There are recipes that are obviously holiday related. Things like sage stuffing, cranberry sauce, roasted turkey and sweet potatoes that are easily identifiable as holiday favorites. Then there’s my mom’s Creamy Artichoke Crab dip.

Its not something you would see and immediately think “holiday” unless of course you’re in my family. Why? Because around mom’s house, this dip has been an annual favorite for as many years as I can remember.

When I decided I was going to host a Christmas party at the end of December for some out of town friends, I immediately emailed my mom for the recipe. I had no idea how simple it was to make! I was pleasantly surprised.

I tucked the recipe away and was eagerly awaiting the party so I could enjoy the taste of tradition I so dearly missed (we haven’t had a holiday with my parents in over 2 years now since we moved to Oregon!).

Then I joined a girlfriends meetup group in my town in an effort to meet some women in my area to hang out with. They were hosting one of those “wine and painting” parties (which I love!) so I signed up.

I found out I was going to have to bring an appetizer. Score! That means I got to try out my favorite artichoke crab dip recipe a little early.

With much excitement I braved the Black Friday masses at Fred Meyer to grab one of these Rubbermaid Party Platters. I knew it would be perfect for toting my favorite dip to the gathering.

Its got separate compartments for all your fixin’s. Here in Oregon lots of folks are gluten-free and so its important to have the little sections for each kind of cracker.

I got rice crackers for the GF folks, wheat crackers for the rest of us, and some fresh bakery bread (because who can resist?) This dip is also great on veggies if you’re into that kind of thing.

The artichoke crab dip was a huge hit at the meetup. The Party Platter stayed securely closed during the car ride there and home AND the leftovers were still fresh the next day. No stale crackers here. 

I did bring a small crock pot to heat the dip because this dip is actually best served warm, but the little container that comes with the platter is perfect for storing the leftovers too! AND they are dishwasher and microwave safe!

If you buy one of these at Fred Meyer, there’s also a $1.00 Ibotta rebate to make this an even better deal.

I know it sounds like a weird combination, but it’s really quite delicious. Several people asked who brought the dip, and one lady even said it “smells heavenly!”

It’s a tradition in my family, and it’s sure to be a favorite at your next gathering. I’m going to be making it for our friends at Christmas, and I know they will just love it too!

PS: Check out my fancy schmancy artwork that I made at that event. I haven’t done much painting since college. I think I’m going to have to get back into it, what do you think? Have you ever done one of those classes? They are so much fun!

Have you tried this yummy artichoke crab dip?