Fourth of July? Superbowl Sunday? Backyard barbecue? You want to throw a party, or maybe just have a few friends over, and you want it to be awesome. And as any party-goer will tell you, for your event to be a success you gotta have the right munchies (and the right drinks!) And that includes dips and spreads. What's the difference? Well it's pretty much how it sounds. The former tend to be denser and you spread them on things like pita bread, crackers, and toast. The latter are less thick and are perfect for dipping things in like chips, fruit and raw vegetables. Not only are dips and spreads great for parties, they're perfect for solo snacking as well!
Savory
If you're going with dips, some popular choices are salad dressing types such as ranch, blue cheese, and french onion, all of which go well with raw veggies like carrots, celery sticks, cherry tomatoes, and broccoli. Try making your own by combining dry soup mix, sour cream, and a dash of mayo. Mexican options also make great dips like different kinds of salsas and guacamole, and pair nicely with tortilla chips. Moving on to spreads, Greek varieties are popular such as hummus, babaganoush and olive tapenade, all of which go well with toasted pieces of pita bread or pita chips.
Sweet
Sweet dips and spreads may be less common for parties, but just as tasty as their savory counterparts. Try warm caramel dip with slices of crisp green apple and banana. Chocolate fondue with fresh strawberries and marshmallows is always a crowd pleaser as well. For a breakfast party or a brunch, popular spreads include peanut and almond butter, Nutella, and different varieties of jams like strawberry, raspberry and mixed fruit; all of which go perfectly with a crispy piece of toast, in a crepe, or as a simple anytime snack.
