If you need some easy party appetizers fast, and want the table to look inviting, serve a fruit dip with a basket of fresh strawberries. It couldn't be easier! Part of the trick: Line the basket with some green leaf lettuce. Even if the rest of the food is standard fare, the presence of something so fresh and colorful charges the atmosphere. It's party time! 

Serving fruit dips in stemmed glasses adds elegance. The cream cheese fruit dip with orange goes well with the strawberries, and the chocolate sauce is always a favorite.The dips can be made a day ahead of time, which is convenient. Use about 2 pints of strawberries for each dip. Each dip serves 10-15. 

Chocolate Sauce  Ingredients:     

• 1/2 c. heavy whipping cream    
  
• 1 c. chocolate chips    
  
• 1 TBS. honey    
  
• 1/4 tsp. vanilla  
  

Microwave 1 minute or so, until hot: > 1/2 c. heavy whipping cream  Add and stir until melted: > 1 c. chocolate chips > 1 TBS. honey > 1/4 tsp. vanilla 

Put chocolate sauce into a stemmed glass to serve with fresh fruits. You can use bananas and other fruits too, but add lemon to such fruits to keep them from turning brown.  

Sun-Kissed Fruit Dip  Ingredients:     

• 8 oz. cream cheese, room-temperature    
  
• 1 tsp. orange zest    
  
• 3 TBS. frozen orange juice concentrate    
  
• Optional: 2 TBS. sugar 
  

Whip until light: > 8 oz. cream cheese, room-temperature (warm in microwave at half-power, if necessary) 

To the whipped cream cheese, add: > 1 tsp. orange zest (the gratings of about 1 orange) > 3 TBS. frozen orange juice concentrate > Optional: 2 TBS. sugar 

Serve the dip in a stemmed glass, or a glass bow. I am usually shooting for healthy recipes, so I don't add the extra sugar. The dip is not all too sweet, but that makes it a good contrast to the chocolate, which goes very well with it. Ideally, you start with good quality strawberries, which should also be sweet. A great combination.

Or: Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries

Letting guests dip their own fruits saves you some work. But if you want to treat your quests to chocolate-dipped strawberries, here's a quick and easy recipe.

Microwave in a small bowl for 1 minute or so: > about 1 1/3 c. chocolate chips > 2 TBS. of butter 

Stir until melted, then blend in: > about 1/4 c. more room-temperature  butter

Dip into the chocolate: > two pints or so of strawberries

Place on wax paper to harden. Refrigeration can speed that process; it might take an hour or so for them to firm up. The strawberries won't keep well, so dip them the day of the party. 

Soul Food

1 John 3:18 NLT:

"Let us stop just saying we love each other; let us really show it by our actions."