Layered Crab Meat Spread



1 pkg. (8 oz.) cream cheese or Neufchatel cream cheese, softened*

2 TB lemon juice

1 TB mayonnaise OR Miracle Whip dressing

1/2 tsp. seasoned salt (i.e., Lawry's or McCormick)

1/2 tsp. lemon pepper

1/4 tsp. Worcestershire sauce

3/4 cup cocktail sauce

1 container (16 oz.) lump crab meat, drained OR surimi (faux crab)

2 cups (8 oz.) shredded Monterey Jack cheese

3 green onions, chopped

1/2 green bell pepper, chopped

1/2 cup sliced ripe olives



Serve with:

Assorted crackers and fresh vegetables



Beat cream cheese at medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth; add

lemon juice

and next 4 ingredients, beating until blended. Spoon mixture into a 9"

serving dish. Cover

and chill at least 20 minutes.



Spread cocktail sauce evenly over cream cheese mixture. Top with crab meat;

sprinkle with

cheese, green onions, bell pepper, and ripe olives. Serve spread with

crackers and fresh

vegetables.



Yield: 12 to 15 appetizer servings.



*For a lighter version, use Neufchatel cream cheese, Miracle Whip dressing,

and

2% reduced-fat Monterey Jack cheese.

Layered Basil-Red Pepper Spread



Prep Time: 15 min

Total Time: 1 hr 15 min

Makes: 1-1/2 cups spread or 12 servings, 2 Tbsp. spread and 5

crackers each



1 tub (12 oz.) PHILADELPHIA Light Cream Cheese Spread

1/4 cup lightly packed fresh basil leaves

1 clove garlic, peeled

1/4 cup roasted red peppers

5 pitted ripe olives, chopped

2 Tbsp. PLANTERS Sliced Almonds, toasted

RITZ Crackers



REMOVE cream cheese spread from tub; place in blender. Set aside.

Wash tub; line with plastic wrap, with ends of wrap extending over

side of tub. Set aside.



ADD basil and garlic to cream cheese in blender; cover. Blend using

pulsing action until well blended; set aside. Cut a star shape from

one of the peppers, using 1/2-inch star-shaped cutter; set star aside

for later use. Chop pepper trimmings and remaining peppers; combine

with the olives. Spoon 1/2 cup of the cream cheese mixture into

prepared tub. Top with the chopped pepper mixture; press lightly into

cream cheese mixture. Cover with the remaining cream cheese mixture.

Cover; refrigerate 1 hour.



UNMOLD cheese spread onto serving plate; remove and discard plastic

wrap. Sprinkle cheese spread with the almonds; top with pepper star.

Serve as a spread with the crackers.



KRAFT KITCHENS TIPS



Make Ahead

Prepare cheese spread as directed. Cover and refrigerate up to 24

hours. Unmold and continue as directed.



Jazz It Up

For extra flavor, serve with any of your other favorite NABISCO

Crackers, such as WHEAT THINS Parmesan Basil Snack Crackers, WHEAT

THINS Sundried Tomato & Basil Snack Crackers or PREMIUM Saltine

Crackers.



Source: KraftFoods

CUCUMBER CREAM CHEESE SPREAD

2 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese

2 tsp. lemon juice

1/4 tsp. prepared horseradish

1/4 tsp. salt

1/8 tsp. hot sauce

2 tsp. minced onion

1/2 medium cucumber, peeled and finely chopped

Beat cream cheese until smooth. Add next four ingredients and mix well. Stir

in onion and

cucumber.Put in covered container. Chill one hr before serving.

Smoky Salmon Spread



16 oz canned salmon, skin and bones removed, drained

8 oz reduced-fat cream cheese, softened

1 Tbs lemon juice

3 Tbs grated onion

1 tsp liquid smoke seasoning

1/2 tsp mustard

1/2 tsp salt

2 Tbs chopped fresh parsley



Flake the salmon and combine it with all the ingredients.

Chill before serving with your favorite low carb snack.

Makes 16 one tablespoon servings.

Pimento Cheese Spread

1/2 lb. Velveeta cheese
1/2 lb. med. cheddar cheese
1/2 lb.sharp cheddar cheese
4-oz. jar diced pimentos
3/4 to 1 cup pickle relish
1- 1/2 Tbsp. sugar
1-1/2 Tbsp. vinegar
3-4 Tbsp.milk
1/2 pint salad dressing

Grate cheese and let sit at room temperature to soften.
Mix dressing sugar, vinegar and milk. Add to cheese, relish and pimentos. Mix well. Chill and serve.

BLUE CHEESE SPREAD



1/2 cup mascarpone cheese, softened

1 tablespoon heavy cream

2 teaspoons lemon juice

1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves, finely chopped

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon coarse-ground pepper

1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1 cup crumbled blue cheese (about 5 ounces)



Mix the mascarpone, heavy cream, lemon juice, thyme, salt, pepper, and

cayenne together in a medium bowl. Gently stir in the blue cheese and

serve.



Makes 1 1/2 cups.

Ham Cream Cheese Spread on Bagels



1 pkg. (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened

1 cup (8 oz.) sour cream

1/4 tsp. garlic powder

2 pkg. (2-1/2 oz. ea.) deli ham, chopped

2 to 3 green onions, thinly sliced

Miniature bagels, split



In a small mixing bowl, combine the cream cheese, sour cream and garlic

powder

until smooth. Stir in ham and onions. Serve with bagels.