Well, soon our homes will fill up with family, friends and coworkers. I’ve yet to meet any that didn’t like to eat. If you check these recipes, there is every opportunity to reduce the fat and calories if you would like to. By using the low fat versions of cream cheese, sour cream and mayonnaise, you can cut the fat and calories, satisfying even the most hardened dieter.
I’m giving you a couple of bread bowl recipes this week. You can also use bulky rolls for individual servings. My family like getting there own, solves the problem of double-dipping! Serve them with crackers or vegetables. I find that to mix them up the day before leaves me extra time to spend with my favorite people!
12 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 small onion, finely chopped
5 tablespoons mayonnaise
2 (6 ounce) cans crabmeat, drained and flaked
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
salt and pepper to taste
1 (1 pound) loaf round, crusty Italian bread
Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). In a medium bowl, combine the cream cheese, onion, mayonnaise, crabmeat, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Spread mixture into a 1 quart baking dish.
Bake for 20 minutes in the preheated oven. While the dip is baking, cut a circle in the top of the bread, and scoop out the inside to create a bread bowl. Tear the removed bread into pieces for dipping.
Remove baked crab dip from the oven, and stir well. Spoon the mixture into the hollowed out loaf. Place bread bowl and chunks of bread on a medium baking sheet, and bake for an additional 10 minutes. Serve hot with your favorite crackers and vegetables.
1 (10 ounce) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained
1 cup sour cream
1 cup mayonnaise
3/4 cup chopped green onions
2 teaspoons dried parsley
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon seasoning salt
1 (1 pound) loaf round, crusty Italian bread
Directions: In a large mixing bowl, combine spinach, sour cream, mayonnaise, green onions, parsley, lemon juice, and salt. Mix until well blended, then refrigerate.
Cut a circle out of the top of the bread and scoop out the inside. Tear the inside into pieces for dipping. Spoon the dip into the center of the bread bowl and serve accompanied by the pieces of bread and your favorite crackers for dipping.
I’ll be looking forward to hearing from you with any suggestions or recipes you like. I can be reached at susieqcooking@ainop.com or c/o Pioneer Times, PO Box 456, Houlton, ME 04730
See you next week! Susie Q.
