With the holidays in full swing, it is nice to find a quick, easy recipe that doesn’t require a lot of preparing, cooking, simmering, baking, ingredients, or dirty dishes.  All you will need for my Roasted Red Pepper Dip is a rubber (silicone) spatula, a knife, 1 bowl, a cutting board, and a food processor or blender (and maybe a grater if your food processor does not have a grating blade).  You can easily put together this yummy dip in less than 5 minutes, and have it on the table ready for guests in six.  Just put the dip next to a bowl of gluten free crackers, pretzels, or fresh vegetables, and watch it disappear!

Roasted Red Pepper Dip

• 8 ounces of softened Cream Cheese, Regular or Lowfat
• 1 – 8 ounce block of EXTRA SHARP Cheddar Cheese
• 1 Large Clove of Garlic
• 1/2 of 1 Large Roasted Red Pepper (from a jar is fine, any color or flavor), Reserve Liquid in Jar
• 2 Green onions coarsely chopped (optional)

Put the garlic clove into the food processor or blender, and process until very finely chopped.  Place the grating blade on the food processor, and grate the cheddar cheese into the processor bowl (or grate cheese on a box grater and place into blender with 3 Tablespoons of the liquid from the roasted red peppers).

Remove grating blade, and replace regular mixing blade in the food processor.  Add softened cream cheese, 1/2 of a large roasted red pepper, and coarsely chopped green onions if using (for photographic purposes I have placed a clove of garlic on the roasted red pepper to show size).

Process the cheese/roasted red pepper mixture until it is thoroughly mixed, and no large lumps remain.  Add liquid from the jar of roasted red peppers until the cheese mixture is very smooth, or to the consistency that you like, periodically scraping the bowl to get all remaining pieces from the sides.

Decorate with the remaining half of the roasted red pepper, and additional green onions.  Serve with gluten free crackers, gluten free pretzels, or raw vegetables.

Makes approximately 1 1/2 Cup of dip

Very easy, very fast, and very delicious.  This dip has always been a special favorite of my son’s, and I make an extra batch for him each year.  It is quick to put together for unexpected drop in guests, as well as those that need a snack to nibble on before dinner. it’s vibrant color is beautiful to look at, and the extra sharp cheddar and garlic, are a tangy treat for your tongue.

I welcome any and all comments.  If you try this recipe, please let me know how you like it, or how you have made the recipe your very own.

Happy Holidays!

Marcie/Pepperchick