Herb and Garlic Cheese Spread

Source of Recipe
friend - Cindy Ferguson

Recipe Introduction
My friend gave this to me as a gift. We like to spread it on bread and
toast
under broiler.

List of Ingredients
Mix:
2 1/4 tsp. dried dill weed
1 1/2 tsp. dried thyme
3/4 tsp. dried oregano
3/4 tsp. garlic powder
3/4 tsp. pepper
3/4 tsp. seasoned salt




Recipe
Combine mix ingredients. Place in 3x4" ziplock bag and seal. Attach a
gift
tag w/ the directions on how to prepare the spread. **when ready to
serve
prepared spread, you will need to let softened, as it re-hardens while
in
refrigerator.

Herb & Garlic Cheese Spread:

1 pkg. Herb and Garlic Cheese Spread Mix
3 - 8 oz ea - cream cheese, softened
1 1/2 c. butter, softened

Combine spread mix with cream cheese and butter. Stir until well
blended.
Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving. Serve with
crackers.

Caramel Popcorn Kit

1 can sweetened condensed milk 2 packages of microwave popcorn 1 cup sugar 1 cup brown sugar Layer sugar and brown sugar in a one pint jar or zip-top bag. Attach the instructions for gift giving: Caramel Popcorn Pop the popcorn; remove un-popped kernels and set aside. In a large saucepan, mix sugar from jar with 1/2 cup butter or margarine and the can of sweetened condensed milk. Heat stirring constantly while the mixture comes to a boil. Boil for one minute and remove from heat. Working quickly, pour mixture over popped corn, coating as much as possible while pouring, then using a large wooden spoon, mix popped corn and caramel until all corn is well coated. Spread onto cookie sheets which have been prepared with nonstick cooking spray, or eat directly from bowl.

Layered Snack Mix

Layer snacks into a wide mouth quart canning jar. Select 4 or 5 diferent salty type small snacks of different colors. Put in even amounts of each kind. As an example, layer in this order.
• Sunflower seeds
• Salted peanuts
• Fish crackers
• Small pretzel nuggets or twists
• Raisins

Ranch Dip and/or Dressing Mix

1 1/2 tablespoons dried parsley
1/2 tablespoons dried chives
1/4 tablespoons dried tarragon
1/2 tablespoons lemon pepper
1 tablespoons salt
1/4 tablespoons oregano
1/2 tablespoons garlic powder

In a medium bowl, combine all the ingredients. Store in an airtight container decorated with a pretty ribbon.

Attach this to the Jar:

Ranch Dressing
Makes 1 cup

1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 tablespoons Ranch Pressing & Dip Mix

In a large bowl whisk together the mayonnaise, buttermilk and dressing & dip mix. Refrigerate for one hour before serving.


Attach this to Jar:

Ranch Dip
Makes 2 cups

2 tablespoons Ranch Dressing & Dip Mix
1 cup mayonnaise or lowfat mayo
1 cup sour cream or lowfat yogurt

Combine the Ranch Dressing and Dip Mix with mayonnaise and sour cream. Refrigerate for 2 hours before serving with raw vegetables, or as a topping for baked potatoes.

Goat Cheese in a Jar

Makes enough to fill a 10- or 12-ounce jar

You can use any size jar for this appetizer. If you give it as gifts, make it a day or two before you give it and keep it refrigerated.

1 clean (10- to 12-ounce) jar with a tight-fitting lid
1 to 1 1/4 cups olive oil (see note)
1 (3.5 to 5 ounce) log goat cheese, cut into 1/2-inch thick coins
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/3 cup julienned sun-dried tomatoes in oil
1/8 cup fresh basil, torn in thumbnail-size pieces
2 tablespoons fresh oregano leaves
2 tablespoons toasted pine nuts (see note)

Pour enough olive oil to cover the bottom of your jar. Carefully lower in a goat-cheese round. Sprinkle in some of the garlic, the sun-dried tomatoes, the herbs and the pine nuts. Cover with oil and repeat the process in layers until the jar is full to within 1/2 inch of the top, making sure that all is covered with the oil.

Let sit in the refrigerator for a day to mellow. It will keep for 10 days to two weeks in the refrigerator.

To serve, spoon out a portion of the appetizer into a pretty, shallow bowl and serve with cubed bread to smear it on. It can also be tossed into hot, drained pasta. Top the pasta with freshly ground black pepper and parmesan cheese.

NOTE: To toast nuts, heat in a dry skillet over medium heat until they start to brown. Stir occasionally, being careful not to scorch them.