Dips and Toppings

• The quintessential dip is made with dried onion soup mix and sour cream. Mimic that onion soup mix by adding 1/4 cup of chopped scallions, 1/4 tsp. each salt and pepper and 2 tbsp. of dried onion flakes to 1 cup of sour cream. Create a healthier vegetable dip by grating radishes, cucumbers, and carrots. Salt lightly and put aside for 20 minutes. Squeeze the grated veggies in your hand to remove as much liquid as possible. Combine with sour cream. Another idea is to chop 1/4 cup of fresh herbs, your choice, and add to 1/2 cup of sour cream for an herb dip.
  
  

Sauces

• Create a sauce with sour cream in two seconds flat, well, almost two seconds flat. When you're finished sauteing meat or poultry, add 1/2 cup of wine, broth, juice or water to the pan. Bring the liquid to a boil. Loosen any browned bits from the pan. This is called deglazing. Remove the pan from the heat. Add 1/4 cup to 1/2 cup of sour cream to the liquid. Whisk smooth. Serve immediately. Do not bring the sauce to a boil, the sour cream has a tendency to separate. Use sour cream to coat pasta.
  
  

Salads

• Replace mayonnaise in a salad with sour cream. Sour cream goes well with baked potatoes, so use it in potato salad. Replace oil in salad dressings with sour cream. Shake well to blend the sour cream with the vinegar. Fruit salads are rich and luscious dressed with sour cream. A classic fruit salad combines drained, crushed pineapple, mandarin oranges, walnuts and marshmallows with sour cream. The marshmallows melt into the cream.
  
  

Baked Goods

• Use sour cream in cakes, muffins and biscuits for a tangy flavor and richness. The amount of butter and liquid will have to be adjusted or find a recipe that lists sour cream as an ingredient. Top a cake with a sour cream frosting. Combine melted chocolate and butter. Let cool. Whisk in sour cream, and then confectioners sugar. Frost the cake.