Shelly's Recipe

FESTIVE CHICKEN SPREAD

Category: Spreads -- Cold

1 (8 oz) pkg cream cheese, softened
3 tbsp mayonnaise
1 tbsp lemon juice
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground ginger
1/8 tsp pepper
4 drops hot sauce
2 cups diced cooked chicken
2 hard-cooked eggs, diced
1/4 cup diced green onions
3 tbsp chopped green pepper
1/4 tsp garlic powder, optional
1 1/2 tsp sugar, optional

Garnishes:
Green pepper strips
2 tbsp sesame seeds, toasted
3 tbsp chopped black olives and sweet red pepper
5 slices cucumber, halved (optional)
Parsley sprigs (optional)

Combine cream cheese, mayonnaise, lemon juice, salt, ginger, pepper, hot sauce, garlic powder and sugar; beat at medium speed of electric mixer until smooth. Add chicken, eggs, green onions, and chopped green pepper; stir well.

Line a 1 quart mixing bowl or mold with plastic wrap. Spoon mixture into bowl; press firmly with back of a spoon. Cover and chill at least 4 hours.

Invert bowl onto serving platter. Remove bowl, and peel off plastic wrap. Garnish mound with green pepper strips, sesame seeds, black olives, and sweet red pepper. Arrange cucumber slices and parsley sprigs around bottom of mound, if desired; serve with assorted crackers, bread rounds or cocktail rye.