Cream Cheese Spread

Cream Cheese Spread

Makes at least 8 servings

Time: 10 minutes

Here's a stiff cream cheese-based spread that can be thinned with sour cream, yogurt, mayonnaise, or cream to make a dip. For the blue cheese, substitute caviar, chopped olives or ham, any minced herb, or any combination that appeals to you.

� lb Roquefort, bleu d'Avergne, Stilton, Maytag blue, or other good blue cheese

� C cream cheese

Sour cream or plain yogurt as needed

Cayenne or Tabasco or other hot sauce to taste

1. In a bowl, cream the blue and cream cheese together with a fork. 2. Stir in enough sour cream or yogurt to thin the mixture to a  spreading consistency, or use more to make a dip. Add cayenne or  Tabasco to taste; refrigerate until ready to use.

Roasted Pepper & Garlic Spread

This is good with a little minced ginger, and some minced cooked bacon. Omit the blue cheese. Add 1 C minced roasted red bell pepper or use bottled pimentos and about half a head of Roasted Garlic to the cream cheese. Thin with extra-virgin olive oil in place of sour cream. Mash well and proceed as above. Add salt, pepper and freshly squeezed lemon juice in place of the cayenne.

Anchovy Spread

Omit the blue cheese. Add 4 mashed anchovy fillets, or more to taste, and � t minced garlic to the cream cheese. Mash well and proceed as above. Add black pepper and lemon juice in place of the cayenne.

Crab or Shrimp Spread

Increase cream cheese to � C; omit blue cheese. Add about 1 C shredded or minced cooked crabmeat or shrimp, 1 T mayonnaise, and a few dashes of Worcestershire or soy sauce to the cream cheese. Thin with lemon juice, if necessary, in place of sour cream. Mash well and proceed as above. Add and salt and cayenne.

Cookbook: How to Cook Everything

Author: By Mark Bittman

Typed by: Susan alexanderjamesmom@gmail.com

Contributed by:

 * Catsrecipes Y-Group