pat's Recipe

Chevre and Tomato Spread

Category: Spreads

Ingredients
1/3 cup dried tomatoes (not oil-packed)
4 ounces soft goat cheese (chevre)
1/2 of an 8-ounce packaged reduced-fat cream cheese (Neufchatel), softened
1/4 cup snipped fresh basil or 2 teaspoons dried basil, crushed
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
1 to 2 tablespoons fat-free milk
10 slices party rye bread or 20 assorted reduced-fat crackers
Assorted garnishes, such as quartered cherry tomatoes, broccoli flowerets, chopped yellow sweet pepper, and/or small fresh basil leaves (optional)

Directions
1. In a small bowl cover dried tomatoes with boiling water. Let stand for 10 minutes. Drain tomatoes, discarding liquid. Finely snip tomatoes.

2. In a bowl stir together the snipped tomatoes, goat cheese, cream cheese, basil, garlic, and black pepper. Stir in enough milk to make the mixture of spreading consistency. Cover and chill for 2 to 4 hours. Serve with rye bread or crackers. If desired, top with assorted garnishes.
Makes 1-1/4 cups spread (10 servings).