Editor's note: Sunday Night Suppers is a monthly feature that explores how to make one cooking session spin into multiple meals. It is prepared in cooperation with www.ShareYourTable.com, a local culinary Web site, and written by Joan Namkoong, freelance writer and former Advertiser food editor.

Holiday parties are always awash in an array of delectable munchies— dips and dippers. So let's make a meal of dips and dippers — a Sunday Night Supper that provide nourishing bites and offer something for everyone in the family.

Making dips and dippers on a Sunday afternoon will not only provide food for an enjoyable dinner or gathering of friends — you'll also have leftovers for a lunchtime treat, a simple supper or munchies for unexpected guests.

So how do we define dips and dippers? A dip is a combination of ingredients that can be scooped up with a dipper, without the aid of any utensils. Dips can be vegetable- or protein-based and usually have a creamy consistency. A dipper can be a cracker, a vegetable, a chip or a piece of toasted bread — anything firm and crisp that can function as a scooper.

Dips can sometimes cross over into the realm of spreads — foods that require a small knife to apply them to a crisp accompaniment. But I like to think that all spreads can be dips if made to the proper consistency.

Dips are usually based on rich ingredients such as mayonnaise, cream cheese and sour cream. Oh, we do love these! But let's try to make some dips that are a little more nourishing with far fewer calories and with great flavor and texture. You'll be able to dip into tasty concoctions without a lot of guilt.

As for dippers, we can make them a little more nourishing, too. Of course there are always vegetables—  the usual carrots, celery, cucumber, radishes, lettuces, Belgian endive, sweet peppers, cauliflower, broccoli and jicama. These are always the low-calorie way to eat dips. But some toasted pita bread, flour tortillas or crostini can be a healthy alternative without the added oils and salt of chips and crackers.

Speaking of crackers, think about making your own. One of our favorite crackers is lavash; for a recipe, go to shareyourtable.com.