Chatting over a bowl of snacks is a great way to connect, especially at a party.
These sweet and spicy snacks will liven up the conversation at your next get-together.
Pepper Jelly Dip
Pepper jelly is a sweet heat condiment that’s made of varying combinations of peppers and fruits.
For an easy dip, combine a 10.5-ounce jar of pepper jelly – like Habanero or Southwest flavors – with eight ounces of softened cream cheese and mix well. Chill and serve as is.
You can also up your snacking game by adding to this mixture one cup of shredded cheese and four slices of cooked and chopped bacon.
Spread evenly into a lightly greased baking dish and put in an oven heated to 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes until cooked through and bubbly.
Cowboy Caviar
This Southern-inspired dip is made of fresh ingredients and a bright dressing.
In a bowl, mix together two 15-ounce cans of black eyed peas, one 15-ounce can each of black beans and corn; one diced red pepper; one cup of sliced cherry tomatoes; three diced green onions; one seeded and diced medium jalapeno; one-half cup of chopped cilantro; and two teaspoons of salt.
For the dressing, whisk together two tablespoons of lime juice; four tablespoons apple cider vinegar; two tablespoons sugar; one-half teaspoon each of garlic powder and cumin; one teaspoon of oregano; and four tablespoons of olive oil.
Drizzle this over the bean and vegetable mixture and stir well until combined. You can serve this dip with chips or slices of baguette.
Shrimp Chorizo Bites
This is an easy app to assemble and it’s packed with protein.
Mix 30 peeled and uncooked shrimp with one clove of minced garlic, one-half teaspoon of oregano, one tablespoon of red wine vinegar, one tablespoon of dry Sherry, and one-quarter cup of olive oil. Marinate for a half hour.
Slice an eight-ounce pack of chorizo into one-quarter inch rounds. Skewer one chorizo round with one shrimp on wooden toothpicks or skewers.
Heat a tablespoon of olive oil in a pan over medium-high heat. Working in batches, place skewers in the pan and sear on both sides until the shrimp is cooked through, about four minutes.
Churro Chips
These cinnamon sugar chips can be served with sauces like mocha fudge or caramel, which you can either make or buy at the store and heat up.
To make the chips, cut a piece of naan bread into 10 triangles. Brush each chip with melted butter and then dip it into a mixture of one-half cup of granulated sugar and two tablespoons of ground cinnamon.
Place the chips on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet, and bake at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 minutes, flipping halfway through.
You can make an easy mocha fudge sauce for dipping by combining one cup granulated sugar, one and one-third cups dark cocoa powder, one tablespoon of instant espresso powder, and one cup of heavy whipping cream in a saucepan over medium heat.
Whisk the mixture until it’s combined then add one-half cup of salted butter and stir until it’s melted. Cook this for about five minutes, then remove from heat.
