Shelly's Recipe

ARTICHOKE-CHEESE SPREAD

Category: Spreads -- Cold

2 (8 oz) pkg cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup finely chopped green onion tops
1 (14 oz) can artichoke hearts, drained and finely chopped
1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
2 garlic cloves, pressed
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp lemon juice
1/2 tsp ground red pepper
3/4 cup bottled roasted red bell peppers, drained and chopped
Assorted fresh lettuce
Thin white or wheat bread slices, crusts removed and cut into triangles
Red, yellow, and orange bell pepper strips
Garnishes: bottled roasted red bell pepper strip, slivered; radish slices

Stir together cream cheese and green onion tops, blending well; set aside. Stir together artichoke hearts and next 5 ingredients. Spread one-third of cream cheese mixture on bottom of a 4-cup glass bowl lined with plastic wrap. Layer with half of chopped roasted bell peppers, 3/4 cup artichoke mixture, and one-third of cream cheese mixture. Repeat layers with remaining chopped roasted bell peppers, artichoke mixture, and cream cheese mixture. Cover and chill at least 2 hours. Invert onto a serving plate, and remove plastic wrap. Serve over lettuce with bread slices and bell pepper strips. Garnish, if desired.