Cannellini Beans

Over the holidays, I made a tasty white bean dip, but while I ate it, I thought of a ton of ways to jazz it up. So last weekend, I finally tested out my twist on the classic dip. First, I skipped the cream cheese and opted for a more tangy cheese — goat cheese. To give the dip more texture, I then added chopped roasted bell peppers and scallions. Finally, to further enhance the flavor, I warmed it up and browned the top just before serving. The resulting dip was divine with both crudités and crackers. Ready to try this dip? Get the recipe.

We're up to week 11 of the Get Fit For 2010 giveaway, and this week is catch-up time, giving you a chance to complete any of our previous challenges that you might have missed. FitSugar reader hippiecowgirl completed our fifth challenge by sharing this tasty and healthy recipe.

Lemony Shrimp With White Beans

Ingredients

1 tablespoon unsalted butter
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 pound medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 15.5-ounce can cannellini beans, rinsed & drained
2 teaspoons dried parsley
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1/4 cup reduced sodium chicken broth
about 1 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning
1/2 teaspoon or so cumin
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Directions

1. Heat the butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat until melted. Add the garlic and cook for about 30 seconds.
2. Add the shrimp and cook until they are pink.
3. Stir in the beans, parsley, lemon juice, chicken broth, and all seasonings. Cook until heated through, 2 to 3 minutes.
4. Serve over pasta.

Makes 4 servings

If you haven't already entered our Get Fit For 2010 giveaway, now is the time to play catch-up. This means you have the opportunity to do any of the challenges you didn't have a chance to do, such as state your health and fitness goals or share a recipe. Remember, the more entries you've made, the more chances you have to win our weekly prize — a $100 Nike gift card — and our fabulous grand prize.

After Thanksgiving, it always takes a couple of days to regain my appetite. That's why this weekend, when I had guests over, I decided to serve an easy and healthy party dip with crudités. Typically, spinach dips call for a great deal of sour cream and lots of shredded cheese — resulting in a dish that can be heavy.

Thankfully, I found a Martha Stewart recipe that calls for lowfat ricotta cheese and cannellini beans. The warm appetizer is definitely a little thicker than a regular spinach dip, but it's packed with delicious flavor. If you want to celebrate the holidays with a tasty yet healthy spinach dip, keep reading.