Top Ate Warm Dips and Sauces

February 14, 2014 ♥♥♥

As I type this, I am indulging in a bottle of snow day wine. If you are not familiar, snow day wine is consumed on the couch while snuggled under a warm fuzzy blanket before a typical cocktail hour even begins. In addition, mostly likely due to the snow day wine, I have eaten more than my fair share of Cauliflower Mac and Cheese. After I snapping pictures of it for the blog, I just left it out on the counter. Big mistake. Huge. I should have frozen it so it would be absolutely unavailable to me. If that's not enough, I've been habitually making excuses to avoid getting outside for a run. Yes, it's been bitterly cold, wet, snowy and icy. But people work out in February, right? WHY CAN'T I?

Anywho, let's move on to bigger, better and less depressing things: Dips.

Fresh baked bread SCHMEARED with any of My Top Ate Warm Dips along with The Hubbster and an episode of The Wire make my Valentine Friday night complete. While I do realize that most of these dishes are enjoyed as appetizers, I have no problem making a complete meal out of any of them. I hope your day is filled with hearts, cupids, pink little roses and DIP!

Enjoy!

Warm Crab Dip with Artichokes: Oh please, I can't even begin to describe my love affair with baked seafood and cheese.

BBQ Chicken Dip: Adapted from Buffalo Chicken Dip, this dip is the perfect game day any day treat that everyone will love!

Easy Slow Cooker Marinara Sauce: Set it and forget it. You'll come home from work to the smell of an Italian kitchen when the entire family is visiting from across the pond.

Slow Cooker Homemade Honey BBQ Sauce: Made in the slow cooker or on the stovetop, this BBQ sauce only requires ingredients you likely already have in your pantry.

Warm Spinach and Artichoke Dip: The Hubbster and I are big fans of the Connecticut based Max Restaurant Group.  The newest restaurant, Max Burger, has locations in West Hartford, CT and Longmeadow, MA.  They serve the best Spinach Artichoke dip we've ever had.  The secret ingredient?  GOAT CHEESE!  I had to replicate it at home.

Authentic Cheese Fondue: Growing up, my family feasted on this fondue as a traditional New Year's Eve treat.  This past New Year's Eve, I brought the tradition back and made it for our friends, Vanessa and Troy.  The smell of the garlic and the taste of the cheese-infused wine brought me right back to my childhood kitchen watching the ball drop with my family.

Broth Meat Fondue: I had oil meat fondue at the Melting Pot a number of years ago and was pleased with my meal but left feeling like I had to roll myself out of there. This broth fondue offers just as much flavor without the heavy oil.  This was course two of our recent New Year's Eve meal.

Easy Chocolate Caramel Fondue: With 4 ingredients, not only is this fondue easy to make, it's also the perfect Valentine's Day treat for your sweetie. Vanessa and Troy, thanks bringing the third course for our fondue dinner!