Pea’s little Ducky Lunch Bag was lost today, at a park. She went with her camp on a little picnic, and it simply went MIA. Not a big deal, at all. This is the first item of hers that’s ever been lost, so I’d say we’ve done pretty well. But sentimentally, it’s tugging at my heartstrings. Just a little. Because it was the first “lunchbox” that she ever had. She started taking it to summer camp last year, when she’d just turned two, and we were still living in Fort Worth. So it held a special place – a place of posterity – in my heart. Nonetheless, the counselors were very upset this afternoon, when I picked Pea up, that it’d been misplaced. In fact, I was told that they’d actually sent someone back to the park to search for it. I implored them to please, call off the search. It’s just not an issue. It’s replaceable. In fact, it’s way overdue for a replacement! Let it go…

But then, as we drove home, I thought about that bag a little more, and all of the meals I’d packed in it for my little Sweet Pea. Lunches from summer camp to preschool to summer camp, once again. And in a new state, no less. And if that bag could talk, just what would it say? “Quit loading me up with homemade dips that have garlic in them! Please! For the love of God…”

So yes, we use a lot of garlic in this house. Hummus is our go-to, and the recipe I use calls for 6 cloves. And a pinch of crushed red pepper. It’s divine, Pea helped me just this evening make a fresh batch, and then we all dig in with our whole wheat pita. But the real reason I’m so into “dips” these days is that there is no refrigeration for Pea’s lunch when I drop her off at camp. So it’s not as if I’m going to pack her a turkey sandwich. With mayonnaise. Yuck. But dips? Portable, not too messy and they keep. Nicely. And when they are chock-full of beans or legumes and served up with a side of sliced veggies? It’s perfect fare for summer camp.

But in addition to the old hummus staple, Pea is currently enjoying this very simple spin on hummus, called White Bean Dip. The only difference? It’s made with cannellini beans (my favorite!), rather than chickpeas. And it’s fantastic. We found the recipe in “Wondertime” magazine. They have an entire spread called “Dips for Dinner,” and although I’m serving them for lunch, we’re steadfastly working our way through the menu. So far, so good. And if you’re planning on serving the dip to children and adults, I’ve found this slightly more “zingy” version to be acceptable to both parties, courtesy of Giada De Laurentiis. She calls it White Bean Dip with Pita Chips.

In addition to garlic, however, Pea has really been into sun-dried tomatoes. I know, very 80’s of her, isn’t it? But you know what, I love them, too. On any and everything. And so this recipe, courtesy of my Fantasy Mother, is hard to beat. In fact, anything that Ina Garten, aka the Barefoot Contessa, concocts in her test kitchen is going to be phenomenal. And Sun-dried Tomato Dip does not disappoint. This dip, however, is not for every day consumption. Remember the old adage “a moment on the lips, a lifetime on the hips?” Consider yourself warned…