You COULD make this absolutely scrumptious Apple Pie Dip and use it in the usual fashion – as an appetizer. Why not? But, this “dip” works unbelievably well as a fun dessert. And guess what? The easy part of this chip dip recipe is: NO BAKING (well except for the chips!)

For those of you that just don’t want to turn on a hot oven, this simple recipe is for you*. Plus, it’s so good that IF there is any left over, you’ll love it for breakfast. So versitile!  Enjoy the sentimental flavor of a truly beloved classic holiday dessert with this tasty fruit dip.

What you’ll need for the “dip”:
(Printable Recipe)
- 1 1/3 cups peeled, cored, and diced apple
- 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons apricot preserves
- 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon

* If you don’t want the heat of the oven when you make this recipe, don’t make the cinnamon chips. Just find some cinnamon pita chips or tortilla chips at a place like Whole Foods.

What you’ll need for the chips:
- 5 (6-inch) flour tortillas
- 2 tablespoons butter, melted
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 1/2 tablespoons sugar

What to do:
1. Turn on your oven to 350º F

2. Combine all the ingredients for the dip in a bowl and then cover and refrigerate the fruit mixture until chilled.

3. Next brush the tortillas with butter, then cut them into pie-like wedges.

4. Arrange the wedges on a greased baking sheet (all you need to use is a spray and spray lightly), sprinkle the tortilla wedges with cinnamon and sugar, and bake until golden brown for about 10 minutes. Check frequently to keep them from burning.

Let the chips cool before serving. this lovely recipe makes 4 to 6 servings. Enjoy!

Want more good ideas for chip dip recipes? Click on the link to the left immediately!

* As I am not a photographer by any stretch of the imagination, I am grateful to FamilyFun for the photo used at the top of this post.

I think you either love bleu cheese or you don’t. So, for those that love it, I highly recommend making this for lunch today (or tomorrow!) No, I’m not kidding. Treat yourself to a little decadence.

As rich as this simple recipe is, you can cut down on a few of the calories if that’s what’s holding you back from making this immediately… and I mean today… just read the notes at the end of the recipe.

Okay, so you don’t want to make it for lunch today. Then, make it ahead of time for the next time you have your girlfriends over, or throwing a party for the boss. It’s just that good. Enjoy!

Prep time: 20 min., Bake: 15 min. Yield: Makes 12 to 15 servings

Great Hill Blue Cheese

What you’ll need:
(Printable recipe)
- 7 bacon slices, chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
- 1/3 cup half-and-half
- 4 ounces crumbled bleu cheese
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives
- 3 tablespoons chopped walnuts, toasted
- Clusters of grapes – any kind
- Flatbread, assorted crackers, or baked pita chips

What to do:
1. Cook the chopped bacon in a skillet over medium-high heat for about 10 minutes or until crisp. Drain the bacon, and set aside. Add the minced garlic to skillet, and sauté for 1 minute.

2. Beat the cream cheese at medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth. Then, add the half-and-half, beating until combined. Stir in bacon, garlic, bleu cheese, and chives. Spoon mixture evenly into 4 (1-cup) individual baking dishes or into a 1-quart baking dish.

3. Bake the bleu cheese and bacon dip at 350° for 15 minutes or until golden and bubbly. Sprinkle evenly with chopped walnuts, and serve with grape clusters and your choice of crackers.

This delicious easy appetizer – rich and creamy – can also be made with less calorific ingredients and still, you will have a rich and creamy dip to serve. For example: Use turkey bacon. You can also substitute for the cream cheese by using the fat-free version OR use Light Laughing Cow cheese. Just unwrap 16 little Laughing Cow cheeses and use it in place of the cream cheese. It’s WAY delicious as my son would say. And, last but not least, use lite sour cream or low-fat greek yogurt instead of the half-in-half.

There you have it! Hope you enjoy this easy appetizer recipe for Bleu Cheese and Bacon Dip! For more unbelievably great ideas for chips and dips, please visit my Chip Dip Recipes page.

A little history about Bleu Cheese (or Blue Cheese)

Blue cheese (or bleu cheese) is a general classification of cow’s milk, sheep’s milk, or goat’s milk cheeses that have had Penicillium cultures added so that the final product is spotted or veined throughout with blue, blue-gray or blue-green mold, and carries a distinct smell. Some blue cheeses are injected with spores before the curds form and others have spores mixed in with the curds after they form. Blue cheeses are typically aged in a temperature-controlled environment such as a cave.

In the European Union many blue cheeses such as Roquefort, Gorgonzola and Stilton carry a protected designation of origin, meaning they can bear the name only if they have been made in a particular region in a certain country. Similarly, individual countries have protections of their own such as France’s Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée and Italy’s Denominazione di Origine Protetta.

The characteristic flavor of blue cheeses tends to be sharp and a bit salty. The smell of this food is due to the types of bacteria encouraged to grow on the cheese: for example, the bacterium Brevibacterium linens is responsible for the smell of many blue cheeses. They can be eaten by themselves or can be crumbled or melted over foods. Read more about it at Wikipedia.

*Because I am NOT a photographer by any stretch of the imagination, the photo at the top of this post is courtesy of SouthernLiving.com. Thanks!

From eHOW.com
The best homemade salsa is made with fresh vegetables right out of your garden. This is a recipe I have made for years during the summer when I have fresh tomatoes. It’s quick and easy to make and delicious.

read more | digg story

And that led me to making all kinds of different chips. The flavors or so good and serving them fresh from baking or frying them is the best! Below are some of my favorite chip recipes… Enjoy making them and eating them up!

Homemade Potato Chips – Are you the creative type? How about making your chips of the mixed variety? Make them not just with Russet potatoes – even though they are available all year. But, try making some of your chips from Finnish yellow or Peruvian purple potatoes.

Italian Bagel Chips – takes plain bagels and making them into something special. Add some wonderful seasoning and what seemed old and boring before has a whole new lift to it. Use these chips with a variety of dips and you’ll please even the pickiest of eaters.

Lemon Thyme Pita Chips – are a wonderful change from the same old chips everyone usually serves. This easy appetizer recipe will be the hit of the party. Your friends and guests will beg you for this chip dip recipe!

Corn Tortilla Chips – Fresh. Crunchy. And the flavor! You can’t eat just one. Plus, you’ll enjoy making these wonderfully flavored tortilla chips yourself.

Parmesan Cheese Crisps – This is one of my favorite easy appetizer recipes because of it’s crispy lightness and they way they melt in your mouth.

Enjoy with some wonderfully creative dips. Perfect  for Memorial Day, Labor Day, or any fun party you are planning.

I love chips and dip and all kinds of appetizers. I make meals out of them! I would prefer to eat finger foods over any other kind of meal. And I try not to snack to much. I know, how crazy is that?

Anyway, I may convert you to a snack-aholic with these incredible homemade chips that are super simple to make and you’ll never want to go back to the bagged kind again. Trust me, you’ll love them!

To get this yummy recipe for the beloved finger food and read the rest of the article, visit my Homemade Pototo Chips page.

Even those who say they don’t like fish, crab dip recipes are hard to NOT like. Especially, when you pair it with the perfect gathering and the fun party drinks. Here’s one of my favorite recipes for making the dip of crab…

What you’ll need:
- 1 8-ounce light cream cheese
- 1 6-ounce can crab meat (drained and reserve liquid)*
- 1/4 cup green onions (finely chopped)
- 2 tsp lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
- 1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1/4 tsp Paprika
- hot pepper sauce (to taste)

This recipe makes about 1 1/2 cups. Serve in a festive dip bowl with a spreader.

* If  you have the time and a little extra cash, substitute the canned crab meat for fresh, cracked crab. Ooo la la! You’re mouth will be in heaven with this little extra care. Even if you don’t use fresh crab, you’ll still enjoy this dip. Creamy and delicious! Enjoy!

Looking for more dip ideas? Check out this Chip Dip Recipes page.