Italian Cheese & Pepperoni Spread recipe
OK, bear with me, this is one of those "off the top of my head what's-in-the-fridge-I-can-throw-together recipes I came up with LAST weekend when a non-cooking friend called to invite ME to HER party and said "bring something."
*One package of pepperoni
(You can get turkey pepperoni if you like, but I don't care much for turkey, so I just get the "regular" pepperoni slices).
Take a couple of paper plates and top with paper towel. Cover paper towel with single layer of the pepperoni rounds and cover with another paper towel. Cook on HIGH in microwave for 2 minutes.
Take out and let sit a few minutes. (It will take several of these plates to cook them all. Once cooled, they immediately crisp up and that's what you need.) Place a few rounds to the side for garnishing.
(NOTE: These also make a YUMMY snack you can make in a flash when you want something spicy/salty and CRISPY!) And as you will see, most of the FAT will cook right out of the pepperoni when you zap it like this in the microwave.
* 1-8 oz. package FF cream cheese
* 1-pkg (is that 8 oz?) thinly shredded LF mozzarella cheese
* 1-pkg. Italian Salad Dressing Mix (like Good Seasonings)
* Half of the above pepperoni rounds, cooked and crumbled
(NOTE: If you wanna cut down on sodium, instead of the dressing mix, just use some Italian Seasoning from your pantry and some black pepper instead of the dressing mix.)
Let cream cheese soften. Throw all into food processor and pulse until mixed well.
Spread onto serving tray and make "well" in the cheese to hold the following so it doesn't run out onto tray around the cheese base.
Into this well/trough (for lack of a better term) fill with:
* Sliced sun-dried tomatoes
* Some diced roasted red peppers (I found a jar at Lowe's of red and yellow peppers already diced)
* Scatter the remaining crumbled pepperoni
* Scatter some thinly sliced fresh basil
Garnish with basil leaves. Stick a few pieces of the pepperoni rounds you set aside in one corner to garnish too.
Serve with favorite crackers and/or celery dippers.
If there are leftovers, this makes a yummy filling for stuffed baked potatoes! Or spread on toast or toasted English Muffins.
These are all things you can easily keep on hand for a last-minute throw together in a flash for when folks are dropping by or you need to take something to a party/work.
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