Inviting groups of friends round to your house is a lovely way to spend an evening. But when you get to the planning stage - where will everyone sit, have we got enough wine and most importantly, what food to make to impress your friends when they arrive - it can seem like a nightmare.

So it's great to have a few recipes for tasty dips up your sleeve. Whether you're having a sit-down dinner, or a party, welcoming your guests with some home made dip gets the evening off to a great start. Best of all, dips can be made in advance and pulled out of the fridge in a nonchalant way, as if to say "I do this all the time."

Here are our favourite dips - healthy, indulgent, and even sweet - to serve up before you sit down and relax.

Seven layer bean dip

The 10 most amazing and impressive dips to serve at dinner parties