I have been sitting here for the last 2 hours trying to come up with an appetizer that I can bring to a party that we are attending tonight. Some of you might think since I have a weekly food blog that this wouldn’t be such a hard thing to figure out. It probably wouldn’t be had I not put so many; I guess I will call them restrictions; well that might be kind of a harsh word for it. It’s more like guidelines or parameters. Firstly because I do blog about food there is this expectation that what I bring is going to be simply delicious and it better not be store bought. I was also hoping that maybe it would be something worth blogging about.

Here were my parameters.  I am not bringing a crockpot, It has to be able to be served at room temperature. It has to be pick up and go, It cannot be “messy” as in I wanted it to be self-contained; meaning no tail to throw away as in shrimp cocktail. No bones plate for wings you get the drift. I also wanted it to be on a plate or tray that I can leave and not care about if I never see it again; I have plenty of these from my parties. Oh and I also mentioned to my daughter, that just came down, that I am fairly certain that there will be plenty of chips, dips and salsas to go around so you can see my dilema!

In talking it out with my daughter I confirmed that it would be “legal” to bring something sweet instead of a savory app. When I think of apps I think don’t usually think of sweets. The invites were through FB and the only thing I saw posted as what to bring was to bring an app. I figured if the 50+/- people all saw the same thing and think along the same lines as I do; most will be savory and only a small few might be sweet.

Well I have decided to make the biscotti I blogged about last week. I wanted to make it again anyway and I feel everyone needs to try it; it is amazing and what better way to share it than to bring it to a potluck party filled with mostly people I know and care about. Since I already blogged/bragged about them I needed to come up with a recipe to share with all of you so I am bringing back a simple but yummy and a crowd pleaser.  

Cannoli Dip

1 brick cream cheese softened
2 cups ricotta
1 ½ cups confectioners sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup + (some for sprinkling on top) mini chocolate chips

Cannoli chips I found mine at my local grocery store – you can substitute waffle cones or sugar cones

Beat together the ricotta and cream cheese till smooth; add the vanilla and sugar and mix well.  Add the cup of chips and sprinkle a little on top.

Let it set up in the fridge for an hour or so.  You can leave out the chips and add them as you want them,  The chips will get softer the longer it takes you to eat the dip. That’s if you and your guests don’t finish it off.