dips

Marinated goat cheese at the market can be pricey, but it's one of the easiest things to make in your own kitchen. I picked up a log of chèvre and cut it into six even slices. Then, I raided the pantry and fridge for olive oil, vinegar, and herbs; like many marinades, you can easily alter it to suit what you have on hand. Marinate the goat cheese rounds for a couple hours in the fridge and up to a week. I baked the rounds to make an easy appetizer but can't wait to try the leftovers on homemade pizza. The remaining marinade is delicious drizzled on some veggies, so definitely use it too! Ready to add a little more flavor to goat cheese? Keep reading!

If you're a cheese lover, brace yourself because you are going to be amazed with this recipe. It's for parmesan salsa. Yes, you read that correctly: parmesan salsa! It's a fantastic dip that's made like any regular tomato salsa — with a food processor. Instead of serving with tortilla chips, pair the chunky cheese spread with toasted bread.

Seriously, this addictive salsa is to die for; I've made it countless times and it always gets rave reviews. It's very easy to put together, so it's great for entertaining. Since it's all about the cheese, it's worth it to splurge on a good quality parmesan and asiago. To learn how it's made — trust me you won't be disappointed with this appetizer — keep reading.

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.

If you didn't find an easy cheesy appetizer that looked delicious, I have one more suggestion: pecorino fondata. This baked Italian cheese dish is incredibly uncomplicated to prepare; you simply toss cubed cheese with chopped hazelnuts and fresh thyme, then bake till it's melted and gooey. The most difficult thing about this fondue-like appetizer is finding the right kind of cheese. I recommend heading to a local cheese shop or more high-end grocer like Whole Foods. Ask the cheesemonger for a young soft pecorino with a good melting quality. Serve with crisp crostini or crunchy crackers and a glass of sparkling wine. Ready for the recipe?

Traveling the globe can be pricey, but trying out new worldly recipes in your own kitchen is an easy and inexpensive way to taste more of the planet. In our world traveler series, we are doing just that: exploring the earth one dish at a time.

Muhammara is a Syrian roasted pepper and walnut dip often served with crackers, on kebabs, or over meat and fish. The longest part of preparing the dip is roasting the bell peppers. Of course you could just buy a jar, but they are so much better fresh. If you have never roasted your own, check out this how-to slideshow. Once you have the roasted bell peppers, the dip is incredibly simple to make with the help of a food processor.

The sweetness from the pomegranate molasses and roasted bell peppers is balanced by the tart lemon juice and spicy kick of jalapeño. I served it with pita chips, but it would be great as a veggie dip or a sandwich condiment. Skip the hummus and the onion dip and give muhammara a try. Curious about the recipe? Keep reading.

When I had some friends over to try Bobby Flay's award-winning burger, there was only one thing I thought to pair the burgers with: fries. Not just any fries, but seasonal sweet potato fries. The burger is called the Santa Fe, so I was hoping for Tex-Mex inspired fries. Luckily, I found this recipe for baked sweet potato fries with a creamy and cooling avocado dip.

The pairing of slightly spicy sweet potatoes with a luscious green dipping sauce is absolutely sublime. Although I followed the recipe closely and I really enjoyed the flavor, my sweet potatoes weren't as crispy as I wanted them to be. Do you have tips for making them crisp? Please share with me in the comments. For the recipe, which doesn't disappoint, read on.

Recently I came across a really interesting Rick Bayless recipe for bacon guacamole. At first I thought, that can't be right. Rick Bayless doesn't really seem like an everything-tastes-better-with-bacon sort of guy. However, there it was in my inbox: bacon guacamole by Rick Bayless. I was skeptical as to whether or not it would work, but considering that I love both bacon and guacamole, I decided to give it a try. And guess what? It totally works!It's actually ingenious — an addictive and amazingly scrumptious dip. It's a good thing I made it for guests because had I been alone in my apartment, I would have shoveled the entire bowl down my throat in a matter of minutes. The smokiness of the bacon is enhanced by the addition of chipotle chiles in adobo. With juicy tomato, creamy guacamole, and crunchy bacon, each bite is a taste explosion! It's perfect for tailgating season, so get the recipe now.

There's something I need to get off my chest: I use canned crabmeat when making crab dip. If I'm going to dilute the flavor of the crab with cheese, herbs, and mayonnaise, why not use the canned variation?

My favorite canned crab is the kind they sell in the refrigerator section of Costco. It's fresh and full of meaty chunks of crab perfect for crab dip. Although I love a hot, bubbling crab dip, when tailgating, it's easier to serve cold crab dip. This recipe from Tyler Florence pairs the chilled crab dip with herbed saltines and roasted tomatoes. Having tried these elements, let me tell you a secret: they're unnecessary! The dip is simply sublime on its own.

No fussy saltines or cherry tomatoes necessary. Seriously, my guests agreed, the creamy, tangy dip is so scrumptious by itself, you'll want to eat it with a spoon. Get the easy preparation method, after the break.