Category Archives: Appetizers

The Best Italian Dips (& an Yummy Italian Layer Dip Recipe)

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close up of layered italian dips on a plate

Does anyone else love Italian food? It’s always a favorite with my kids and husband and one of those go to crowd pleasers when company is coming for dinner. Today, I have some delicious Italian Dips to share with you and the recipe for my favorite Italian Layer Dip!

These Italian dips would be perfect appetizers for a dinner or cookout. They are also great for bringing to a holiday party! They taste amazing and you’ll be bringing something different than everyone else.

Delicious Italian Dips

Italian Salsa. First up is this super easy (and frugal) recipe for Italian salsa! Becky suggests serving it with chips, crackers, or pita chips. Love the simplicity of this appetizer. Perfect for throwing together for a last minute event.

Tuscan White Bean Bruschetta Dip. I’m a huge hummus fan, so this dip is up my alley! The creamy dip is made with cannellini beans and topped with tomatoes. You serve it with easy garlicky toast.

Restaurant Style Bread Dipping Oil. A quality olive oil and a bunch of dried herbs and fresh garlic. Love having this at Italian restaurants but it’s so easy to make at home. If you already have a good loaf of bread, this takes minutes to come together. (I think homemade french bread would be delicious with this!)

Lasagna Dip. This is a warm, meaty dip that you bake in the oven. I love that even with baking time, this can be done in 30 minutes. They serve it with bread, but I think it would be great with pita or bagel chips as well.

Italian Layer Dip. You’ll find this tasty recipe down below! Keep scrolling. It has a creamy ricotta base and is covered with the delicious tomato topping you usually associate with bruschetta. I love serving it with this slices of bread I bake until crisp.

What Italian dips are your favorite?

Now, on to the recipe for Italian Layer Dip!

Italian Layer Dip Recipe:

Oh my goodness. This Italian layer dip is amazing! Definitely drool worthy and it’s also super easy and can be made in advance.

I mean can you really go wrong with basil, olive oil, and balsamic vinegar? Especially when combined with the creaminess of ricotta cheese! It really can’t get much better than that.

This appetizer is refreshing, creamy, and light. Serve on top of bagel chips (or thinly sliced baguettes toasted in the oven is what I normally do) and you have the perfect mix of textures and flavors.

Ideal appetizer for a summer party, small group, cookout, Christmas party etc or you could serve it with a nice salad and you’d have an ideal meal for a girls’ night.

This easy and oven free Italian Layer Dip is amazing! Perfect start to any meal. This will be a favorite.To make ahead, combine the ingredients for the base and store in the fridge until ready to use. Do the same with the topping (storing in a different container). They can remain in the fridge for several days. Before serving, spread the base on your plate/platter and make sure to use the slotted spoon to scoop the tomatoes on the top.

[In case you are wondering what to do with the rest of the container of ricotta, don’t forget about Easy Skillet Lasagna (again, perfect for summer since you don’t have to turn the oven on)!]

5.0 from 2 reviews
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Italian Layer Dip
 
Ingredients
Base
  • ½ cup ricotta cheese (full fat is thicker and holds up better)
  • 4 ounces cream cheese (room temperature)
  • ⅛ t. salt
  • 2 T. fresh parsley, minced
  • 2 T. grated Parmesan
Topping
  • 3 roma tomatoes (1 cup) deseeded and diced
  • 2 T. finely chopped red onion
  • 2 T. chiffonade basil
  • ⅛ t. garlic paste
  • 2 T. olive oil
  • 2 T. balsamic vinegar
  • salt and pepper
  • Additional basil for garnish
  • Grated Parmesan
Instructions
Base
  1. Combine the cheeses until smooth.
  2. Stir in salt, parsley, and parmesan.
  3. Spread on the bottom of a plate or pie pan.
Topping
  1. Combine all topping ingredients in a bowl. Adjust salt and pepper to taste.
  2. Let sit for an hour.
  3. Using a slotted spoon to let as much of the liquid off as possible put on top of the cheese layer.
  4. Garnish with additional basil and freshly grated parmesan.
  5. Refrigerate until serving.
Notes
Serve with bagel chips or thinly slices baguettes that you toast in the oven.

To make ahead, combine the ingredients for the base and store in the fridge until ready to use. Do the same with the topping (storing in a different container). They can remain in the fridge for several days. Before serving, spread the base on your plate/platter and make sure to use the slotted spoon to scoop the tomatoes on the top.

 

Aren’t you ready to dig into these tasty looking Italian dips? Move on over chips and salsa! (Although, those will always be a favorite of my kiddos too!)

close up of italian layer dip with graphic 5 italian dips to tryThis easy and oven free Italian Layer Dip is amazing! Perfect start to any meal. This will be a favorite.

This is a yummy appetizer! Italian Layer Dip is perfect for any party. Easy and no oven necessary.

Originally published January 24, 2014. Updated September 14, 2020.

Homemade Stovetop Popcorn

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Mmm. The perfect snack. Leave the yucky microwaved stuff behind. With coconut oil, this is the BEST! New movie night tradition.

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Making your own stovetop popcorn is easy. Not only, that it’s super tasty and this recipe is the bomb. My kids (and husband) love movie nights that involve a giant bowl of this stuff.. CCoconut oil is the secret ingredient, skip the canola or vegetable oil and go straight to the good stuff. I buy my   coconut oil in 54 ounce tubs, but if you will only be using it for popcorn it’s still worth buying a small container! (Check out Amazon and Vitacost for a good selection. If you sign up using my Vitacost referral link, you’ll get $10 off.)

You might wonder, why not just pull out the microwave stuff. It’s a staple in so many homes. Easy and good movie night snack, right? Hold that thought. The synthetic butter flavoring is diacytel and may cause lung problems and most of the bags are lined with perfluorooctanoic acid, a carcinogen.

Don’t worry! There’s another option. Homemade is the way to go.

If you are looking to simplify homemade popcorn even more, check out a   Whirley-Pop Popper. This is the gadget we normally use, and it’s even easier. Today, though, I put my kernels in a good old pot and shook it around the old fashioned way to show you it can be done. 🙂 The bonus of using a heavy bottomed pot is that you get a little extra arm workout.

I’d say, if popcorn is something you just make once a month or a couple times a year, go with the pot method. If you make it weekly (or more – I’m telling you, it’s that good and easy. I love a snack I can give my kids in minutes.), investing in a  Whirley-Pop Popper is something you might want to do – and it’s not even that expensive.

5.0 from 1 reviews
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Homemade Stovetop Popcorn
Serves: 9 cups
 
Ingredients
  • 2 tablespoons coconut oil
  • ½ cup popcorn kernels
  • 2-4 tablespoons butter
  • sea salt to taste
Instructions
  1. Put 2 tablespoons in the bottom of a pot with a lid and add 3 popcorn kernels. Put the lid on and turn heat to medium (if you are using a thick bottom pot, turn it up a touch more.)
  2. Let pan sit on stove until the 3 kernels pop. Remove lid and add ½ cup of kernels. Replace lid. In the beginning shake pan every 20 or so seconds. As the corn begins popping, shake every 10 seconds.
  3. When the popping has stopped, pour popcorn into a bowl.
  4. Melt 2 tablespoons of butter. drizzle half of if over the popcorn and sprinkle with a little salt. Toss. Drizzle with the remaining butter. Toss. Add more butter and salt to taste.

Mmm. The perfect snack. Leave the yucky microwaved stuff behind. With coconut oil, this is the BEST! New movie night tradition.

Linking up to these fun parties!

 

Homemade Salsa

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We love Mexican food. The one thing that makes an appearance most often is salsa. It goes perfectly with anything – quesadillas, tacos, burritos, enchiladas, salad, tostadas and on and on. Sometimes we even feast on just chips and salsa for dinner.

I can’t remember the last time we’ve purchased salsa from the store. Once you see how simple it can be to make and how superior the taste is to those bottles on the store shelf, I don’t think you’ll go back either! I made this for a cookout a few weeks ago and I had numerous comments on how good the salsa was. Several people even asked for the recipe.

You can have this homemade salsa done in under 5 minutes though I prefer making it ahead of time (even the day before) and letting the flavors develop as it chills in the refrigerator.

I’ve frozen extra salsa before, and even though it doesn’t taste as good as freshly made (and is a little more watery) it still hits the spot. If you are going to be adding it to a recipe and cooking it anyway, I don’t think you’d notice a difference at all.

Homemade Salsa you can have done in under 5 minutes! This rivals what you'd get at any restaurant. We LOVE it!

5.0 from 2 reviews
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Homemade Salsa
Cuisine: Mexican
Prep time: 
Total time: 
 
Ingredients
  • 1 can (15 ounces) diced tomatoes
  • 1 jalapeno, de-seeded
  • 1 clove garlic, peeled
  • ¼ onion (I've used red, white, and yellow)
  • Cilantro (I love cilantro, so I use lots but adjust to taste)
  • Juice from ½-1 lemon (a couple Tablespoons)
  • ½-1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ -1 teaspoon cumin
  • Red Pepper Flakes
Instructions
  1. Pour the diced tomatoes into a blender or food processor. Add the de-seeded jalapeno, garlic, onion, cilantro, ½ teaspoons salt and cumin. Squeeze in the juice from half of the lemon.
  2. Pulse the blender until everything is in small pieces. Taste and adjust salt, cumin, and lemon juice. If you want it spicier, add a few red pepper flakes.
  3. Refrigerate until serving.

 

Linking up to these fun parties!

Indian Layer Dip

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Okay. Let me be honest. I love this dip. It has Indian flavors or cumin, coriander, turmeric, and garam masala that will make it stand out from the crowd and have people asking what’s in it but not over power their taste buds. This is great with pita chips or naan. Another great option for eating this would be to spread the chickpea base into a wrap and load it up with the toppings and spinach (even chicken if you’d like) and eat it as a sandwich. Don’t forget to find all the recipes for layer dips with an international flair here. Fabulous Indian Layer Dip. I couldn't stop eating this. Take a hummus base and give it an Indian twist and you have perfection.

5.0 from 2 reviews
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Indian Layer Dip
 
Ingredients
  • 2 cans chickpeas (or 3 cups cooked)
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • ¼ cup water
  • 2 T. oil
  • ¼ t. ground ginger
  • ½ t. cumin
  • ½ t. ground coriander
  • ½ t. turmeric
  • ½ t. garam masala
  • 1 t. lemon juice
  • salt - amount depending on salted or unsalted beans
  • ¼ cup plain yogurt
  • 2 T. chopped tomatoes
  • 1 T. chopped red onion
  • 2 T. diced cucumbers
  • cilantro or mint
Instructions
  1. Puree chickpeas, water, garlic ,and oil until smooth.
  2. Add ginger, cumin, ground coriander, turmeric, garam masala, salt, and lemon juice.
  3. Spread chickpea mixture in a pie pan or dinner plate.
  4. Spread with a thin layer of yogurt.
  5. Top with tomatoes, onion, cucumber and cilantro or mint.
  6. Serve with naan or pita chips

Follow along on Facebook and Pinterest and subscribe via e-mail so you don’t miss out on the other layer dips coming the next two Fridays. Linking up to Mindful Mommy Monday, Happiness is Homemade, Recipe Sharing Monday, Motivation Monday, Pin It Monday Hop, Mama Moments Monday, TGIM, Natural Living Monday, Good Tips Tuesday, Babies and Beyond, Titus 2 Tuesday, Share Your Stuff Tuesday, Teach Me Tuesday, Tending the Home, WFMW, Welcome Home Wednesday, Lovely Ladies Linky, Homemaking Link Up, Fabulously Frugal Thursday, All Things Thursday, The Pin It Party, Pin It Thursday, Thriving Thursday, House to Home, Mommy Brain Mixer, Let’s Get Real, Thrifty Thursday, Family Fun Friday, The Weekend ReTreat,  Let’s Get Real, Show Stopper Saturday, Strut Your Stuff, Weekend Wind Down, Link Party Palooza, Do Tell Tuesday, Simple Lives Thursday, Foodie Friends Friday
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Mediterranean Layer Dip

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The second variation in our Friday focus in January of easy layer dips takes a Mediterranean spin. Hummus is one of my favorite snacks and this takes it up a notch with feta cheese, olives, tomatoes, peppers, and onions. One of the great things about dips is that they are easy to adapt to personal taste. Just leave off the ingredient you can’t stand (that would be olives for a few of my siblings).

While eating this, one of my sisters commented, “This stuff is addicting. I can’t stop eating it.”

Don’t forget to find all the recipes for layer dips with an international flair here.

Refreshing Mediterranean Layer Dip. Feta, olives, and hummus make the perfect combination. Great for parties served with pita chips.

5.0 from 1 reviews
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Greek Layer Dip
 
Ingredients
  • 10 ounces hummus (1¼ cups)
  • ¼ feta cheese
  • sliced olives
  • red onion, chopped
  • red bell pepper, chopped
  • cucumbers, chopped
Instructions
  1. Spread the hummus onto a small pie plate or decorative dinner plate.
  2. Top with feta cheese, olives, red onion, bell pepper, cucumbers.
  3. Serve with pita chips.

Follow along on Facebook and Pinterest and subscribe via e-mail so you don’t miss out on the other layer dips coming the next two Fridays.

Linking up to Mindful Mommy Monday, Living Proverbs 31, Recipe Sharing Monday, Mama Moments Monday, Natural Living Monday, TGIM, Happiness is Homemade, Good Tips Tuesday, Babies and Beyond, Share Your Stuff Tuesdays, Teach Me Tuesday, Titus 2 Tuesday, WFMW, Welcome Home Wednesday, Lovely Ladies Linky, Fabulously Frugal Thursday, All Things Thursday, The Pin It Party, Pin It Thursday, Thriving Thursday,  From House to Home, Simple Lives Thursday, Thrifty Thursday, Mommy Brain Mixer, Let’s Get Real, The Weekend reTreat, Strut Your Stuff, Link Party Palooza, Weekend Wind Down Party, Show Stopper Saturday, Foodie Friends Friday, Old Fashioned Recipe Exchange

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