Fruit Dip

Every Monday, a few of us girls have Bachelorette night.  We get together to watch the latest drama of one woman dating 25 men, drink wine, talk about life, and of course, eat.  Each week is a themed potluck, challenging us to bring out our inner creative chefs.

One of the first themes we did was dips, because let's face it, who doesn't love dip-- salsa, guacamole, spinach and artichoke..the list goes on and on, and the smile on my face (and grumble in my stomach) gets bigger and bigger!

I challenged myself to find something on the healthier side, that was still just as delicious, and wow, did I hit the jackpot.  Luckily, I came across another recipe on Six Sisters' Stuff, and I went to work!

Fruit Dip

(Recipe from: Six Sisters' Stuff)

What's In It?
-8 oz. whipped creamcheese
-7 oz. marshmallow creme

How Do I Make It?
Scoop both ingredients into a bowl, and whip! That's it!  My only advice would be to let the creamcheese soften a bit before whipping- it'll make it much easier.  Serve with your favorite fruit!

And, if you feel like being a little crazy, split the dip into two bowls and add approximately 1 tsp of cocoa powder to one of them.  Now you have a regular and chocolate version-- wild, I know!

Caprese Bites with Balsamic Drizzle

I promise that you won't find an easier appetizer or party dish than caprese bites!  Every time I make them, they always seem to disappear.

And bonus-- these are especially great if you're short on time or money!

Caprese Bites with Balsamic Drizzle

What's In It? 

Bites:
-1-2 packages cherry or grape tomatoes (I used grape this time)
-1-2 packages basil leaves (probably about 1-2 cups, not packed)
-1 package fresh mozzarella pearls

Balsamic Reduction Sauce:
-1 cup balsamic vinegar

Extras:
-toothpicks or medium skewers

How Do I Make It?
After washing tomatoes, chop each in half and place in container.  Then, wash basil and place in a second container.  Remove the pearls from their packaging and place in third container.
 

I find it easiest to do this as an assembly line.  Start with a mozzarella pearl, add about 1/2 basil leaf (more or less depending on your taste), a tomato half, and then top with another mozzarella pearl.  I would recommend laying them directly on your serving dish as you make them (I love any way that I can save time on dishes!).  Then repeat! And don't worry- it's perfectly normal to eat a few along the way :)

Once done (this should make between 75 and 100 skewers), put the dish into the fridge so they stay nice and cool.  At the same time, pour the balsamic vinegar into a small pot and bring to a boil.  Once boiling, lower to a simmer for about 10 minutes until the texture becomes more like syrup.  I'd recommend keeping an eye on it to make sure it doesn't start burning (not speaking from personal experience here or anything!).  When you're happy with the consistency, pour into a glass or ceramic bowl (just not plastic tupperware) and let cool.

Before serving, use a spoon to drizzle the balsamic reduction right over your skewers.  And the crowd will go wild!!

Enjoy!!