Super Bowl Menu: Dips And Spreads

Which is more important: the dip or the dippee? It's both. Same goes for spreads. The one exception is Spinach Artichoke Balls, our favorite tailgating recipe of the season. That has dip built in. Or it is dip? Either way, exempt.

Don't be the guy who "generously donates" a half-crushed bag of tortilla chips to the party and drinks most of the beer. First off, making your own tortilla chips is about as easy as it gets. Ditto potato chips and pita chips. Bring something worth dipping and/or dipping into, and watch the quality of said party go up.

Spreads

• Country Ham Spread
• Smoked Bluefish Rillettes
• Pimento Cheese
• Garlic-Jalapeno Hummus

Dips for Wings

• Homemade Ranch Dressing
• Buttermilk Blue Cheese Dip
• Sweet Chile Dipping Sauce

Dips for Chips

• Salsa Verde Cruda
• Swiss Cheese Fondue
• Scorpion Bar's Spicy Guacamole
• Chile Con Queso
• Baked Clam Dip
• Simple Onion Dip
• Fresh Tomato Salsa