I just booked a few upcoming date nights for my husband and me – I’m so looking forward getting out together. We aim for at least one a month these days. It’s usually something simple like dinner somewhere local and maybe a movie, but it’s so nice to have the time to ourselves while the kids are home having fun with our sitter whom they adore.
I can count the number of date nights my husband and I had during our first two years as parents on one hand. We were still a little unsure about hiring a babysitter so we’d wait until our parents came to visit so they could watch our daughter while we went out. A friend of mine, who had a standing date night with her husband every week, relentlessly encouraged me to get a sitter already. I finally followed her advice, once our son was born, and she was so right. Even getting out together just once a month has restored a bit of balance to our lives.
When Mike and I go out to dinner we usually will pass on an appetizer except if artichoke dip is on the menu. If they’ve got artichoke dip, we order it. And we will probably finish it. For me, it’s the cheesy, baked crust on top that I can’t pass up. I make sure I get a good amount of that on my bread along with, of course, a lot of artichoke. This Hot Artichoke Dip recipe I found on a package of Alexia Waffle Fries is as tasty as any I’ve had in a restaurant. It’s makes a whole lot more than you need for just two people so invite some friends over and share!
Hot Artichoke Dip
From the back of the Alexia Waffle Fries package
Prep time: 10 minutes | Cook time: 30 minutes | Total time: 40 minutes
Yield: 4 servings
INGREDIENTS:
- 2 (12 or 13 ounce) cans artichoke hearts, drained
- 3/4 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup grated Asiago cheese
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- Juice of 1/2 lemon
- Dash Worcestershire Sauce
- Cayenne pepper to taste
- Grated cheese, paprika and chopped parsley to garnish
DIRECTIONS:
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Squeeze the artichoke hearts of any excess liquid and pat dry with a paper towel.
- Finely chop the artichokes either by hand or with a food procesor and blend with the remaining ingredients except for the garnish.
- Transfer the artichoke dip into a shallow flame proof dish and bake for approximately 10 minutes. Sprinkle the garnish evenly and bake for an additional 5 minutes (it took me closer to an additional 20 minutes) until lightly brown and hot through and through.
Now I wish I were having a Super Bowl party. This would be perfect.
Interesting recipe to find on the waffle fries package – I generally only find recipes that actually use the product that the recipe is included on … I’m wondering if they want you to serve the artichoke dip with the waffle fries ??
In any case – this dip looks yummy!
I think that’s the suggestion, but I’m with you – I prefer this kind of dip on grilled bread. I scarcely even put ketchup on fries!
Artichoke Dip is one of my favorites. This looks delicious.
on my list for this weekend!
I made this recipe for a potluck and it was a huge hit.
The only thing I changed was no garnish (cause I didn’t have any), and I hit the broiler for the last 5 minutes to brown and crisp up the top, where I put an extra layer of shredded parm.
Delicious!
I forgot – I also bought my artichoke hearts at Trader Joes in the frozen section. They needed a minute in the microwave before they hit the food processor. If you don’t have a food processer, probably easier to stick to canned.