Recipes from the Wedding: the Savory

Last time I gave you the cupcake recipes we used. Today I give you the dip recipes. I married into a bunch of foodies. So when we say chips and dip, we aren't messing around! Everything was fresh and fabulous, but there were a few standouts--the bruschetta, the Texas Caviar, the baba ganoush, and the artichoke dip.

The bruschetta was your basic tomato, basic, garlic deliciousness. Let this recipe be your guide. I am waiting for more of my tomatoes to get ripe so I can make a giant batch!

The Texas Caviar is a family favorite. Here's the recipe:

2 cans black-eyed peas, drained

1 (8 oz) bottle Zesty Italian salad dressing

1 large bunch green onions with tops, chopped

2 large beefsteak tomatoes, chopped

1 large green pepper, chopped

1large red pepper, chopped

1 small yellow pepper, chopped

1 can yellow corn, drained

1 small bunch cilantro, chopped

1 medium yellow onion, chopped

1 tsp. minced garlic

Mix all ingredients together and let stand for at least 2 hours so flavors mix.

Our favorite way to eat this is with tortilla chips, but it is also marvelous atop a green salad.

Baba gahoush is an incredible Middle Eastern dip--a relative of hummus, but made of roasted eggplant. Of course my husband, Taylor, made up his own version for the wedding (and don't think he wrote it down!). Try this recipe to make your own. Taylor's secret discovery? Once, when he realized we were out of Tahini, Taylor substituted Adam's peanut butter. We use it every time now, and it is AWESOME.

My s-i-l, Rebecca made her artichoke dip that puts all other artichoke dip recipes to shame. I'm serious people. I'll never go back to my old recipe. Rebecca's recipe:

2 blocks (16 oz. total) cream cheese
1/2 cup mayo
1 can (in water) artichoke hearts, chopped
1 small can green chiles (mild)
1/2-1 cup parmesan cheese

Mix and bake at 350 degrees 'til brown and bubbly

Let me just say once more that having a whole event dedicated to dips was one of our greatest ideas yet. I highly recommend it.

Enjoy!
-anne