"I cook with wine, sometimes I even add it to the food." - W.C. Fields

This weekend, I had the pleasure of hosting a "Chips, Dips, and Party Mix" night in my apartment, and let me say, not only was the theme catchy in its little rhyme, but it was downright delicious. Because we all agreed upon our love for cooking, and subsequently eating, appetizers, each guest brought two dips with complementary dipping "utensils" and a bottle of wine. The night was a success, filled with yummy and creative food, great conversation, and (perhaps?) too much wine. WARNING: Healthy recipes were not required for this event; however, guilt-free-everbody-deserves-a-day-off-indulgence was! Check out some of the highlights of the evening below:

A happy dining room table with dips, chips, and some party mix. Note the pita chips in the foreground: homemade by yours truly! Check out the easy, yet better-than-the-bag recipe from the Food Network HERE. And, in the background, check out Kristen's introduction to Sarita's Pico de Gallo and Queso. Spicy and flavorful, a good representation of Mexican, Cuban, and Latin American cuisine in the big easy.

Lizzy's Homemade Bruschetta with three different kinds of tomatoes, paired with homemade pita chips or toasted garlic bread.

Amy's Summer Corn Dip paired with Frito's Scoops found at Bakin' and Eggs web site. 

Amy's Hot Pizza dip. Rachel: "Ooooh what's in it?" Amy: "You don't want to know!" Perfect.

Meredith's Caramelized Onion Dip and Lizzy's made-up Roasted Tomato and Feta Dip, made with Greek Yogurt. Working on getting the recipe...

Meredith's Homemade Artichoke Hummus, one of the healthier options, paired well with the carrots and celery dipping "utensils" below:

My first sampler of the colorful dips on the table. Don't worry, I went back for much, much more!

With all of the savory options on the table, I decided to provide a sweet-tooth indulgence as well by making a childhood favorite: Muddy Buddies! Recipe HERE or on the back on most cereal boxes. We also had fresh Louisiana strawberries and a yogurt dip for a slightly healthier option.

Looking forward to many more wine... I mean food... I mean girls-nights-in in the future!