Layered Cheese And Pesto Food

GOAT CHEESE, SUN-DRIED TOMATO, AND PESTO TORTA

Steps:

• Mix goat cheese and cream cheese in a bowl. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Combine goat-cream cheese mixture with the sun-dried tomatoes, tomato paste, and vinegar in a separate bowl. Season with salt and pepper to taste. (again).
• Line a 2-cup ramekin or a small bowl with plastic wrap, extending the wrap over the sides. spray the plastic wrap with vegetable oil cooking spray. Spread half the goat-cream cheese mixture evenly in the bottom of the ramekin. Cover with pesto, then with the cheese tomato mixture. top with remaining goat cheese mixture. Fold wrap over the final cheese layer and refrigerate until chilled, at least 1 1/2 hours.
• Invert the torta onto a platter and peel off the plastic wrap. Garnish with basil and serve with baguette slices.
• **The torta can be made 2days ahead and refrigerated. This torta can be so gorgeous if you pay attention to making clean, well defined layers.

DIP FOR THE STARS

Steps:

• In a food processor, combine the butter, feta cheese, cream cheese, garlic, shallot, vermouth, and white pepper. Process until smooth.
• Oil a medium bowl, or gelatin mold, and line with plastic wrap for easy removal. Layer the dip into the mold as follows: Sun-dried tomatoes, pine nuts, pesto, cheese mixture. Repeat. Pat down into the mold, and refrigerate for at least one hour.
• Turn the dip out onto a serving plate, and remove plastic wrap. Serve with crackers.

CHEESE, PESTO AND SUN-DRIED TOMATO TORTA

Steps:

• Finely chop garlic cloves in food processor; add basil, nuts, oil and lemon juice; Process until well blended; Add 1/3c cream cheese, all of parmesan cheese, and pulse until just blended; turn into a medium bowl and set aside.
• Coarsely chop tomatoes in food processor; add tomato paste and blend until mixture is almost smooth; add 1/3c cream cheese and blend well; transfer to a small bowl and set aside.
• In a large bowl, mix remaining softened cream cheese and butter until fluffy; season with salt and pepper.
• Spray 6c straight sided dish (such as a souffle dish or springform pan) with non-stick pan spray, line with plastic wrap (I line pan with at least two layers of it) allowing wrap to drape over the sides.
• Without worrying about keeping the layers perfect, spread 3/4c cream cheese/butter mixture evenly over prepared dish with a spoon dipped in hot water; top with half of the tomato mixture, then 1/2c of cream cheese mixture, then half the pesto mixture.
• Repeat layering with 1/2c cream cheese mixture, remaining tomato mixture, 1/2c cream cheese mixture, remaining pesto, then remaining cream cheese mixture; Cover and chill 6hrs or overnight.
• Invert torta onto serving platter, carefully peel away plastic wrap, and serve.

LAYERED ITALIAN DIP

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F.
• Mix cream cheese and Parmesan until blended; spread onto bottom of 9-inch pie plate.
• Top with layers of remaining ingredients.
• Bake 15 min. or until heated through.

PESTO CREAM CHEESE SPREAD

Steps:

• Line a 5-3/4x3" loaf pan with plastic wrap.
• In a small bowl, combine cream cheese and garlic powder until well blended; set aside.
• In a bowl, combine Parmesan cheese, butter and pesto sauce until blended.
• Gradually stir in olive oil.
• Spread about 1/4 cup cream cheese mixture into prepared pan.
• Carefully spread with 1/3 pesto mixture.
• Repeat layers twice.
• Top with remaining cream cheese mixture.
• Cover and refrigerate at least 5 hours.
• Un-mold; serve with crackers and veggies.
• NOTE: to get nice layers refrigerate first cream cheese layer until firm then top with even layer of pesto mix. Refrigerate after each layer.

SUN-DRIED TOMATO, PESTO CHEESE DIP

Steps:

• In a food processor blend cream cheese and 10 tomatoes.
• Mix in rest of the tomatoes.
• Layer half of cheese mixture on to serving platter.
• spread half of the pesto repeat with rest of cheese and pesto.
• Serve with crackers, grilled chicken or fresh veggies.

LAYERED SUN-DRIED TOMATO AND ARTICHOKE SPREAD

Steps:

• Cut cream cheese horizontally into 3 slices. (See Tip.) Place 1 slice on large sheet of plastic wrap; top with tomatoes and second cream cheese slice.
• Combine artichokes and pesto; spoon over second cream cheese layer.
• Top with remaining cream cheese slice, nuts and parsley; press nuts and parsley lightly into cream cheese to secure. Wrap with plastic wrap. Refrigerate 1 hour.

LAYERED PESTO CHEESE SPREAD

Steps:

• Line a 3-cup bowl with plastic wrap; set aside. , In a small bowl, beat cream cheese and butter until smooth. In another bowl, combine pesto and Parmesan cheese. Layer half of the cream cheese mixture, pesto mixture and sun-dried tomatoes in prepared bowl. Repeat layers. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour., Unmold onto a serving plate. Serve with crackers.