Flavorful Cream Cheese Spread

Here’s a stiff cream cheese–based spread that can be thinned with sour cream, yogurt, mayonnaise, or cream to make a dip. You can substitute virtually anything sharp and salty for the blue cheese or simply use more cream cheese.

1/2 pound cream cheese

1/4 pound Roquefort, Maytag blue, or other good blue cheese

Sour cream or yogurt as needed

Cayenne or Tabasco or other hot sauce, to taste

• In a bowl, cream the cheeses together with a fork.
• Stir in enough sour cream or yogurt to thin the mixture to a spreading consistency or use more to make a dip. Add cayenne to taste and refrigerate until ready to use.
  Cream Cheese Spread with Fruit and Nuts.
  • Also makes a terrific companion for Poached Pears with Vanilla: Omit the hot sauce. After the cheeses are well combined, stir in 1/2 cup each of minced dried fruit (prunes, apricots, cherries, apples, or cranberries), and chopped nuts (hazelnuts, walnuts, almonds, pecans, or pistachios).
  Roasted Pepper and Garlic Spread.
  • This is good with some chopped cooked bacon (what isn’t?). Omit the blue cheese. Add 1/2 cup chopped Roasted Red Peppers ( or use jarred pimientos) and about 1/2 head Roasted Garlic to the cream cheese.
  • Thin with extra virgin olive oil instead of sour cream. Mash well and proceed as directed. Add salt, pepper, and lemon juice in place of the cayenne.
  Anchovy Spread.
  • Omit the blue cheese. Add 4 mashed anchovy fillets, or more to taste, and 1/4 teaspoon minced garlic to the cream cheese. Mash well, using olive oil, sour cream, or yogurt to thin the spread if necessary. Add black pepper and lemon juice in place of the cayenne.
• MAKES: 6 to 8 servings
• TIME: 10 minutes