Smoked Red Pepper Dip With Grilled Crudite Food

GRILLED RED PEPPER DIP

Steps:

• Toss peppers with oil, garlic powder and rosemary to coat. Grill peppers, covered, over medium-high heat or broil 4 in. from heat 2-3 minutes on each side or until tender. Cool completely. Cut peppers into 1/4-in. pieces., In a large bowl, beat cream cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, garlic and onion salt until blended. Beat in feta cheese and chopped red peppers until blended. Serve with pita chips. Refrigerate leftovers.

SMOKED GOUDA AND ROASTED RED PEPPER GRILLED CHEESE

Steps:

• Lay out 4 slices of the bread on a work surface. Layer each with some of the smoked gouda, 1 slice of the muenster, a thin layer of sliced red pepper (about 2 tablespoons), 1/2 cup of the baby arugula and another layer of smoked gouda. Close the sandwiches with the remaining bread. Thinly and evenly spread the butter on both sides of the bread using about 1 1/2 tablespoons of the butter for each sandwich.
• Place 2 sandwiches into a medium nonstick skillet over medium heat. Cover the skillet with a lid and cook until the bread is evenly golden brown, about 2 minutes. Flip, cover again and cook until the bread is golden brown and the cheese is visibly melted, about 2 minutes more. Repeat with the remaining sandwiches.

S'MORES DIP

Steps:

• Preheat a grill to medium-high heat. Coat a 10-inch cast-iron skillet with nonstick cooking spray.
• Stir together the cream cheese and marshmallow cream in a large bowl until well combined. Spoon one-third of the cream cheese mixture into the skillet and spread into an even layer. Top with half the candy bar pieces, one-third of the crushed graham crackers and one-third of the marshmallows.
• Spoon half of the remaining cream cheese mixture over the marshmallows and spread into an even layer. Top with the remaining candy bar pieces, half of the remaining crushed graham crackers and half of the remaining marshmallows. Spoon the remaining cream cheese mixture over the marshmallows and spread into an even layer. Top with the remaining marshmallows and crushed graham crackers. Sprinkle with the peanuts.
• Place the skillet on the grill and close the lid. Cook until the center of the mixture is hot and gooey, about 20 minutes. Drizzle with the chocolate fudge and caramel toppings and serve with graham crackers.

RED PEPPER DIP

Steps:

• Process roasted pepper in food processor until smooth. Scrape into serving bowl and stir in remaining ingredients. Refrigerate at least 1 hour. Serve with accompaniments.

CRUDITE WITH ROASTED GARLIC AND RED BELL PEPPER DIP

Steps:

• For the peppers: Roast the peppers by placing them on an open gas flame, turning them frequently with tongs until all sides are charred black, 7 to 10 minutes. Place in a plastic or paper bag, and cool for about 15 minutes. Peel the peppers, remove the seeds and stems, and discard. Coarsely chop the peppers.
• Transfer the peppers and garlic to a food processor and process until smooth. Add the cheese and process until smooth. With the machine running, add 1/4 cup of the extra-virgin olive oil and lemon juice in a steady stream through the feed tube. Add the basil, oregano, red pepper flakes, and 1/4 teaspoon salt, and process until smooth. Adjust the seasoning, to taste. Transfer to a decorative bowl and refrigerate for 1 hour. Before serving, drizzle with the remaining 1 teaspoon of extra-virgin olive oil and sprinkle with the parsley. Serve cool or at room temperature, with assorted crudite for dipping.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Place the garlic on a foil-lined baking sheet and rub 1 teaspoon of oil into the top of each head. Sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper and place, cut side down, on the baking sheet. Bake until the cloves are soft and golden, about 1 hour. Remove from the oven and let sit until cool enough to handle. Squeeze each head of garlic to expel the cloves into a bowl. Mash into a paste. Set aside until needed.

ROASTED RED PEPPER AND GARLIC DIP WITH FENNEL CRUDITES

Steps:

• Trim fennel stalks flush with bulbs and discard any tough outer layers. Cut bulbs lengthwise into 1/8-inch-thick slices and, if desired, halve slices lengthwise. Transfer fennel to a bowl of ice and cold water. Chill fennel at least 30 minutes, or until crisp, and up to 3 hours.
• Preheat oven to 450°F.
• While fennel is chilling, make dip:
• Quarter bell pepper lengthwise and discard stems, seeds,and ribs. In a shallow baking pan arrange quarters skin side up. Separate garlic cloves, leaving skins intact, and wrap together in foil. Add garlic package to pan with bell pepper and bake in upper third of oven 20 minutes. When cool enough to handle, peel pepper and transfer to a blender. Remove garlic from foil and squeeze pulp into blender.
• In a small heavy skillet dry-roast cumin and caraway seeds over moderate heat, stirring, until fragrant and a few shades darker, about 1 minute, being careful not to burn them. In a cleaned electric coffee/spice grinder grind seeds to a powder and add to pepper mixture with remaining dip ingredients. Purée mixture until smooth. Dip may be made 5 days ahead and chilled, covered.
• Drain fennel in a colander and pat dry.
• Serve dip with fennel.