Tasty, Healthy Holiday Dips

FILE - In this publicity file image provided by TLC, Kody Brown, center, poses with his wives, from left, Robyn, Christine, Meri and Janelle in a promotional photo for the reality series, "Sister Wives." The polygamous family made famous on the TLC show is asking a U.S. judge not to block their challenge of Utah's bigamy law. Kody Brown and wives Meri, Janelle, Christine and Robyn filed a lawsuit in Salt Lake City's U.S. District Court in July 2011. The stars say the law is unconstitutional because it prohibits them from living together and criminalizes their private sexual relationships. (AP Photo/TLC, George Lange, File) / George Lange

You see a lot of party dips at this time of year.

They're a holiday staple and very simple to serve. They can be healthy and taste great -- and you don't have to get them at the store, as cookbook author and cooking teacher Tori Ritchie proved on The Early Show Wednesday.

She served up pointers and recipes at the flagship store in Manhattan of specialty home furnishings retailer and Early Show partner Williams-Sonoma.

Skip the standard, store-bought blue cheese dip you buy at the store, says Ritchie, and dazzle your guests with a dip you whip up in your own kitchen!

RECIPES

Spicy Eggplant Dip with Parmesan Toast
Greek Feta Spread (with radishes, cucumbers and pita wedges)
Green Goddess Dip (with potato chips or roasted root veggies)

Spicy Eggplant Dip with Parmesan Toast

Preparing the eggplant dip a day or two in advance lets the flavors to develop and gives you more time to prepare the rest of the food when you entertain. Be sure to bring the dip to room temperature before serving.

1/2 cup plus 3 Tbs. extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for brushing
2 eggplant, each about 12 oz., peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
1 large yellow onion, chopped
1/4 tsp. red chili flakes
1/4 tsp. ground cumin
Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
2 Tbs. chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
Juice of 1 lemon
1 baguette, cut crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick slices
1/3 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese

In a 4-quart deep saut? pan over medium heat, warm 1/4 cup of the olive oil until nearly smoking. Add half of the eggplant and saut?, stirring occasionally, until lightly golden and tender, 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer to a platter and repeat with 1/4 cup of the olive oil and the remaining eggplant. Transfer to the platter.

Warm 1 Tbs. of the olive oil in the pan. Add the garlic and saut?, stirring often, until just golden, about 1 minute. Add the onion and saut?, stirring occasionally, until tender, 4 to 5 minutes. Stir in the chili flakes and cumin until blended and return the eggplant to the pan. Cook, stirring often, until the eggplant is very tender and almost mushy, 6 to 8 minutes more. Remove from the heat and let cool for 5 minutes.

Transfer the eggplant mixture to a food processor or blender and puree until smooth. Taste and adjust the seasonings with salt and pepper, and stir in the parsley, lemon juice and the remaining 2 Tbs. olive oil. Transfer to a sealable container and refrigerate for 1 to 2 days.

Preheat an oven to 350?F.

Arrange the baguette slices on a baking sheet. Brush the slices lightly with olive oil, season with salt and pepper, and sprinkle with the cheese. Bake until golden and crisp, 15 to 18 minutes. Let the toasts cool to room temperature and store in an airtight container until ready to serve.

Let the eggplant stand at room temperature for at least 30 minutes before serving. Serve the Parmesan toasts alongside.

Serves 8.

Williams-Sonoma Kitchen.

For more recipes, go to Page 2.