The weather is warm which means it’s pool season! Whether you’re lucky enough to have one in your backyard, belong to a club, or have a blow-up version, pool time is a necessity for cooling down. This means you’ll also need poolside snacks and do I have some tasty recipes to share!
Melissa Snow (Hillsboro, OR) shared a twist on layered dip with her Ranchero Layer Dip recipe.
“A neighbor refers to this dip as the ‘everything but the kitchen sink dip’,” says Melissa. “You can substitute regular flavor bean dip for the jalapeno flavor bean dip if you cannot find it in the store. You can also substitute shredded cheddar for the jalapeno jack cheese if needed.”
One reason I like this recipe is that I can adjust the level of heat based on who is coming over. What makes this special is the sour cream layer. Sour cream is mixed with Miracle Whip and taco seasoning that is creamy and filled with taco flavor.
If you have tortilla chips out for the layer dip, then you can also use them alongside Debora Hotard’s (Georgina, AL) Mango, Avocado, and Cucumber Salsa.
“I love Hispanic-inspired flavors and keep Spanish oregano and cilantro in my home garden,” explains Debora. “My herbs are ready to use which inspired this salsa recipe. I also found avocados, cucumbers, and mangoes on sale at the supermarket yesterday.”
There are so many layers of flavor from the sweetness of the mango to the heat from the chili peppers, I couldn’t get enough of it. It’s refreshing dipped into chips, but you can also spoon it over grilled chicken, pork, or fish. It’s light and delicious!
Guacamole is my absolute favorite for snacking. Deborah Garza’s (San Antonio, TX) Quirky Guacamole is always popular when I serve it.
“I was tired of the old humdrum guacamole,” reveals Deborah. “I decided to jazz it up a bit. I used my family as guinea pigs and to my amazement they loved it.”
This recipe is such a fun spin on those wonderful traditional guacamole flavors. There are some unusual ingredients in this guac like Italian seasoning, cheese, and chicken spread. But trust us, it’s quite tasty. Mix things up and give it a try!
Grab a handful of Anna Sciancalepore Antoniello’s (Benton, PA) Ciao Bella Ranch Sourdough Pretzels and you’ll have a hard time stopping.
“These are so addictive,” exclaims Anna. This is a simple way to put a little zing into a plain old pretzel.
Ranch adds tons of flavor to this snack. Dill is the secret ingredient that gives the pretzels a savory-something you just can’t put your finger on. These are a cinch to throw together and very addictive.
Bruschetta is something I serve a lot in the summer because it’s so simple. Bobbi Gulla’s (Philadelphia, PA) Bruschetta & Cheese is a little untraditional and very good.
“I made bruschetta last night using an extremely ripe NJ tomato,” shares Bobbi. “The fragrance of the cut-up tomato wafted into the living room… pure heaven! The same with the fresh basil.”
Bobbi’s bruschetta is fresh, full of flavor, and cheesy. Vidalia onions are sweeter and, along with the hint of sugar, add sweetness to this bruschetta. Mozzarella is also unusual but it almost melts when mixed with the other ingredients. Bursting with basil, put this on top of toast crips or crackers for a summertime snack.
If you want cocktails to serve alongside these snacks, check out our Summer Sippers recipe collection. There are refreshing alcoholic and non-alcoholic recipes depending on what you’re looking for. Happy snacking and Pinching!