it's upon us: Recipe Week 2 .1

It's upon us yet again: This I believe will be my 2nd Recipe Week! Lately, I looooove food. I think it has to do with all the pregnancy hormones. One night about a month ago, Tom and I were trying to figure out what to eat for dinner. We had some leftovers, but just enough for one of us. Tom said that he'd be ok with the leftovers. I replied, "What about me?" Tom said. "Ooooh yeah, I forgot you don't just want a bowl of cereal anymore." Ditto.

So I've graduated to grownup food. I no longer want to eat only rice and ham sandwiches {with nothing else on it - just ham and bread} like I did in high school. Or no longer live off of lean pockets and cereal like I did in college. My roommates and I even had a sign {that I made} that said, "Lean Pockets: It's What's for Dinner." That's a true story.

Most people generally fit into one of two categories: mayonnaise lovers or haters. The lovers put it on everything. Every sandwich we ever make over here, Tom will put mayo on it; he'll add it to his fries, hamburger, pretty much everything. While I'm not really a hater of the mayo, I never want it on my sandwich. No matter where you might stand on the mayo line, you have to admit, mayonnaise does make things tasty.

It would only be appropriate to begin recipe week with a couple appetizers:

Spinach Artichoke Dip
This one is courtesy of my friend Kathryn - if you haven't checked out her blog just yet, you should. If you're in the Atlanta area and need a photographer, check her out. 

{image borrowed from here}

preheat oven to 350 F

In a shallow dish mix:

1 cup of mayo
1 cup Parmesan cheese
1 small box {10 oz} of frozen, chopped spinach {thawed}
1 can of artichokes {drain and cut them up before mixing them in}

1 tsp of lemon juice
garlic powder to taste

bake in oven for 35 min!!!

I love serving this with bagel chips, pita chips, or those little TLC 7 grain crackers.

Swiss and Bacon Dip

This recipe is from another friend, Elizabeth. She's the one who designed my awesome business cards. 

{I don't have a photo to justify its goodness}

preheat oven to 350 F


1 package cream cheese  (8oz)
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 cup Shredded Swiss Cheese
2 tablespoons chopped green onion (sometimes I leave out if don’t have)
8 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
1/2 cup crushed Ritz crackers

Soften cream cheese in mixing bowl. Add mayo, swiss cheese and green onions. Mix well. Transfer to baking dish. Top with crumbled bacon and crushed Ritz crackers. Bake for 15-20 min or till bubbly. 


Ritz crackers are fabulous with this dip - but really any crackers will be good. :)


I hope you get to make one of these real soon - maybe for your upcoming super bowl party? Or you could do what I sometimes do, make a dip for dinner. :)