your favorite party food?

I made the artichoke dip last night, according to Chary's recipe, except since I couldn't find romano cheese, I substituted more parmesan.  It was good, but seemed a bit watery for some reason.  Maybe because I used fresh mozzarella in water? 

Using fresh mozzarella would definitely effect the recipe. Fresh and shredded mozz cannot be used interchangeably because of the water content.

oooooohhhhhh.  OK!  I have never seen shredded mozz around here, though... I suppose next time I could shred it and let it sit for a while to dry out first?

oooooohhhhhh.  OK!  I have never seen shredded mozz around here, though... I suppose next time I could shred it and let it sit for a while to dry out first?

Unfortunately, it still wouldn't be the same. 

Is there another drier cheese you could recommend as a sub? Could you just sub a cheddar or swiss (I forget what they call it here, emmental or something like that?) for the mozz?

Sorry! I should have specified NOT FRESH MOZZ in the recipe. 

oooooohhhhhh.  OK!  I have never seen shredded mozz around here, though... I suppose next time I could shred it and let it sit for a while to dry out first?

I've bought shredded mozz in Tesco, Sainsburys, and Waitrose.  It is usually by the shredded cheddar. 

I've bought shredded mozz in Tesco, Sainsburys, and Waitrose.  It is usually by the shredded cheddar. 

i scoured the cheese section at Sainsbury and didn't see any, believe me, I was there for ages searching through all the cheeses looking for romano, which wasn't there either.  We now have a Tesco Express, which is sadly, about the size of a 7-11, so still not very helpful, but they do have Scotch tape!!!!!!!!!!!   

I will have a looksy for some of the shredded stuff next time we go to the Big Tesco...

I will have a looksy for some of the shredded stuff next time we go to the Big Tesco...

If you do find some, you can actually freeze it.

Sorry! I should have specified NOT FRESH MOZZ in the recipe. 

Awww... no worries, it still tasted fine, it just wasn't as thick as it could've been.  DH liked it anyway, and he had never had it before, so he didn't really know the difference!  But now I wonder if I should top my chicken parmesan with that mozz tonight, or just leave it off... I am pretty sure I have topped it with regular mozz in the past, but maybe I am wrong...

Oh! Oh!  Spinach dip inside a hollowed out sourdough bread shell, using the removed bread, cut into cubes, to dip.  Forgot about that one.

Good call!
My other favorite is jalepeno cheese poppers. I always buy a pile and freeze them when I see them in Tesco 

water chestnuts wrapped in streaky bacon, in a bbq-ish type of sauce.  no idea what the sauce is but man I love these!

water chestnuts wrapped in streaky bacon, in a bbq-ish type of sauce.  no idea what the sauce is but man I love these!

That sounds sooo good, but I have never seen them....