Pesto Blossom

Appetizers

Around the holidays, my family loves to try out new appetizers. We have even been known to make a meal out of them on New Year’s Day. Regardless of when you eat them, it’s nice to have a few quick, go-to ideas when company is coming, or you just want to serve a snack to whet the appetites before your Christmas dinner. I think you’ll enjoy them all and many can be made ahead of the big day, leaving you more time with family and friends.

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Pesto Blossom

Course Appetizer

Servings 4

Ingredients

• 8 oz. sliced provolone
• 2- 8 oz. Cream cheese room temperature
• 20 pistachios shelled
• 1 clove garlic
• 1/2 c. Fresh basil
• 1/2 c. Fresh parsley
• 1/2 c. pine nuts
• 1/4 t. Salt
• 1/4 t. freshly ground pepper
• 2 T. olive oil
• 1 clove garlic
• 3 oz. jar oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes

Instructions

• Line a medium bowl with enough plastic wrap to let it lap over the sides.
• Line bottom and sides with provolone, reserving 3 slices.
• For the cheese layer, in a food processor, combine cream cheese, pistachios and 1 clove garlic until blended and set aside.
• Clean processor, then add basil, parsley, pine nuts and 1 garlic clove to processor bowl and blend on high until finely chopped.
• Mix salt and pepper into olive oil until blended.
• With machine running, add the oil in a fine stream until blended and set aside.
• For tomato layer, drain the tomatoes, reserving oil.
• Puree the tomatoes with a small amount of reserved oil. Mixture should look crumbly.
• To assemble, spread some of the cheese mixture over the cheese slices in the bowl.
• Layer on all of the pesto, then half of the remaining cream cheese mixture, then the sun-dried tomato mixture, and finally the remaining cream cheese mixture.
• Cover the top with the remaining slices of provolone.
• Bring the edges of the plastic wrap together and secure tightly with a twist tie. Chill well.
• Open and invert onto a serving platter and serve in small wedges with party crackers.
• Will keep in refrigerator for 2 months. It can also be frozen and thawed in refrigerator before serving.