A salsa made with the best flavors of summer - bell pepper, tomatoes, cucumber, chilies, zucchini and corn - nicely seasoned and tossed with a quality creamy Italian dressing.

Summer Vegetable Salsa

Okay. Question.

Is this a salsa? You know, like meant to be eaten with chips? Or as a condiment for grilled or pan seared proteins?

Or, is it a dip, solely meant to be scooped up on a chip?

Or, is it a salad? Meant to be eaten on its own?

A cream cheese based cracker spread, made with stuffed olives and simple seasonings, great for dipping veggies, for tea sandwiches or your favorite crackers.

Olive Spread

First things first.

If you don't already have an affinity for all things olives, you won't like this spread. Ya pretty much gotta love olives, which I do. 

Briny olives and anything pickled make for a quick snack for me.

I love it all - from kosher dills, to bread and butter pickles, pickled okra and every kind of olive. And a muffuletta sandwich slathered in olive salad? Um, yes please!

A quick and easy, classic cold bean dip, made using a combination of seasoned, thick and creamy pinto and white beans, with a hint of heat from Creole or Cajun seasoning and pickled jalapenos.

Quick Cold Bean Dip

You can't beat a classic bean dip and there's a reason it's stood the test of time!

Everybody seems to like them, whether it's baked, or served cold like this one, though this one may certainly be warmed up to serve as well. Personally, I enjoy them equally, but when I'm in the mood for a quick bean dip, this is the one that I lean to.

My version of the famous spicy tomato, garlic and cream cheese based dip sold at Central Market grocery stores in Texas and well loved by many.

Texas Love Dip - My Way

I had never heard of Texas Love Dip before. 

But, I had been seeing it passed around on social media for awhile and finally gave it a try.

Apparently it originated from a Texas grocery chain, Central Market, H-E-B, or both, and is a popular party dip there.

Fiesta Taco "Boat Dip"

My own take of the TikTok viral "boat dip," made with a blend of sour cream, mayo, taco seasoning, salsa, Mexicorn and Mexican-style blended cheese. It's a perfect addition for your collection of dip recipes!

Fiesta Taco Dip

If you spend any time on social media you may have seen a dip going around recently called "boat dip." There are now such a wide range of variations of that dip out there that it's hard to say what the original recipe ingredients and ratios were, or even who the originator was.

The only thing that seems in agreement is that it was called boat dip because it was a dip that was routinely made to carry on boat trips for that family.

I actually tried quite a few of those variations myself and this one is the one that I settled on.

A bold, cream cheese-based chip dip, with the addition of Rotel diced tomatoes with green chilies, chopped black olives and loaded with southwestern flavors.

Southwestern Chip Dip

I originally got the idea for this dip when going through a box of clippings. This one came from a rural EPA newsletter featuring a community cookbook called Cooking with Osyka! It's one of a few fundraiser cookbooks for the Osyka Civic Club of Osyka, Mississippi, usually available at their annual Fall Fest events in October, or by calling their business office at 601-542-5994.

They referred to this dip as Southern Heat Chip Dip in their cookbook, though I've played around with this one enough that I'm not even sure how close I am to the original clipping anymore!

All the flavors you love with a loaded baked potato, in a dip! Serve with sturdy potato chips or crispy cooked waffle fries.

Loaded Baked Potato Chip Dip

Dips are one of my most favorite appetizers! Well, that and wings. And cheese balls. Ah heck, just about any appetizer really... but dips are super easy to make and so tasty.

I especially love the dips that are intended to served cold, because you don't have to worry over keeping them heated up. Just set them out on a sidebar or the coffee table, and forget about it to enjoy the game, or the party!

A classic homemade version of French onion dip, with a twist on the original!

Classic French Onion Dip

I love onions! I use them for seasonings in most cooking, though my preference is and always has been sweet over the harsher yellow onions, and certainly Vidalia onions, when they are in season. I'll even eat those raw on burger and dogs or with beans.

I have a couple of favorite onion dips using Vidalias that are marvelous! One is made with onions and pepper jack cheese, topped with buttery crackers and bacon, and served hot. The other is a cold dip, but made with caramelized onions. This classic onion dip that most everybody knows, and loves, is actually pretty simple in its origins. An envelope of dry onion soup mix combined with a large carton of sour cream, done and done. And, it's pretty darn delicious in and of itself!

A cold dip made with Mexicorn, cheese, green chilies, jalapenos, Rotel, mayo, sour cream, green onion and seasonings.

Cold Corn Dip

If y'all have been hanging around here any length of time, you pretty much know that any kind of dip - from that good old fashioned 7 layer dip that's been around forever, to my more delectable hot crab dip (and everything in between) - are party favorites for me. Though I do actually favor hot dips over cold, I have to say that this corn dip, served cold, is downright delicious and even a tiny bit addictive!

Garden Fresh Salsa, made with juicy tomatoes, sweet Vidalia onions, crisp sweet garden bell peppers, spicy fresh jalapeno, sweet corn on the cob and fragrant garden cilantro.

Garden Fresh Salsa

Here it is running up on mid-August already and I realize that I've got quite a few summer posts like this one to catch up on! So don't go fussin' at me for posting a series of non-traditional recipes that may not necessarily fit into the "Southern" recipe box. Besides our southern favorites and classic southern recipes, like everybody else, we also enjoy a wide variety of other foods too, like this.

 

Referred to by some tailgaters as "crack dip" because they find it irresistible, this sour cream and mayonnaise dip, made with Ranch dressing mix, shredded cheddar and bacon, is a sure winner.

Cheddar Bacon Dip

Now y'all know I love my my dips, though I'm probably a bit more endeared to hot dips than I am cold ones, but with The Big Game coming up, I thought it'd be nice to get this favorite up on the site.

A cold dip made with a seasoned cream cheese and sour cream base, with picante sauce and boiled shrimp. Mix everything together, or prepare the base and top with the shrimp and sauce.

Picante Shrimp Dip

This Picante Shrimp Dip recipe was born out of leftovers from that New Orleans Style BBQ Shrimp I posted yesterday.  Besides being a lover of all things dip related, I especially love cooking once and getting multiple meals out of something.

A retro throw-back to the 70s and still popular today, 7-layer dip is made with seasoned refried beans, avocado or guacamole spread, sour cream, shredded cheese, tomatoes, black olives and green onion, and is still a party favorite.

Classic 70s 7-Layer Mexican Dip

I adore this dip. In fact, I have been known to buy those itty bitty and pricey containers of it from the deli, just because I had a taste for it.

I have loved this dip since the first time that I saw it being delivered to a party back in the late 70s. With Super Bowl coming up, I thought I would blog it, but really, I just wanted an excuse to make it.

Cajun Shrimp Dip

A well loved Deep South appetizer spread or dip, made with small shrimp, quickly pan seared with oil and seasonings finely minced and blended with cream cheese and mayo.

Cajun Shrimp Spread and Dip

Cajun Shrimp Dip is such a delicious addition for any party or gathering.

It's great with tortilla chips, corn chips, crackers, or even spread on bread. Make it a day ahead if you can, because the flavor only improves, but try to at least chill it for an hour or so at the very least, letting it come to room temperature before serving.

Caramelizing the onions in this classic sour cream and onion dip really takes it up a notch.

Caramelized Vidalia Onion Dip

Okay. This is like the best onion dip you will ever put in your mouth. Seriously.

If you don't believe me, just make a single batch of it and see how fast you regret only making one.