I don’t know about you, but I aim to spend as little time as possible in front of the kitchen stove when the weather warms up. But can I be frank with you? This week wraps up the school year for my children, and I am all about shortcut meal options! I don’t feel like spending much time in the kitchen. It’s true. I’d rather have my nose in a good book, play a board game with my kiddos, and go on long walks. So with that attitude in mind, I decided tonight’s menu would be my Terrific Taco Dip. That’s right, dip for dinner. It’s a fantastically simple idea and perfect for the Summer season, don’t you agree?
Dips are commonplace on the appetizer table at most American gatherings. But did we create dips? No, but we indeed increased both their popularity and variety! Hummus is the first recorded dip and can be traced back to Damascus in the twelfth century. French onion flavors appeared in the 17th century. Sour cream was marketed in the early 1800s; later, potato chips debuted around 1850. But it would take us until the 1950s to harness the goodness that comes with combining potato chips (crackers, pretzels, or crusty bread) and sour cream, ultimately resulting in a classic dip. From there, home economists created dips with every flavor imaginable, and most are still in circulation today.
It’s well known that dips are the appetizer of the general population. They’re simple, requiring few ingredients. They’re economical, meaning there’s a dip recipe for every price point. And they mark every occasion conceivable, from family reunions to grand events complete with fanfare—even everyday family-friendly meals. So the next time you find yourself at a loss for what to prepare for your family, make it a smorgasbord of dips, starting with this tasty dish.
Let me know at The Southern Voice which dips you prefer, and feel free to share your recipes in the comments!
