in the oven when you are ready to eat. I served this with Pretzel Crisps, but baked chips would also be great.

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Salsa Picante Roja

This spicy red salsa is made with fresh tomatoes, roasted jalapeño, garlic and cilantro, pureed in a blender then simmered until the tomatoes deepen in color. Serve with your favorite baked chips and Sinless Margaritas!

There are so many varieties of Mexican salsas with different levels of heat, some chunky, some smooth, some raw and others cooked. This one is smooth and cooked, perfect for topping a burrito bowl or simply enjoying with some tortilla chips. I love the smoky flavor of roasting jalapeños, which I did right over my stove. I let it sit for a few minutes over a medium flame, turning a few times. When the skin started to char I removed it from the flame and peeled off some of the charred parts. You can do this on the grill as well.

If you want a milder sauce remove the seeds before putting it in the blender. This is so easy to make, put all the ingredients in the blender, then simmer for 25 minutes. That's it!!

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Skinny Artichoke Dip

A delicious hot artichoke dip baked with parmesan cheese, reduced fat mozzarella cheese and topped with bread crumbs. Your unsuspecting guests will have no idea they are indulging in lightened up party fare. Serve this with baked pita chips, crostini or any low fat chip.

I purchased these adorable Le Creuset Stoneware Petite Au Gratin dishes a few weeks ago in several colors, and finally found the perfect use for them, hot dips from oven to the table. Aren't they cute!

And just a little history on artichokes, did you know they are one of the oldest foods know to humans? Ancient Greeks and Romans considered artichokes a delicacy and an aphrodisiac and women were even banned from eating them in the 16th century. Well it's the 21st century so women, enjoy!

Cheesy yuminess!

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Hot Spinach Dip

This lightened up cheesy spinach dip is perfect for any gathering. You can double or triple the recipe as needed.

My oldest daughter Karina loves this dip. I often made this for her as an after school snack. You can prepare this a day ahead and bake as needed. It can also be frozen before heating up if you want to prepare this a few days ahead.

Great for parties or

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Creamy Parmesan Spinach Dip

Classic full-fat spinach dip got skinny by using low-fat ingredients and getting most of it's flavor from Parmigiano Reggiano.

I love using crudites as low-carb dippers such as raw broccoli, celery or carrots, but I usually serve this with reduced-fat crackers or baked chips for my guests. A typical serving size for a dip is usually about 2 tablespoons depending how many appetizers are being served, but I calculated this based on a larger portion.

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Pumpkin Pie Dip

Everything you love about pumpkin pie, made into a light and fluffy dip. This stuff is dangerous!! I think this would be a fantastic addition to my Thanksgiving table.

My last can of pumpkin in my cupboard either means fall is coming to an end, or time to buy more pumpkin! I still have so many pumpkin recipes I want to make, but this one is a winner. I think I better stock up on pumpkin puree before it's gone!

So, my girlfriend Gabbie called me about this pumpkin dip she had the other day. She told me this recipe was a MUST for my blog. Pumpkin pie as a dip, sounded intriguing. I modified the recipe a bit to make it even lighter, and winner! I served this with apple wedges, but you could also serve them with graham crackers or gingersnaps. I think it would be neat to serve them in individual ramekins, easier portion control. This would also make a great snack for kids. Enjoy!!

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Skinny Ranch Dip

Do you like to dip? I love dipping my sandwiches, chips, fries, veggies... basically everything in dipping sauces but that can add extra unwanted calories or points if you're not careful.

This light ranch dip is a great low fat dipping sauce recipe for snacking. Serve it with fresh veggies like carrots, celery, or even great with baked fries.

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Skinny Tzatziki

Tzatziki is a classic Greek cucumber yogurt sauce or dip. It is served as a condiment on gyros, fish and souvlakis, and other Greek dishes or it is served as a dip with pita wedges. I personally love it on my Spinach and Feta Stuffed Chicken Breasts, on chicken burgers, as a dip with crudites and even drizzled over Greek salad. My lightened up version is fat free and just as delicious.

I can't think of a better time to make this with all the cucumbers and fresh herbs growing in my garden right now. Chives aren't typically added but I love the flavor it adds to it. Some people also like to add mint leaves. Straining the yogurt and cucumbers are a must to make this thick, so don't skip this step!

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Black Bean, Avocado, Cucumber and Tomato Salad

A touch of lime and a little cilantro makes this a perfect companion for grilled chicken or steak. Serve this as a side dish or also delicious served as a dip with nachos. My girlfriend made this recently at a party and I couldn't stop eating it. I knew I had to make it here. The cucumbers give this a wonderful fresh summer flavor. If you like this, you may also like my Southwestern Salad made with corn. 

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Edamame Hummus

Edamame is more commonly known as a soybean. In Asia, soybeans have been used for over two thousand years as a major source of protein. The pods are lightly boiled in salted water, and then the seeds are squeezed directly from the pods into the mouth with the fingers. Using soybeans instead of chickpeas to make this hummus I guess you can say is Asian-Middle Eastern fusion. Serve this as a dip or for lunch with crudites for a low carb meal.

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Skinny Taco Dip

A must have at every large get together: birthdays, football, holidays – this dip always disappears!

This is my daughter Karina's favorite dip, which she has nicknamed "the stuff". It's easy to prepare and everyone always wants the recipe when they try it. Serve it at your next party with your favorite baked tortilla chips and play around with the toppings – try jalapeños, scallions or avocados.

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Low Fat Creamy Blue Cheese Dressing

Nothing beats the flavor of homemade salad dressing. Making your own salad dressing gives you control of what ingredients go into it. Serve this with a wedge of iceberg lettuce, as a dip for skinny buffalo wings or one of my favorite ways to enjoy this is on a roast beef sandwich on a good whole wheat crusty bread with arugula.


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Corn Salsa with Lime

I love the corn salsa from Chipotle's. It's a perfect combination of sweet, spicy and tangy. This was a recipe request from Desiree and where the inspiration to make this came from. You can use this as a dip for nachos, as a side dish or in a burrito bowl. I like to make my own burrito bowl with some cilantro lime rice, guacamole, chicken ropa vieja topped with lettuce. You can adjust the heat according to your taste. My girlfriend gobbled this all up with tortilla chips. (Hi Raquel!) She gave it two thumbs up!!

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Avocado and Mango Salsa

A light and colorful party dish with chips. The combination of flavors, sweet and salty with tangy hint of lime makes this a winner. This is also great over grilled fish or chicken!

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Skinny Buffalo Chicken Dip

All the flavor of buffalo wings without messy hands! Perfect for your Superbowl Party. I lightened this using low fat and fat free ingredients. Adjust the heat to your liking and serve this with celery, chips or crackers.

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