Surprise Guests: Don't Panic; There's A Hidden Appetizer in the Kitchen!~

Let's talk about cream cheese. Almost everyone I know uses it in a multitude of ways in various savory and sweet recipes. Who hasn't had the cream cheese with pepper jelly slathered on top? It is that soft, creamy, tangy, melt-in-the-mouth spread that enhances foods in so many ways. And through all my testing, I have found that the 1/3 less fat, is just as good in richness and flavor as the regular -- and hey, who doesn't want to save a few calories for a martini, let's say...

Here is a "go to" that I have used over and over, and I always get rave reviews when I serve.

So "stupid simple" but SO good!

Ingredients ~

• 8 oz brick of cream cheese (room temp -nuke for 15-20 seconds if needed)
• 1/2 c. chopped pickled jalapeno peppers, drained
• 1/2 c. toasted almond slivers or pecans (both are equally good, but have different flavors)
• squirt of lemon juice
• cracked pepper
• whole grain crackers, (Triscuits,) mini cocktail breads, pita chips -- any of these are great!

Just get the cream cheese to room temp. You can nuke a few seconds, but don't over do it so that it starts to run or spread.

Sprinkle on cracked pepper and a squirt of lemon juice. Layer on jalapenos and then the  toasted nuts. Serve with crackers or toasted breads. Sit back and enjoy that martini while the guests compliment you!

As a bonus to this "last minute appetizer" concept -- here is another favorite that is super easy and you probably have everything you need to make this one.

Take a brick of cream cheese and lay out little patties in a pie dish. Pour on a can of chili. Layer on shredded monterey or Mexican blend cheese. Bake for 20 minutes at 375 degrees and serve with tortilla chips. YUM!