Holle's Quick and Easy Party Dips and Spreads

Below are some of my party food ideas for quick and easy party dips and spreads. These are great for Super Bowl parties, Christmas parties, picnics, pool parties, or any get-togethers. These are so uncomplicated that you can make them for anytime snacks, too! Party foods don't have to difficult to make in order to be enjoyed by your guests. They don't have to be expensive, either. The main criterion should be flavor. Check out the easy party foods below.

Holle’s Roasted Pepper Dip

1 7-ounce jar roasted red peppers, with liquid

1 tablespoon diced onion

1 block cream cheese, softened

1 cup sour cream

½ teaspoon Lowry’s garlic salt

Place roasted peppers and onion in blender and pulse until almost liquefied. Blend with cream cheese, sour cream, and garlic salt. Serve with bagel chips.

Holle’s Special Spinach Dip

1 1/2 cups sour cream

1 cup mayonnaise

1 box frozen chopped spinach, thawed

1 envelope Lipton’s soup mix (I like the spring vegetable)

1/3 cup diced onions

1/3 cup finely chopped red bell pepper

1 small can water chestnuts, finely chopped

½ teaspoon garlic salt

½ teaspoon ground red pepper

Mix together the sour cream and mayonnaise. Drain the spinach well. I do this by making a slit in the bottom of the box and squeezing the box firmly over the sink.

Add the spinach and the remaining ingredients and blend well. Refrigerate overnight. Serve with Triscuit crackers.

Holle’s Zesty Guacamole

2 large ripe avocados (these should be soft)

1 large tomato

1 heaping tablespoon sour cream

3 tablespoons fined minced onion

1 teaspoon minced garlic

2 tablespoons lime juice

½ teaspoon salt or garlic salt

½ teaspoon ground red pepper

½ teaspoon ground black pepper

1 teaspoon sugar or Splenda

Peel avocados and remove pits. Mash with a potato masher.

Dice tomato and add to avocado.

Stir in remaining ingredients. Serve with tortilla chips.

Note: Don’t make this too far ahead, as it doesn’t keep well in the fridge for more than a few hours.

Holle’s Cheesy Beer Dip

1 block cream cheese, softened

2 cups finely shredded cheese (Colby, cheddar, or Monterey Jack-Colby blend)

4 ounces beer

½ teaspoon garlic salt

½ teaspoon black pepper

1 teaspoon paprika

Mix cream cheese and shredded cheese together. Slowly pour in the beer and mix until smooth. Add salt,pepper, and paprika and stir.

This is really good served with large pretzel sticks.

Holle’s Chicken Ball

2 blocks cream cheese, softened

1 large flat can all-white chicken, drained except for one teaspoon broth

1 envelope Ranch dressing mix

½ cup finely chopped pecans

Place the cream cheese in a bowl and microwave until soft.

Shred chicken with a fork and add to cream cheese.

Add dressing mix and nuts and mix with your hands.

Refrigerate until firm. Shape into a ball. If you like, you can roll the ball in dried parsley or paprika.

I think this is best served with Ritz crackers or Wheat Thins.