Cannellini Bean Dip with Kalamata Olives

 

 

I was feeling particularly domestic over the weekend, perhaps because it took a cold turn and I was able to use up the last of my logs for the season, perhaps it’s because I had a blank calendar for the week ahead. Whatever the reason, I whipped up a massive amount of things in the kitchen, one of which was this delicious bean dip that is so good I could have eaten it with a spoon. I did use it as a condiment on a TLT (turkey, lettuce, and tomato), and it was phenomenal!

Cannellini Bean Dip with Kalamata Olives

1 15-oz. can cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
1 t. Melissa's minced garlic
2 - 3 T. extra-virgin olive oil
¼ t. rubbed sage
¼ t. dried thyme
¼ t. kosher salt
Few gratings freshly ground black pepper
1/8 t. lemon pepper seasoning
4 Kalamata olives, pitted
1 T. freshly grated Parmesan

Place everything into a food processor or blender (I used a mini food processor) adding oil as needed. This recipe can be doubled or tripled. Just play around with it, tasting as you go. You honestly can’t go wrong.

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Blue Cheese Spread

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I am a fan of blue-veined cheese: Gorgonzola, Stilton, Danish bleu, any cheese of that ilk blows my skirt up big time. I like to use it in as many ways as possible, and started adding it to my Homemade Boursin Cheese (the recipe of which you can find here). It occurred to me that it would probably make a decent spread all on its own, and here is the result. It’s an excellent spread for crackers, to use with crudities (I love filling snow peas and celery with this), I’ve even used it with Bugles, and it works wonderfully, and, enjoying it this way, I have to admit, is a heck of a lot of fun. But don’t stop there, it’s super delish when spread on a toasted bagel half or English muffin at breakfast, a dollop does a wonderful thing to a baked potato, and enhances a steak when a small amount is put on top immediately upon removal from the grill. Versatile and delicious, who doesn’t love that? 

Blue Cheese Spread

1 5-oz. container blue cheese crumbles, room temperature
1 8-oz. pkg. cream cheese, room temperature
1/8 c. (2 T.) sour cream
½ t. Worcestershire sauce
¼ t. freshly squeezed lemon juice
5-6 gratings black pepper
½ T. chopped parsley (for garnish)
Additional blue cheese crumbles (for garnish)*

Place all ingredients into a medium mixing bowl, and beat, at high speed, until thoroughly combined, 2 to 3 minutes. Turn out into your favorite bowl, garnish with crumbled bacon and chopped chives, and served with crudités or crackers. Refrigerate leftovers.

*You can also cook and crumble a slice of bacon to use as a garnish. Or, stir it in; I’m not your mom. You can do what you like.

 

Spicy Ranch Crackers

I cannot tell you how many times, with a big dinner looming ahead, I have spent all of my time focusing on it, and not on the various nibbles that need to be served earlier with drinks. If this has happened to you, you’re going to love this recipe. There are variations for it all over the web, but having recently tried this one, I cannot recommend it enough. It’s very simple to put together, and can use a variety of crackers that you have on hand. If you don’t have Ritz crackers, use saltines, if you don’t have saltines, use oyster crackers, if you don’t have any of these, well, shop!

You can make them spicier by adding more pepper flakes, or lighten things up a bit by adding fewer. These are not only good prior to a meal, but make a nice bit of crunch when crumbled on top of a salad, or a wonderful accompaniment for a hot bowl of soup. You and your family are going to love these spicy bits of crunchy goodness.

Spicy Ranch Crackers

1 stick unsalted butter, melted
1 packet Ranch Dressing Mix
¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 box Ritz buttery round crackers

Preheat oven to 300° F.

Combine all ingredients EXCEPT crackers. Place crackers in a large bowl, pour mixture over it and toss to cover. Bake for 12-15 minutes.

PRINT RECIPE

If you have more time, these Deceptively Delicious Bacon Yummies are another easy and well-liked nibble.

This post is linked to:

Happiness is Homemade Sunday

What’s for Dinner Sunday

Smells Good Sunday

Dishing It & Digging It

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