Are you tired of the same old store-bought chips and dip, usually a canned salsa or gooey cheese spread that looks a bit on the moldy side?

You need a new idea. You need it now. You needed it yesterday. The party is in a half hour and you have nothing.

Not to worry.
With a tiny bit of planning, you can make most of the ingredients ahead of time and pull out your party-starter, ready to serve, within minutes of your gathering.

Or not...

The point is, chips and dip don't have to be boring any more! The beauty of this kind of appetizer is that the combinations are endless, and the prep time can fit easily into the busiest of schedules.

Dips served at parties or any kind of gathering are great ice-breakers. The popularity of dips and chips is a somewhat and relatively new tradition in the U.S of A. How did this most-beloved eating habit start? Read on...

A little bit of history...
Chips and dip history begins with the need to create easily prepared foods. In other parts of the world, particularly the Mediterranean and the Far East, dipping chips or other finger foods is an integral part of their ethnic cuisines and food traditions. It took us United States-ers just a few more years to catch on to a really yummy way to eat.

In fact, the serving dips as an appetizer became very popular sometime after World War II. Before the Industrial Revolution happened, chips and dip were virtually unknown to Americans. Look what they were missing all this time!

But, it was inevitable for this kind of appetizer to catch on and become so wildly popular for many types of gatherings. Not only is it a great ice-breaker, the combinations are endless. With a little imagination, you can come up with your own variations on any particular theme.

Go with the flow, I always say. If you don't have green onions to cut up for your dip, use onion flakes or whatever variety of onion you have available.

If you don't have mayonnaise, use sour cream or yogurt, or make your own mayonnaise!

And think of this. Numbers in a party always vary. Dips can be easily scaled up to feed larger groups or scaled down for the onesies and twosies...

It's such a versatile way of eating. No wonder chips and dip and it's popularity has hardly waned over the years!

Use your imagination. One recipe of a dip could lead to many variations... like cheese dips! Cheese is so flexible and changeable, that practically anything you add to a smooth creamy cheese tastes great. It's hard to go wrong.

I have collected some of my favorite recipes, using common and unusual ingredients. And of course, they've been the hit of every party.

So, try some of these recipes! Your friends are going to go bananas over them! I see it happen all the time. When they ask you for the recipe, tell them the truth! Tell them you just threw some things together...

What could be more fun than starting any gathering out with homemade Zesty Lemon Thyme Pita chips and a Peppercorn Ranch Dip? Or what about Italian Bagel Chips topped with freshly sliced Parmigiano cheese and then lightly sprinkled with a tiny bit of olive oil and black pepper? It's a stunningly simple recipe with stunningly great results that look as if you slaved over it.

The recipes are fun, easy and will please even the pickiest eaters. To find more great Chips and Dip recipes log on to my website at Easy Appetizer Recipes - see the info below. Enjoy!