Monday, February 05, 2018

The Ultimate French Onion Dip

I shared a couple of photos of this dip back in December on my Instagram Stories {are you following me there?} when I had made it for a holiday party. Several of my followers requested the recipe. Then, when I made it for our Super Bowl party, I shared a quick pic again and got more inquiries about how I make my version. So, I figured it was time to post it here on the blog. Back in my early adulthood, French Onion Dip always meant buying it in the tub or, at best, whipping it up using a store-bought dip seasoning packet. But, once I discovered just how easy it was to make it from scratch, this became my preferred way to serve it. In my opinion, there's just no comparison.


Starting with fresh onions that get chopped and slowly cooked down in a little olive oil is the key to how amazing this dip is. Once cooled, the sautéed onions are combined with mayonnaise {be sure to use a good quality brand}, sour cream and a few seasoning components.

I highly recommend that you make this the day before you plan to serve it. I'd, at least, give the dip six hours to rest in the fridge before serving. It needs the allotment of time for the flavors to really marry up and meld. You'll definitely be thoroughly rewarded for letting it reach its full potential as the best French Onion Dip you've possibly ever made {and eaten}.

Serves 10 - 12.
{Recipe can be easily cut in half or doubled as needed.}

Thursday, February 01, 2018

Vegetarian Sweet Potato Chili

Chili is a staple for so many during this time of the year. When the snow and wind are whirling around outdoors, curling up with a big bowl of chili just screams COMFORT and really warms us up from our heads to our toes. Adding football season to the mix can really drive home everyone's yearning for chili. Whether you're hosting a big game day party at home on Super Bowl Sunday or tailgating at your favorite team's big game, serving up chili with "all the fixings" will definitely score you some major points with your guests.


Incorporating sweet potatoes and foregoing any type of meat in this recipes means that it is vegetarian-friendly. {The chili actually is completely vegan. But, due to my garnishment suggestions that include dairy, I opted to label it as "vegetarian."} I have major meat-lovers in my house ... they love this chili. All of the flavors of traditional chili are present. It's hearty and satisfying, but you can feel good about eating a lighter, healthier version when digging in to this cold-weather staple. The sweet potato addition lends bulk to the chili and, also, brings a hint of sweetness that perfectly balances out the little bit of spice present.

So, grab a pot and seize the moment. This really is a no-fuss recipe that takes just minutes to get going and only a short amount of cooking time.

NOTE:  This is an easy recipe to double {or triple} as needed, so it's perfect for feeding a crowd. Once prepared, it holds well on the WARM setting in a slow cooker, if desired.


Yields 4 - 6 servings.