Dip Into Healthy Goodness With These 'Superb Bowl' Party Favorites

CABOT, Vt., Jan. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- Brrr ... February, the month that was made for indoor-where-it's-warm entertaining. Nothing takes the chill off your arriving guests like bowls of hearty, delicious and warming dips. And when your easy-to-home-make dips are made with healthy, zesty cheese – especially the "World's Best Cheddar" – you've got a bowlful of fun, and the start of a "Superb Bowl" party.

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Cabot Creamery, the Vermont-based, farm family-owned dairy cooperative, has lots of creative and tasty ways to promote healthy food choices and make your party an entertainment event to remember. What's more, Cabot Cheddar is not only a fine, healthy base for all your dips, but will liven up your beer and cheese tastings, and provide zesty accents to many different soups and entrees.

Just in time for your halftime, overtime or anytime party, Cabot's chefs have blended the "World's Best Cheddar" with fun and exciting recipes that won't add to your waistline, but will add the perfect touch to your family-and-friends event. They've also trimmed calories and fat by choosing cheeses like Cabot's 50% and 75% Reduced Fat Cheddars, giving all of us the best (and tastiest) of both worlds.

"We all know we should lower fat intake in our diets, and switching to a reduced fat cheddar does just that," says Cabot Health and Education Programs Manager (and winter sports enthusiast) Sara Wing. "Adding Cabot's Reduced Fat Cheddar to your party menus is a win-win proposition. It's a great way to hold the line on fat intake while giving your taste buds a delicious treat. Cabot's Reduced Fat Cheddars melt evenly and smoothly in your dips and are the perfect complement to recipes ranging from snacks to soups to full-course meals."

A Superb Bowl party is the perfect time to treat your guests to world-class cheddar and world-class dips.  Recipes like Hot Broccoli-Cabot Cheddar Dip, Black Bean Chili Dip and Cabot Reduced Fat Chili Con Cheddar Queso will have your guests asking for more – and more. Try them at your next good-times gathering, and then take a bow.

For these and other great Cabot party recipes go to: www.cabotcheese.coop/recipes

Hot Broccoli-Cabot Cheddar Dip

Makes about 2 1⁄ 3 cups (serving size: 37 grams or 1/18 of recipe)

1. Place frozen broccoli in microwave-safe bowl; cover loosely with plastic wrap and microwave until hot and tender, about 9 minutes (do not add any water).
2. Uncover and add cheddar, cream cheese, hot sauce and pepper to bowl. Cover again and microwave just until cheeses are melted, 1 to 2 minutes longer. Stir until smooth. (If mixture seems thin, it will thicken upon cooling slightly).
3. Serve with crackers and fresh vegetables.

Nutrition Analysis

Calories 72, Total Fat 6g, Saturated Fat 4g, Sodium 116mg, Carbohydrates 1g, Dietary Fiber <1g, Protein 4g, Calcium 110mg

Black Bean Chili Dip

Makes 2 cups for about 8 servings

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. Combine beans and next 4 ingredients; pour into a small casserole dish coated with cooking spray.
3. Sprinkle with cheese and green chiles.
4. Cover and bake at 375 degrees for 30 minutes or until cheese is melted and filling is bubbly. Uncover and cook an additional 5 minutes. Serve with tortilla chips.

Nutrition Analysis

Calories 69, Total Fat 2g, Saturated Fat 1g, Sodium 259mg, Carbohydrates 8g, Dietary Fiber 2g, Protein 7g, Calcium 140mg

Cabot Reduced Fat Chile Con Cheddar Queso

Makes 10 servings

1. In medium saucepan, melt butter. Add onion and stir until tender. Add tomatoes and simmer until thickened, about 10 minutes.
2. Reduce heat to low. Add cheese and chili peppers and stir just until melted. Season with Tabasco to taste. Serve warm with baked tortilla chips.

Nutrition Analysis

Calories 146, Total Fat 10g, Saturated Fat 6g, Sodium 495mg, Carbohydrates 4g, Dietary Fiber 1g, Protein 11g, Calcium 250mg

Score an uncontested touchdown with dips featuring Cabot Cheddar.  Whoever wins the big game, you'll be a big part of the post game celebration.

ABOUT CABOT CREAMERY COOPERATIVE.  Cabot Creamery Cooperative has been in continuous operation in Vermont since 1919, and we make a full line of cheeses, yogurt, sour cream, cottage cheese, and butter. Best known as makers of "The World's Best Cheddar," Cabot is owned by 1200 dairy farm families located through New England and upstate New York. For additional information on Cabot Creamery, visit http://www.cabotcheese.coop

SOURCE Cabot Creamery Cooperative