Little Dipper
Written By Catherine Newman
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Dinner's a party when appetizers become
the main course
Recipes:
- Enchilada Dip
- Silken Guacamole
- White Bean Dip
- Chocolate Fondue
- Mean Green Bread Bowl
- Homemade Tortilla Chips
- Homemade Pita Chips
Here's the problem with dip: It's addictively tasty and your kids dunk away until dinner is finally served, and then, ugh, who has any room left for real food? Here's the solution: Serve dip for dinner. You and your kids will feel like you're totally getting away with something (what's next — Ding Dongs for dinner?) and you can make it work by boosting the nutrition content of both dip and dippers (ranch dressing and potato chips do not, alas, a wholesome dinner make).
At our house, it's a dinner we crave when everyone's a bit cranky or tired, and we just want to nosh in the living room like party guests instead of assembling formally at the table like upstanding citizens. Plus it makes me feel smug that I'm the cool parent who serves kids appetizers for dinner — and that I don't have nice living room furniture that could be ruined by errant blobs of avocado. Of course, if that part doesn't speak to your situation, then eat at the table instead and console yourself with the fact that you do have nice furniture, poor you.
Note on Dippers: Serve the most wholesome dippable food you can get away with: whole grain breadsticks or crackers (Ak-Mak and Finn Crisps are brands that we like, though they need to be broken into pieces); strips of whole wheat bread or toast; pita chips; whole grain tortilla chips; and veggies such as snow peas, raw carrots, bell peppers, and celery sticks, or lightly steamed broccoli, sugar snap peas and green beans.
Next: Enchilada Dip Recipe
