Creamy Coconut Fruit Dip

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Boy do I have something tasty for you today!

With an abundance of summer fruits we tend to eat more than our fair share.  I can say without a doubt that MGG could eat a whole personal watermelon by himself in one sitting!  That being said I am buying fruit by the bushels weekly to keep up with his insatiable appetite.

In addition to being good for you fruit is a great item to serve when entertaining.  We always set out a huge fruit bowl or platter at our parties or even for casual dinners with friends.  Over the 4th of July holiday we did just that.  I made a large platter of fruit and served it with a creamy 3-ingredient fruit dip that was to die for!  

Creamy Coconut Fruit Dip

With only 3 ingredients you can have a delicious creamy coconuty fruit dip that pairs with any fruit!  What better way to enjoy fruit than to dip it in something cool and creamy.  This dip brings a little taste of the tropics to your table and makes the fruit really fun to eat.  Just watch this dip disappear! 

All you need to make this dip are a few staples such as cream cheese and cool whip.  Then add in some cream of coconut (from the alcohol aisle, not coconut milk) and you are good to go.  This dip whips up literally in minutes.  It will last for a good week in the refrigerator so it is a good make ahead item as well.

This summer I've been keeping a serving tray filled with cut fruit in the refrigerator at all times.  I usually pick 1 or two melons, grapes, cherries, pineapple, and berries to have on hand for quick snacking.  The tray allows anyone in the family to grab a snack that's healthy instead of reaching for chips or other "not so healthy snacks"!  It's worked like a charm all summer long.  I bring this same tray out for casual dinner parties as well and we just use it like we would an appetizer platter.

Enjoy all your summer parties, get together, as well as family dinners with some fresh cut fruit and a Creamy Coconut Fruit Dip!







Creamy Coconut Fruit Dip
Yield 1 cup : 10 servings

1/2 (8oz) pkg Neufchatel cheese
1 cup cream of coconut from a 15 oz can found in the alcohol section (used to make pina coladas)
1/2 (8oz) tub Cool Whip

In a large bowl with an electric hand mixer, beat the cream cheese with the cream of coconut until all lumps are gone.

Add the whipped topping and mix again.

Serve with fruit or graham crackers. Keep refrigerated.

adapted from: Dessert Now Dinner Later

10 Top Recipes of 2017

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Happy New Year!

2017 was a full packed year but it seems that it went so fast that it was a blur.  This was a years full of variety.  The dishes made were an array for down home cooking to international fare.  

I gathered the most popular dishes from 2017 in one spot for you to reference and enjoy!

Enjoy all the precious moments that 2018 will bring.  We only live once!

10 TOP RECIPES OF 2017

10.
StonefireGrill’s Roasted Cauliflower with Tahini Sauce



9.
Greek Style Lemony Chicken and Orzo Soup

8.
Brown Sugar-Sour Cream Banana Bread



7.
Slow Cooker Guinness Irish Beef Stew



6.
One Pot Meat Lovers Pizza Ravioli Bake



5.
Herbed Ricotta and Parmesan Spread

4.
Spicy Szechuan Chicken and Vegetable Stir Fry



3.
Chicken Teriyaki Stir Fry



2.
Healthier Slow Cooker Orange Chicken

1.Lemon Pepper Butter Chicken Breasts





There are plenty of dishes to come in 2018.  Lots of comfort food, weeknight meals, stir frys, southern dishes, and easy restaurant style meals.  Enjoy a prosperous holiday and I am so grateful for all of my followers.  I wish you the best in 2018 and will be talking to you in the new year!

Herbed Ricotta and Parmesan Spread

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The big game is this weekend and it's time to get your game day menu ready!

We always have a small gathering of friends and while we love to gobble up the usual food or burgers, slider, or chili, we also like to have some food that can be labeled "healthier" to nibble on as well.  This could include a salad, fruit and dip or as I'm sharing today a crudité platter with Herbed Ricotta and Parmesan Spread.

A veggie platter (crudité) along with some crostini is the perfect match to this cheese spread.  It loaded with fresh herbs and cheese, an a bit of olive oil.  It's wonderfully satisfying and makes the perfect snacking platter.  The spread is very easy to put together and you can even make it up to a day ahead which is always handy when prepping for entertaining. 

HERBED RICOTTA AND PARMESAN SPREAD

Another plus to spread is that it's healthier than a dip made with sour cream and/or mayo!  A nice light ricotta is used is lighter in calories and fat.  A big plus for this dip is that if you have any leftovers (you possibly won't have any!)  can be spread on toast the next morning with a slice pear and a little drizzle of honey!  How perfect is that?  Pretty darn good if you ask me.

So mix it up with some indulgent game food this weekend along with some healthier options.  You won't regret this spread one bite!

Enjoy!







Herbed Ricotta and Parmesan Spread


15 oz part-skim ricotta cheese
3/4 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped
2 Tbls fresh oregano, chopped
1/2 - 1 Tbls fresh chives, finely chopped
1 tsp kosher salt
1 tsp ground pepper
2 teaspoon olive oil
Optional:  Assorted veggies (I use jicama, bell pepper, carrots, and celery)  Toasted crostini

In a medium bowl add ricotta and using a hand mixer beat on low until fluffy, about 2 minutes.  Add Parmesan and mix to combine.  Add in the herbs, salt and pepper and using a rubber spatula mix by hand until well combined.  Add in the olive oil and mix to combine. 

Cover and chill  a minimum of 1 hour up to a day ahead.
Serve spread with toasted crostini and assorted veggies.  

Mixed Cheese & Cracker, Crudite Platter with Fresh Dill Dip

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Man oh man, the days are just flying by!

The end of the year is a few days away.  I've barely recovered from Christmas!  But I really love New Year's Eve.

For the last several years our tradition has been to go out for a nice romantic dinner at one of our favorite neighborhood restaurants. The restaurant used to be an old house and each year we sit in the front windows and watch all the twinkle lights as we eat some wonderful food.   It's typically raining which just adds to romantic ambiance of it all.

I'm sure that we will keep this tradition up this year as well.  I've already heard that rain is in the forecast of course!  However, I'm going to mix it up just a bit by having a Mixed Cheese & Cracker, Crudité Platter with Fresh Dill Dip before we leave.

Served with my Pear Sparklers this is the perfect little snack to have pre-dinner while sitting around the Christmas tree.  We keep our tree up each year through the New Year just to enjoy it for an additional week. 

MIXED CHEESE & CRACKER, CRUDITE PLATTER WITH FRESH DILL DIP

This platter mixture is easy to put together.  Make the dip ahead (recipe below) and refrigerate it for a couple of hours to let the flavors blend.  Cut up some crudité like carrots, celery, cucumbers or anything you have on hand such as broccoli florets or sliced bell peppers.  Add some cheese and crackers to round it out and arrange it all on a platter to have guests help themselves. 

It's simple and easy, yet it's a good way to have some quick appetizers.  You can adjust the amount to feed a crowd or a few people for an intimate gathering.  It's all up to you.

Enjoy!
Have a safe and happy New Year!






Fresh Dill Dip

makes 2 cups

1 cup sour cream
1 cup mayonnaise
1 tablespoon chopped onion
1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
1 tablespoon fresh dill, chopped
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt

In a small bowl mix all ingredients together until well combine.  Refrigerate dip for at least 1 hour before serving so flavors will blend.

It's Cinco de Mayo Time!

It's Cinco de Mayo Time!

This holiday is really big in Los Angeles.  A wonderful celebration of Mexican heritage and pride, marking the victory over the French in the Battle of Puebla.  Just around the corner it land this year on Monday, May 5th.  The poster above is from 1901 in honor of the victory.  

So what better way to celebrate than with food?  I can't think of anything.  Of course in Los Angeles, we can go down to Olvera Street, which is located in the oldest part of Downtown, Los Angeles.  This area was established by Spanish settlers back in 1781 and today the area is a modern Mexican-style marketplace with vendors and restaurants to enjoy the culture that abounds.  

And the food is to die for...!

So today, I've gathered some of my favorite Mexican dishes that would be perfect for your Cinco de Mayo celebration!  Since today is Derby Day, we'll be celebrating fiesta style on Sunday.  Great for a lazy afternoon full of food, fun and margaritas!

Twisted Tacos - 

Baked Tacos


Chicken Verde Tacos


Tex-Mex Soft Tacos


Fresh Quesadillas - 


Chicken Quesadilla Grande

Cinco Party Dishes - 

Black Bean Tostadas


Baked Chicken Taquitos


Black Bean Burritos


Beth's Favorite Chicken Enchiladas


Latin Empanadas


Cilantro Lime Flank Steak with Avocado Poblano Salsa

Grab Some Tortilla Chips - 

Chunky Guacamole


Black Bean Salsa

Bonita Dessert - 

Mexican Chocolate Pudding

I hope your celebration is Muy Bueno!!

Slice of Southern's Best Game Day Snacks

Are you looking to score big with your game-day crowd? Enjoy the party with these festive foods and savory snacks.

Everybody loves what may be deemed as 'game food'.  Snacking food, finger food, pub food, and hearty stick to your ribs kind of grub!

These are the 10 most popular dishes (chosen by you) that are the perfect choice to make a touch down at your party.

Moroccan Flavored Meatballs with Pita, Tomatoes, and Cucumber

BBQ Pulled Chicken Sandwiches

Chunky Guacamole

Sweet Onion Salsa

Cherryade

Vermont Cheddar Popcorn

Simple Perfect Chili

March Madness Pizzas

Latin Empanadas

Creamy Dill Dip

The Super Bowl is known as the 2nd most "eating" day of the year.  Can you believe that?  Whether you grill or make a big pot of chili, feeding a crowd is always part of the fun.  Make it easy on yourself and choose some items you can make ahead so you enjoy the game as well.  Low stress entertaining is what it's all about!

How do you celebrate game day?

 

Something Worth Sharing...

I found something great that I just had to share with all of you!

Hummus is one of the newest dips out there.  You see is everywhere you go, in stores, and restaurants alike.  Not only is it tasty, but it's healthy too!  We just love hummus and have lately been experimenting with different variations of hummus.

So naturally I was thrilled when I came across this wonderful guide to make hummus, classic style, and some unique variations on Shape.com.  It's really easy to make using a food processor.  You can whip up a healthy dip for tailgating, parties, or family appetizers in no time at all. 

Personally, I can't wait to sink my teeth in to the Southwestern hummus...let me know which one you will try!

Enjoy a new dip!