Hot dips are a cinch when prepared in the slow cooker; and they can be kept warm for hours in the newer slow cookers that have a warm setting. While many dip recipes call for melting a block of processed American cheese, sometimes it’s nice to serve something a little more upscale or something that appeals to both men and women. Hot Bleu-Bacon Walnut Dip is not only an elegant dip that can be served at buffets or dinner parties, but it has dozens of possibilities for dippers (a big change from those hot dips with tortilla chips only). Not only are baguette slices great for dunking in this fabulous dip, but also grapes, apple slices, celery sticks, hot wings, chicken fingers – the sky’s the limit!

The idea for this dip came from a hotel room service menu in Raleigh, North Carolina. The dip delivered to the room tasted like melted processed American cheese and had no taste of blue cheese whatsoever; it was served with stale multi-colored tortilla chips. The hotel dip was so bad, in fact, it became a major challenge to come up with a real blue cheese dip that tastes good and is suitable for company. Two of the most verbal and picky Hancock tasters loved this dip so much, they skipped dinner and devoured the dip instead; favorite dippers were grapes (on skewers) and apple slices, but an entire baguette also disappeared.

Makes about 2 cups dip

2 8 oz. packages cream cheese
1 cup blue cheese
1/4 cup crisp, crumbled bacon
1 3 oz. package dry onion soup mix
1 cup white wine
1/2 cup chopped toasted walnuts

Dippers
1 baguette, cut into 1/2" slices
1 red apple, cut into wedges
1 green apple, cut into wedges
2 bunches grapes
celery sticks

1. Mix the cream cheese, blue cheese, bacon, onion soup mix, and white wine in the crock of a 1-quart slow cooker.


2. Cover, turn to low, and let cook 2 hours, or until heated through.


3. Stir well and add the walnuts.


4. Turn the slow cooker to warm; stir every 30 minutes or so.


5. If the dip becomes too thick, thin with a little more white wine or beef broth

Amount Per Serving
Calories 238 Calories from Fat 123
Percent Total Calories From: Fat 52% Protein 11% Carb. 34%

Nutrient Amount per Serving
Total Fat 14 g
Saturated Fat 7 g
Cholesterol 33 mg
Sodium 744 mg
Total Carbohydrate 20 g
Dietary Fiber 1 g
Sugars 0 g
Protein 6 g

Vitamin A 10% Vitamin C 8% Calcium 0% Iron 5%