Hearty snacks, seasonal sides, flavorful main dishes and tantalizing desserts all complement one another perfectly for holiday celebrations among loved ones. This year, when planning your menu, be sure to consider recipes that keep family and friends content from the moment they hang up their coats to the goodbye hugs.
One delicious option is a satisfying bread bowl. This dish can bring your guests running to the kitchen (and keep them there) as you celebrate all the season has to offer.
While your loved ones wait patiently for the main course to be served, hearty appetizers like bread bowls can keep appetites at bay. This Spinach-Ham Dip is the perfect combination of comforting and satisfying when served with bread cubes, crackers or tortilla chips for a warming snack ahead of the big meal.
Spinach-Ham Dip
2 cups ricotta cheese
1 cup sour cream
1 package (10 ounces)
frozen spinach, thawed
and squeezed dry
1/4 pound ham, cubed
3/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
2 green onions, thinly sliced
1 round bread loaf
(16 ounces), unsliced
Heat oven to 350 F.
In medium bowl, blend ricotta cheese and sour cream until smooth.
Add spinach, ham, Parmesan cheese and green onions; mix until blended.
Cut 1-2-inch diameter circle out of top of bread loaf. Reserve top.
Remove bread inside loaf, leaving about 1 inch along sides. Pour cheese mixture into bread bowl.
Replace top. Cover bread loaf in aluminum foil and bake 60 minutes, or until warmed through.
Take bread removed from inside bread bowl and cut into dipping sized chunks.
Remove bread from aluminum foil and place on platter. Scatter bread chunks around bread bowl to use for dunking in cheese sauce.
