Happy National Chips and Dip Day America ….

Did you know that there is pretty much a different National food day EVERYDAY in America. Seems Crazy right? Yesterday was national Corn Dog day, March 27th is National Whiskey Day (Technically not a food but still) and March 31st is National Clams on the Half Shell day. I am not sure where all these days come from but it seemed like a good excuse to make some fabulous Chips and Dip, and perhaps have some good Whiskey on the 27th

As of a few days ago out Journey has taken us to Guadaloupe to the Isles de Saintes. The Journey over from Antigua, although somewhat short, was windy with gusts up to 38 knots and waves that looked like they were going to knock us over. Let me tell you something about weather reporting on the water … NEVER TRUST IT! We can fly to the moon, talk to someone half way around the world in a flash of a second, send people down to depths of the ocean we never thought possible but predicting weather, forget about it. I can’t tell you how many occasions where we have read the weather would be “light winds with a 10% chance of rain” only to leave and within 30 minutes there is 25 knot winds and the waves are crashing on the boat and of course, raining. This time was no exception, minus the rain. Whoever is the weather man for the Caribbean I want him fired!!!!

We made it safe and sound and now the weather is beautiful and sunny so there are no complaints, oh and tons of fresh bakeries filled with fresh bread I cant begin to tell you how amazing it smells. Before we could explore the island we have to clear into Customs and Immigration, which is by far the STRANGEST that we have ever been too. Take for instance airplane travel, you land in a country you go through customs you get your bags you clear immigration then your bags get scanned and you can be on your way. Even at the quickest of places it can still be a long experience. Not here in Guadaloupe when clearing in by boat. We were informed to go upstairs to a bar / internet cafe / laundry mat where there is a one computer station set up for clearing in and clearing out of vessels. Once you are finished imputing your information, you hit the CLEAR IN button, it prints out a paper and the owner of the bar gives you a stamp. You are now officially cleared in to the country. No immigration officers, no customs officials. This was a first for me.

Another interesting experience about this trip is that we picked up a “Hitcthiker” and brought her over with us. After 7 years in the Caribbean this is the first time we have done this, although this is also the first time we have been asked. Although backpacking is not near as common as say Europe or Asia, there are still quite a few who make their way through the Caribbean, hoping from country to country either hitchhiking or working on boats. She came from Germany, hitching a ride on a Catamaran and sailed across the Atlantic for 24 days with no previous sailing experience. This would be a difficult trip for people who have been sailing for years. Who knows where her journey will take her after Guadaloupe but we were happy to meet her and we also managed to get her Grandmas homemade German Pretzle recipe from her which I am going to be delighted to start testing out. Thank you Pia and safe Journeys!

A couple ingredients that recently I have found myself to be using a lot is White beans and horseradish. It is not as if I had not used them before but recently I can’t seem to get enough. Have you ever had horseradish sour cream because it is absolutely Heavenly and so simple to make, included in my next post. Another is White Beans. After seeing a recipe on Bon Appetit magazine about white beans with sautéed broccoli and lemons, which looked amazing as always, I started to cook with them more often and fell in love with them. Recently anchovies as well but they don’t have anything to do with this recipe so we will leave that for another time. There are so many reasons you will want seconds and thirds of this dip and here is why:

1. Oh So Creamy
2. Full of fresh herbs
3. Healthy
4. A flavourful Kick from horseradish
5. Quick and Easy
6. Bonus – Use as a Sandwich Spread

Also, because it is Chips and Dip day not just any other day you decide to have some, it seems only right you make your own pita chips. It takes barely anytime, it is a fraction of the cost and tastes so much fresher. I prefer to have mine with a little bit of chew still in it so its not fully crispy but you can make yours however you like.

Ohhh and lets just talk for a few moments about how many amazing flavours there are going on in this dip. First, you have the freshness from the mint and the lemon which are so good on their own, then you have this light spicy kick from the horseradish and garlic topped of with the creaminess of the pureed white beans, heaven. Are you not drooling yet? This takes your average packaged chips and dip and blows it right out of the water.

This dip makes great leftovers but I doubt there will be any … Yes, it is that tasty!