Curry Mango Dip

With New Year's just around the corner...here's an appetizer dish that might just fit into your menu plan.  It's great to take along to a party...or to serve before an Asian style meal.  It was given to me by a friend a few years ago...and I have served it on numerous occasions.  It's Oriental...it's different...and it's good.

Ingredients:

• 250 ml / 8 oz. light cream cheese
• 2 Tablespoons sour cream
• 1 tablespoon curry powder
• 2/3 cups mango chutney
• 1/3 cup chopped green onions
• 1/3 cup golden raisins
• 1/3 cup pecans, chopped

Method:

1. Mix cream cheese, sour cream and curry powder together until well blended.  
2. Spread over bottom of serving dish.
3. Spread mango chutney over cream cheese mixture.
4. Combine green onions, raisins and chopped pecans and sprinkle over chutney.
5. Serve with crackers.

Note ~ Mango chutney can be found in the 'Asian foods' section at the grocery store.

Chocolate Almond Roca Slice

Many years ago, a friend showed up at a Christmas party bearing a tray of these thin and tasty treats.  She explained that she had no Christmas baking in her freezer...but this was one recipe she could whip up and bring on the spur of the moment. The almond roca squares were soon gone and she went home with an empty tray...but she left the recipe behind.  I have made these many a Christmas since...though I am sure they would be good at any time of the year! 

• 1 package graham wafers
• 1 1/2 cups sliced almonds
• 1 cup butter (the real thing)
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 1/2 cups chocolate chips

1. Line 11 x 17 inch bar pan with parchment paper.
2. Lay graham wafers in bar pan, cutting crackers to fit snugly.
3. Sprinkle with almonds and set aside.
4. Put butter and brown sugar in a saucepan, and bring to a boil while stirring.
5. Pour carefully over the almond/wafer base.
6. Place in a 350° F oven for 8-10 minutes, or until bubbly all over.
7. Remove from oven and sprinkle evenly with chocolate chips.
8. Let sit for a minute to melt the chocolate. 
9. Then run tines of a fork through the chips to spread.
10. Cool to room temperature.
11. Place in freezer for 10-15 minutes to harden chocolate topping.
12. Invert the pan onto a cutting board, and cut between wafers with a sharp knife or pizza cutter.  

Enjoy!

Cranberry Cream Cheese Dip

Here's a dip that works perfectly during the holiday season...a cranberry salsa paired with cream cheese and served on crackers.

Ingredients:

• 1 cups sugar
• 1/4 cup juice (juice of 1 orange)
• 3/4 cup water
• 3 cups cranberries, fresh or frozen
• 2 small jalapeno peppers, seeded and chopped
• 2 Tablespoons orange zest
• 1 tablespoon grated ginger root
• 3 tablespoons cilantro, chopped
• 2-8 oz. (250 gram) pkgs.cream cheese, softened

Method:

1. Combine sugar, orange juice and water in saucepan and bring to a boil.
2. Add cranberries, jalapenos, orange zest, ginger and cilantro.
3. Return to a boil and then reduce heat to simmer for about 8 minutes or until cranberries burst.
4. Cool to room temperature and then chill until ready to serve.
5. Spread a layer of cream cheese on serving platter...and top with cranberry salsa.
6. Sprinkle with additional chopped cilantro.
7. Serve with a platter of crackers.

Cranberry salsa can be prepared well ahead and stored in the fridge.