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Dips Info (1 Of 9)

Category: Dips

Author: The Savvybearcat

Date: 1/1/2007

Rating:

(2.0) by 2 users

Ingredients:

1 each DIPS Dictionary follows
1 each (This is Part 1 of 9)

Instructions:

In this file, I will try and give some ideas about what you can use
for the dips in the other files that I will be posting. ********* *
BASES * ********* Although dips come in countless varieties, most
start with one of the following bases, to which seasonings and
ingredients are added to give each dip its own distinctive flavor and
personality. Each base has it own character and is particularly
suited in bringing out the best of the ingredients that are added.
Likewise, the base will influence what kind of dipper is called for.
SOUR CREAM: The classic base of the good old-fashioned all-American
chip dip, sour cream is a perennial favorite because it mixes so well
with a wide range of flavorings. Its smooth consistency and slightly
tangy flavor make it a good companion for veggies of all sorts, and
its stark whiteness simply begs for the addition of colorful specks.
Sour cream dips should be thoroughly chilled before serving time to
allow the flavors of all the other ingredients to blend well into the
sour cream. People on low-fat diets can be consoled by the knowledge
that yogurt can be easily substituted for the sour cream in most
cases. CREAM CHEESE: Cream cheese added to sour cream is the royalty
of dip bases as far as I am concerned. The tow are perfect foils for
each other's inherent tastes, resulting in a neutral base that allows
the flavor of other ingredients to stand out. The addition of cream
cheese to sour cream also thickens the mixture sufficiently sot that
heavier ingredients (such as diced veggies) will float in the dip
instead of sinking to the bottom of the bowl. (NOTE: Don't try to
use cream cheese alone as a base for dry ingredients. It will most
likely do in even the most sturdiest of dippers unless it's mixed
with something more liquid.) Buy the cream cheese in block form. The
whipped variety in the tub has air whipped into it, and it will play
havoc with your measurements. Before blending with other ingredients,
let the cream cheese soften to room temperature and then "cream"
it--mash it to a smooth consistency with a sturdy spoon in a mixing
bowl. NOTE: this is fairly easy to do by hand once the cheese has
softened.) MAYONNAISE: The traditional dressing of Europe, mayonnaise
is now at home as a base for New World dips. Its natural blandness
makes an ideal backdrop for herb flavorings, which it tends to absorb
quickly. Mayonnaise is often successfully teamed with sour cream.
Mayonnaise based dips are best with veggie and seafood dippers as
well as with any meat that you might use in a salad. Mayo dips must
be watched carefully and ABSOLUTELY cannot be left out in the heat,
as the raw egg yolks in the mayonnaise give it a very short life
span. Although you certainly can use the convienent store-bought
kind, you might want to try this recipe for homemade mayonnaise--it
tastes better and is relatively easy to make. The dip recipes in the
other files will assume that you are using the store-bought kind. If
you use this recipe, omit any additional oil called for in the
recipes. HOMEMADE MAYONNAISE:
2 1/2 Tsp Lemon Juice
3 Large Egg Yolks
1/8 Tsp White Pepper
1/8 Tsp Salt
1 1/4 Cup Vegetable Oil USING A FOOD PROCESSOR: Fit a food
processor with the steel blade and place the egg yolks, lemon juice,
pepper, and salt in the bowl. Blend until smooth. While continuing to
process, very slowly drizzle the oil through the feed tube. Continue
until all of the oil is used and the mayonnaise thickens. BY HAND:
Using a whisk, beat the egg yolks, lemon juice, pepper and salt until
well blended. Slowly add the oil by the 1/2 tsp, whisking constantly.
Continue until all of the oil is used and the mayonnaise is
thickened. Makes 1 3/4 Cups Of mayonnaise YOGURT AND COTTAGE CHEESE:
Yogurt is often the costar of a dip base, used either to thin the
mixture or to impart a tangier flavor. Be sure to use the plain,
unflavored yogurt as Vanilla will NOT do. A lot of people are partial
to using cottage cheese, which adds an interesting texture to dips. A
dip base that includes cottage cheese holds up with the addition of
large chunks of vegetables and works particularly well with cracker
dippers. In some recipes the cottage cheese must first be creamed, as
you would the cream cheese. (In this case you are breaking up the
curds.) BEANS: Bean dips came onto the scene with the widespread
emergence of ethnic food some 20 years ago and have remained
extremely popular ever since. Beans mix well with cheeses and strong
spices, producing distinctive earthy-colored dips that are best
accompanied by chip and bread dippers. As most bean dips have ethnic
roots, you should pair them with dippers of similar origins. (Middle
Eastern garbanzo bean dip with pita triangle, for example.) Dried
beans, which are less expensive than the canned variety, must first
be soaked for several hour and then cooked until fork-tender. Canned
beans are already cooked and thus are more convenient but come packed
in floured water that must be thoroughly rinsed off before you use
them.