Chips and Dip

Left to my own devices, I'd probably choose to snack the day away, rather than eat full meals. I often find a series of tasty little nibbles just as satisfying, perhaps even more so, than an entire dinner. Of course the trick is to nibble on things that aren't going to spend a lifetime on my hips.

For the last couple of years, I've been making all of my dips with non-fat Greek yogurt in place of sour cream ... and they're every bit as tasty. In this case, I paired the yogurt with caramelized shallots and some Old Bay Seasoning to create a wonderful twist on the classic onion dip.

Zesty Old Bay Dip:

• 1 tsp. olive oil
• 1 large shallot, peeled and chopped
• one 6 oz. container of plain, non-fat Greek yogurt
• 2 tsp. Old Bay Seasoning
• 2 tsp. snipped fresh chives
• 2 -3 drops of Tobasco sauce, optional

Heat a small skillet over medium-high heat and add the oil. When it is hot, but not smoking, add the shallots and saute, stirring often until the shallots are golden brown. Remove from heat to a small saucer or dish and allow the shallots to cool to room temperature.

In a small bowl, combine the Greet yogurt, caramelized shallots, Old Bay Seasoning and fresh chives, stirring well with a small whisk to incorporate. If desired, add two or three drops of Tobasco sauce, whisking well to combine. Chill in the fridge until ready to serve or serve immediately. Enjoy!

Now, if you want to snack healthy, you'd do well to replace the chips with some crudite. And so I did. I like to enjoy it with a bright rainbow of bell peppers, with red and yellow being my favorites. That said, the photo was just begging for a potato chip ... and so was the husband. He's a chip-o-haulic of the highest order. We were both well-pleased with the selection!

Old Bay Seasoning has a bit of a kick all on its own, so if you're heat averse - go easy on the Tobasco or skip it altogether. The Old Bay combines beautifully with the shallots and chives, while the Greek yogurt offers all of the texture of sour cream without the fat. Plus, its packed with protein. Win/win!

With the end of summer holiday this weekend, I figure there will be some serious snacking going on across the country. Everyone loves chips and dip - why not shake things up a bit and offer your guests this unexpected little treat?

So how will you be spending the last blast of summer? Curious Diva wants to know.

Have a wonderful holiday and I'll "see" you on Tuesday. Cheers!