By  K.C. Woods

Every Super Bowl Sunday, my friends and I gather together in Brooklyn for our annual “Dip Off” party. Basically, all party-goers must make a dip in order participate on game day. No dip, no party entry. The creater of each dip is not revealed until the Super Bowl half-time show; this is when the winning dip is awarded to one lucky cook.

During the first half of the game, everyone tastes the various dips. Last year, we had almost twenty dips. Dear Reader, please be advised that the more guests in attendance, the worse your stomach will feel the next day. Be sure to limit your guestlist to your nearest and dearest. Trust me on this one. It is only socially acceptable to call in sick post-Super Bowl Sunday due to binge drinking, not binge dipping.

I do not enjoying cooking, even if it is simple dip-making. However, I do enjoy watching people cook (the Food Network is my favorite channel) and I do enjoy eating other people’s concoctions. One would think that being a kitchen dunce would keep me locked out of the party host’s apartment for eternity. Yet, when Super Bowl Sunday rolls around, the competitor in me comes out. I find a recipe that fits my experience level (I prefer anything involving layers), head into my neighborhood bodega, find my ingredients and get cooking!

I have not yet won the coveted title of Dip Off Champion but my chances are looking pretty good this year. I am preparing a layer dip (to stay true to my love of layers) with sour cream, black beans, salsa, cheddar cheese and cream cheese. I cannot tell you in what order everything will go (I do not want any fellow Dip Off participants stealing my thunder) but rest assured it will be delicious!

Have your own Dip Off this year. It is a fun way to celebrate game day with friends. Happy dipping everyone!

By Carol Wasserman

Of course, you can really wow the crowd by showing up with a healthy dip, like this one. Enjoy!

Miso Tahini Dip

Great as a dip for raw veggies. You can add a little more water and use it as a sauce for steamed vegetables and brown rice too. Tahini offers fat and protein – which helps keep you full for longer periods of time along with reducing cravings for other foods.

Puree the following in a blender:

• 1/2 cup sesame tahini
• 2 tablespoons brown rice syrup (or 1 tablespoon honey)
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce, shoyu, or tamari
• 2 teaspoons mustard
• 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
• 1 tablespoon sweet white miso (optional)
• dash cayenne pepper (optional)
• 3 tablespoons to 1/2 cup water – depending on if you want to make a dip or a sauce.

Carol Anne Wasserman is a Macrobiotic Counselor specializing in weight loss and women’s health. She has a private practice in Manhattan. Visit her website at www.GetHealthyWithCarol.com