POINSETTIA CREAM CHEESE APPETIZER

If it does your heart good to watch people lick a platter clean then this appetizer is for you!  My friend, Ann, came knocking at my door recently with a bottle of "Slatherin' Sauce" along with an appetizer recipe that she had taste tested as a promotion at The Fresh Market grocer.  Sweet and mildly spicy, it's incredibly simple to make consisting of cream cheese, bacon and a bottle of "Slatherin' Sauce" (see Slather Brand Foods link below where to buy it).  Ann said that as soon as she tasted how delicious it was she thought of "Christmas by Debbie".  Before I posted it I decided to make it and take it to a party.  She was right!  It got devoured! 

When I emailed her the rave reviews it got along with a picture of it shaped into a Poinsettia, she replied, " I would never think of making flower petals out of a brick of cream cheese!"  Maybe not, but thank you, Ann, for thinking of me!!!

                                                            INGREDIENTS

                     1 - 8 oz. Cream Cheese  (I used 5 - 8 oz. for pictured "poinsettia")
                             2 slices Bacon  (Need 10 slices for pictured "poinsettia")
             1 bottle Original Slatherin' Sauce  (2-3 bottles needed for pictured "poinsettia")
                        
                                                    Optional Embellishments

                                                                 Parsley
                                                            Yellow Pepper

Click below to find where you can buy "Original Slatherin' Sauce.
Original Slatherin' Sauce

NOTE:  The pictured "poinsettia" served about 30 people at the party I mentioned.  There were a wide variety of other appetizers offered as well.

INSTRUCTIONS TO MAKE  POINSETTIA SHAPED APPETIZER:

STEP 1:  Make a paper template shaped to resemble a poinsettia leaf making sure it is small enough to fit on the brick of cream cheese but large enough to cover as much of it as possible.

 

STEP 2:  Place the template on top of the unwrapped brick of cream cheese and using a sharp knife cut the leaf pattern out of the cream cheese.  Do the same for all 5 bricks of cream cheese. 

STEP 3:  Place the 5 bricks of cream cheese on an oven friendly serving plate evenly apart so that it resembles a poinsettia.  Place crumbled cooked bacon on top of cream cheese leaves.

STEP 4:  Pour "Original Slatherin' Sauce" over all 5 cream cheese leaves.

STEP 5:  Heat for 15-20 minutes at 350 degrees.  Then remove from oven.

STEP 6:  Add diced yellow pepper in the center of the poinsettia where the 5 leaf tips are touching one another.  Place parsley in between cream cheese leaves as pictured.

STEP 7:  Serve warm with crackers or toasted baguettes.

NOTE:  If you are serving far fewer people than 30, you may want to forego the poinsettia shape and serve 1 brick of cream cheese for every 6 people as long as you offer a variety of other appetizers as well!!!

Want more recipe ideas?  Click below.Pineapples and Palm Trees

                                                             ~ Debbie ~