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Vanilla-Cheese Spread with Roasted Red Pepper and Pistachios

Patricia Rain

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Served as a dinner party appetizer or on a picnic in the park, Vanilla Cheese Spread with Roasted Peppers and Pistachios is a lively appetizer that your guests will not forget!

Vanilla-Cheese Spread with Roasted Red Pepper and Pistachios

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Ingredients

Scale

4 ounces each mild goat’s cheese and cream cheese

1 tablespoon light cream or sour cream (approximate)

1 Vanilla Bean cut open and scraped clean or, substitute 1/2 teaspoon Rain’s Choice pure Vanilla Extract

2–3 bottled roasted red peppers* finely chopped

1 piece of roasted red pepper, sliced into slivers (optional)

1/2 cup shelled and toasted pistachio nuts, coarsely chopped

Salt and pepper to taste

1 fresh baguette, sliced into thin rounds

Small pieces of parsley for garnish

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Instructions

Blend the cheeses with cream or sour cream, adding more if necessary to create a creamy spread. If the cheeses are very soft and creamy, you may not even need the extra cream. Scrape the vanilla seeds into the mixture or add extract. Add the chopped roasted red pepper, pistachios and salt and pepper to taste.

Spread the mixture onto the fresh baguette slices, and decorate each round with the red pepper slivers and a small piece of parsley. Serve with salted, unshelled pistachios on the side if you want. They’re so addictive, it would be delightful to have both the spread and extra nuts together!

* Bottled roasted red peppers are available in many grocery stores, specialty, and ethnic foods stores.

Notes

If you are making this recipe ahead, wait on adding the pistachios until shortly before serving. While they will taste good, they will lose their crunch. The spread will need to be room temperature, so if you make it a day ahead, bring it to room temperature and then add pistachios.

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Patricia Rain

Patricia Rain is an author, educator, culinary historian, and owner of The Vanilla Company (www.vanillaqueen.com), a socially conscious, product-driven information and education site dedicated to the promotion of pure, natural vanilla, and the support of vanilla farmers worldwide. She also does culinary presentations for food professionals, cooking schools, trade shows, food fairs, and private groups, and is a regular radio and TV guest.

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Vanilla-Cheese Spread with Roasted Red Pepper and Pistachios