With the Super Bowl charging closer, it’s time to rally your friends for the big game! Whether you’re a 49ers fan, a Ravens fan, or just excited to see that Destiny’s Child reunion you’ve been holding out for, we can all agree, no Super Bowl party is complete without some killer eats!

Here are 5 tasty dips suited for the Super Bowl and best served in a bowl.

Spinach Artichoke Dip
Spinach, artichoke, and cheese join forces to create the dream team of dips.

Queso Blanco
A little sibling rivalry never hurt anyone! As Jim and John Harbaugh duke it out for the big win, Vintage White Medium Cheddar and Monterey Jack team up in this tasty dip. I guarantee you’ll be making more than one touchdown in the queso bowl.

Smoked Salmon Sour Cream Dip
This may not be one of the usual suspects at your Super Bowl parties, but just like Kaepernick’s single-game NFL record, this dip will surprise and delight your guests.

7 Layer Dip
Seven flavors. Seven layers. Seven reasons you’ll love this dip.

Creamy Crab Dip
Leave the crabbiness to this creamy dip! Your friends will be too busy raving over this dip to get angry that your team scored another touchdown.

By Amalya

Looks fancy, tastes delicious

There are many party themes out there. You can have an Italian party, a murder mystery party or even a chocolate themed night. But when I was planning my next dinner party I could think of no better party theme than Oregon! An Oregon party lets me celebrate all the things I love! My home state makes so many tasty foods, the party is practically planned before you even get started. What better way to start an Oregon party than a salmon dip?

Yields (number of servings): About 14

Ingredients
Smoked Oregon salmon – about 2 inches wide
½ cup Tillamook Premium Sour Cream
¼ cup cream cheese
3 teaspoons capers, diced
1 tablespoon lemon juice
5 green onions, diced
2 splashes of Tabasco
Salt and pepper
2 rolls – like hoagie rolls

Oregon ingredients for this Oregon appetizer

With your fingers, shred the salmon into a bowl. In a separate bowl combine Tillamook Premium Sour Cream and cream cheese. Then combine with the salmon. Add lemon juice, onions, Tabasco, salt, and pepper to taste. Stir until well combined. Refrigerate until the mixture firms up a bit (about 20 minutes). You want it to hold its shape.

Cut the end off your rolls and hollow out the inside of the roll so you can see all the way through it. Be careful not to puncture the crust. Use a spoon to fill the roll with the salmon mixture. Cut the filled roll into ½ inch slices.

Tillamook Sour Cream and Oregon salmon start any Oregon themed party off on a delicious note!

By Kelly

Everyone has their own reasons for watching the Super Bowl; the commercials, gathering with friends, the occasional wardrobe malfunction, the food or even possibly the game. I enjoy football but my real reason for celebrating one of the biggest sporting events of the year is the food and friends! This dip couldn’t be easier to make (unless someone else makes it for you)!  Add this dip to your Super Bowl spread and give your guests something to rave about besides the winning touchdown. Enjoy!

CREAMY CRAB DIP

Ingredients:

2 – 8 ounce packages cream cheese
1 – 16 ounce container Tillamook Sour Cream
1 cup Tillamook Shredded Italian Blend Cheese
4 green onions, thinly sliced
2 celery stalks, diced
1 teaspoon lemon juice
salt & pepper to taste
½ to ¾ cup crab meat (fresh or store bought)
breadcrumbs or crushed crackers

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 300° F. Place cream cheese in a baking dish and set aside. Mix together sour cream, cheese, onions, celery, lemon juice, salt, pepper and crab meat Pour sour cream mixture over the cream cheese and bake for 45 minutes, stirring every 10-15 minutes to incorporate cream cheese. Sprinkle breadcrumbs or cracker over top for the last 5-10 minutes of baking. Serve warm with bread, pita chips, crackers, chips or veggies.

Do you have a favorite dip recipe that uses a Tillamook product?

~ Candy of the Tillamook Team

Photo: Erik Totten/Flickr (Creative Commons)

By Candace

First of all, I didn’t name this. It was bestowed upon me by my siblings! I am the cook in the family, and like to try new recipes and ingredients, but, I cannot show up to a family gathering without this spinach dip, and often have to whip up a second batch to get us through a weekend together! Enjoy!

AIMEE’S AMAZING SPINACH DIP

1 – 10 oz. package frozen chopped spinach, thawed, water squeezed out
1 – 16 oz. container Tillamook Natural Sour Cream
¾ cup of mayonnaise
1 – 8 oz. can water chestnuts, drained and diced
1 – 1.8 oz package dry leek soup mix

Combine sour cream and mayonnaise, add dry soup mix, water chestnuts and spinach; mix well, refrigerate overnight. Enjoy with baguette, veggies or crackers.

Photo: Flickr/Jack Spurlock (Creative Commons)

By Aimee

Flickr/my_amii (Creative Commons)

I am setting out to make a different Tillamook recipe for each game of the 2011 World Series. Aside from the dilemma of who to root for, now that the Yankees aren’t in the running (FYI, it’s St. Louis Cardinals vs. Texas Rangers), the biggest decision is what tasty dish to make for the opening game.

I’ve decided that, in honor of this seven-game series, tonight’s main feature will be the classic Tillamook Seven-Layer Dip. Not being the cook in our house, I’ve always been curious about what makes those seven layers so delicious. Let’s find out, shall we?

Tillamook Seven Layer Dip Recipe (serves 6 to 8)

Ingredients:

1 large can (40.5-ounce) refried beans
3 avocados, smashed
3 tablespoons Tillamook Sour Cream
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 cup shredded Tillamook Medium Cheddar Cheese
1 cup shredded Tillamook Monterey Jack Cheese
1 large container (24-ounce) Tillamook Sour Cream
1 package taco seasoning mix
1½ tomatoes, diced
sliced olives, for garnish
lettuce, for garnish
freshly chopped green onions, for garnish

Preparation:

• Fry the refried beans in pan prior to adding to the recipe. Mash together avocados, sour cream, and lemon juice. Reserve.
• Mix the cheese together. Reserve.
• Mix the sour cream and taco seasoning together. Reserve.
• Layer in a pan or glass dish in the order listed, starting with the beans, then the avocado mixture, then the cheese, and finishing with the sour cream mixture.
• Sprinkle your choice of lettuce, tomatoes, olives, and green onions over the top.
• Serve with a large bag of tortilla chips.

Fun baseball fact: The World Series began in 1903, only one year before Tillamook County won its first cheese award at the St. Louis World’s Fair!

Next game: Shepherd’s Pie topped with Tillamook Cheddar Mashed Potatoes! Kinda makes you look forward to watching baseball, doesn’t it?!

By Scott

Add lettuce and cilantro for a slightly different take on the below Nacho Frio recipe.

It’s time to bust out the chip ‘n dip! Today is another one of those frivalous food holidays that reminds us to pig out on delicious foods (that’s my kind of holiday!). Today, we will be celebrating the flavorful friendship of the chip and the dip.

There are sooo many possible combos – potato chips & onion dip, tortilla chips & salsa, pita chips & hummus… the list goes on! My favorite dip is a party classic called Nacho Frio (or 7 Layer Dip). My mom always used to make this for family gatherings and bunco nights. It’s simple, delicious, and includes two tasty Tillamook products – cheese and sour cream. There are many variations of this recipe, but here’s the one my mom got from The Oregonian many years ago:

Nacho Frio  (or 7 Layer Dip)

Ingredients:

1 can (10 oz) regular or jalapeno bean dip
3 mashed avocados
1 Tablespoon lemon juice
Salt & pepper to taste
1 1/2 cups Tillamook Sour Cream (my favorite is the Tillamook Natural Sour Cream)
2 Tablespoons dry taco seasoning
3 cups Tillamook Medium Cheddar Cheese, shredded (or try one of our Shredded Mexican Blends)
3 chopped tomatoes
2 cans (4.2 oz) sliced olives
1 bunch chopped green onions

Instructions:

1. In a large serving plate spread the bean dip.
2. Mash avocados and mix well with lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Spread over bean dip.
3. Combine Tillamook Sour Cream and taco seasoning and mix well. Spread over avocados.
4. Layer Tillamook Cheese, chopped tomatoes, sliced olives, and chopped green onions.

Serve with chips. May be refrigerated for later use.

What’s your favorite chip/dip combo? Have any recipes you’d like to share?

Photo by cuttlefish

By Tara

The Super Bowl is this Sunday! What team are you cheering for? Or are you more interested in the commercials, halftime show, and food?

If you’re still planning your game day menu, here are some more Super Bowl snacking ideas submitted by our top contestants in the Tillamook Yum Bowl Cook-Off Contest. They all look delicious and I can’t wait to try some on Sunday while I watch this.

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By Loafy