To be truthful things have been a little on the busy side at Chez Foti lately. Make that insanely hectic. Way too much flitting to and from the UK for a multitude of reasons, four times in the last few weeks!. Which is all very tiring, both emotionally and physically, and has sadly meant less time to potter in the kitchen putting together new recipes and ideas. Not that we haven’t eaten well, very well indeed. But there’s been a greater reliance on those firm family favourites and the pulling together of goodies from the freezer. I’ve also been on somewhat of a mission to cook and eat my way through five enormously fruitful PSB plants, and probably been a little too reliant on my PSB Pasta and Tart recipes for quickie mid-week suppers. Plus there’s been PSB pizzas, PSB pesto pastas, PSB stir fries and PSB crostini and bruschettas a plenty!
Between the flitting and Mission PSB I’ve managed a few catch ups with friends, involving various nibbles and numerous drinkies. Nibbles at this time of year, as the weather’s happily warming up, usually means a plate of assorted Crostini (including one with the the aforementioned PSB, cooked with anchovies, garlic and chili) and a dip or two with various dipping accompaniments.
Both these dips are made in minutes, which is always a bonus in my book. Both are very tasty indeed but I wouldn’t necessarily serve them together, possibly being a little bit too similar. And both have funnily enough been stolen from other people!. The first is a Smoked Salmon & Roasted Pepper Dip, which also makes for a wonderful sandwich filling, pate or crostini topping. It’s a recipe I ‘stole’ from a friend of mine, Anita, who nearly always turns up at social occasions with a pot of this pink loveliness. It’s a heavenly blitzed-up mix of creme cheese, smoked salmon, roasted red peppers (I use the jarred ones), a little red onion, horseradish, lemon zest and juice, and plenty of black pepper.
My second recipe is for a Tuna & Caper Dip, which I stole in idea from my big brother Julian. Again it’s wonderful in sandwiches or on crostini too.. And no blitzing required, just a stirring of creme cheese, tuna, capers, parsley, lemon zest and juice and black pepper. So so simple, and perfect for impromptu drinks parties.
And they’re not just for the grown up folk. My kids love these ‘fishy dippy dip dips’, and dips are a fine (and manipulative) way to get your kids eating more raw veggies and lots of them. Namely carrot, pepper, celery and cucumber strips. So along with my faithful hummus I make dips pretty frequently at Chez Foti. For more baby and toddler-friendly dippy ideas please do bob over to a blog I wrote last year: A Trip of Dips for Babies & Toddlers.
Since there’s parsley involved I shall be entering my blog to Lavender & Lovage’s Herbs on Saturday challenge, this month hosted by Anneli over at Delicieux.
Smoked Salmon & Roasted Red Pepper Dip
Great for Parties, Drinks and Nibbles, Starters, Picnics, Kids, Finger Foods, Grown Ups, Sandwiches, Crostini Toppings
150g of Creme Cheese, full fat, light, or extra light depending on how virtuous you’re feeling!
100g of Smoked Salmon trimmings
80g of Roasted Red Peppers – about 2 or 3 (you can make your own but I use the jarred shop bought ones for speed), drained of all oil
zest of ½ a Lemon plus a couple of generous squeezes of juice, to taste
¼ of a small red onion, diced
a heaped teaspoon of Creamed Horseradish
a large pinch of freshly ground Black Pepper
Place all the ingredients in a food processor and blitz until you have a smooth and creamy texture. Or alternatively blitz with a hand held stick blender. Season with more black pepper and lemon juice to suit. Eat and devour.
Tuna & Caper Dip
Great for Parties, Drinks and Nibbles, Starters, Picnics, Kids, Finger Foods, Grown Ups, Sandwiches, Crostini Toppings
a 185g tin of Tuna, drained
150g of Cream Cheese, full fat, light, or extra light
a tablespoon of Capers, drained and rinsed
the zest of a Lemon plus a squeeze or two of juice to taste
a heaped tablespoon of chopped Parsley
a large pinch of coarsely ground Black Pepper
Combine all the ingredients in a bowl. Taste and season with more black pepper and/or lemon juice. Eat. So so easy.
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May 6th, 2013 at 9:43 pm
Nothing like having something quick and easy ready for a quick bite. Both dips sound great. Perfect for a party or sitting around with the family. Lovely!!
May 8th, 2013 at 8:11 pm
Ah thank you!. I do so love a dip!
May 7th, 2013 at 10:11 am
Luckily I saw your post before going to the market! So I will be able to get what I need to try you suggestions out today 🙂
Have a nice day!
May 8th, 2013 at 8:12 pm
Oh I hope you did try one?!
May 8th, 2013 at 8:53 pm
I did! I tried the salon one, very very nice 🙂 It will part of my regular dips from now and on.
May 8th, 2013 at 8:54 pm
sorry, I meant “salmon”
May 7th, 2013 at 2:04 pm
Yummy. I love dips. These both sounds wonderful. I would no doubt completely over dip with them both and they would be gone in minutes! So Summery and lovely with a glass of Rose 🙂 Thanks for entering Herbs on Saturday, these are just perfect x
May 8th, 2013 at 8:13 pm
I’m a bit an over-dipper too. Can’t be trusted if there’s a bowl anywhere in the dipping vicinity.
May 7th, 2013 at 4:37 pm
Lovely! My 2 year old would love either of these, she’s big on fish! Thanks for sharing
May 8th, 2013 at 8:16 pm
Both my kids adore tuna so the tuna dip always goes down well with them, and Jacques suddenly has a taste for smoked salmon and now devours this dip too!
May 7th, 2013 at 11:48 pm
Both of your dips look yummy Louisa. After an amazingly sunny bank holiday weekend (in England?!) dips, nibbles and drinks outside are very appealing. I’m still enjoying lots of PSB too, very glad of your fab recipes. Hope you have a less stressful time travelling backwards and forwards now.
May 8th, 2013 at 8:19 pm
Ah thanks Andrea. No trips planned for a while now so hopefully things will all calm down a little. It’s been a bank holiday here in France today and we’re suffering from the usually British Bank Holiday Rain Syndrome! Another holiday tomorrow and yet more rain predicted. Eh well. Pleased that Britain finally enjoyed a sunny one though!
May 11th, 2013 at 1:49 am
That smoked salmon dip sounds AMAZING! I’ll certainly give it a try – using Scottish smoked salmon, of course 😉
May 11th, 2013 at 8:28 am
It is actually a really good dip/pate/spread. And I can’t take any of the credit as it was neither my recipe nor invention!
May 11th, 2013 at 2:48 pm
Fabulous dip ideas. Your to-ing and fro-ing to the UK sounds exhausting…
May 11th, 2013 at 4:20 pm
It is a bit, but all part of a grand plan to move back to the UK….sadly due to a multitude of reasons. However looking forward to the summer here and hopefully lots of happy holidays to come 🙂