Sun Dried Tomato Cream Cheese Appetizer Food

SUN-DRIED TOMATO CREAM CHEESE APPETIZER

Steps:

• Crust
• Preheat oven to 325°F (160°C).
• Combine flour and butter in food processor using on/off pulse until mixture is well blended. Add egg; blend just until dough begins to form a ball. Press dough onto bottom of 13 x 9-inch (33 x 23 cm) baking pan.
• Bake in preheated 325°F (160°C) oven until edges are golden, 10 to 12 minutes.
• Filling
• Process sun-dried tomatoes, reserved oil, garlic and oregano in food processor. Add eggs and cream cheese; blend until smooth. Transfer mixture into medium bowl; stir in sour cream and green onions. Pour filling over crust.
• Bake until golden brown, about 20 minutes. Cool to room temperature. Cut into small squares to serve.

SUPER SIMPLE SUN-DRIED TOMATO APPETIZERS

Steps:

• NOTE: If your sundried tomatoes do not already have Italian seasoned herbs in their oil, you will need to first stir in 1 Tbsp of Italian seasoning blend to your tomatoes, then cover and chill overnight.
• Drain off the oil from your tomatoes.
• Spread a generous spoonful of cream cheese onto each cracker and top with a strip of marinated sundried tomato.
• Place onto a platter and garnish with strips of fresh basil leaves, if desired.
• Serve immediately.
• (You may need more or less or any of the ingredients- the Zaar computer only accepts specific amounts, so I have tried to give you a rough guess).

SUN-DRIED TOMATO CREAM CHEESE APPETIZER

Steps:

• TO MAKE CRUST: In a food processor container, blend flour with butter using on/off pulse until mixture becomes granular. Add egg and blend just until dough begins to form a ball. Press dough onto bottom of a 9x13-inch baking pan. Bake at 325F for 10-12 minutes or until edges are golden.
• TO MAKE FILLING: In a food processor container, finely chop sun-dried tomatoes with reserved oil, garlic and oregano. Stir in eggs. Add cream cheese and mix until smooth. Transfer mixture into a bowl; stir in sour cream and green onions until smooth. Season with salt and pepper.
• TO ASSEMBLE: Pour filling over crust and bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown. Cool to room temperature. Cut into small squares to serve. Makes 24 appetizers.
• TIP: A day or two before the party, you can prepare and refrigerate the crust separately. The day of the party, you can bake the crust then pour the filling and bake.

SUN-DRIED TOMATO DIP

Steps:

• Puree the tomatoes, cream cheese, sour cream, mayonnaise, red pepper sauce, salt and pepper in a food processor fitted with a metal blade. Add the scallions and pulse twice. Serve at room temperature.

CROSTINI WITH SUN-DRIED TOMATO JAM

Steps:

• For the sun-dried tomato jam:
• Place a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the chopped sun-dried tomatoes, 1 tablespoon of the reserved sun-dried tomato oil, olive oil, onion, and garlic. Stir and cook until the onions are soft and beginning to brown at the edges, about 5 to 7 minutes. Add the sugar, vinegar, water, chicken broth, thyme, salt, and pepper. Bring the liquid to a boil, reduce the heat, and simmer, covered, for 30 minutes. Remove the cover and continue simmering until most of the liquid is reduced and the mixture is the consistency of jam, about 5 to 10 more minutes. Remove from the heat and set aside.
• For the crostini:
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with foil.
• Place the baguette slices on the baking sheet. Using a pastry brush, lightly coat the baguette slices with olive oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake until lightly toasted, about 8 minutes.
• Place the soft goat cheese in a small bowl. Stir in the thyme.
• To assemble:
• Spread the crostini with sun-dried tomato jam and top with the goat cheese and herb mixture. Transfer to a serving plate and serve.

SUN-DRIED TOMATO GOAT CHEESE SPREAD

Steps:

• Drain tomatoes, reserving 2 teaspoons oil. In a small food processor, combine the garlic, basil and parsley. Cover and process until blended., Add the goat cheese and reserved sun-dried tomatoes and oil. Cover and process until smooth. Chill until serving.

5-MINUTE SUN-DRIED TOMATO CREAM CHEESE SPREAD

Steps:

• Place cream cheese on plate.
• Top with pesto.

BAKED PESTO AND SUN-DRIED TOMATO APPETIZER

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F. Unroll crescent dough; separate into four rectangles. Place two of the rectangles, side-by-side, on nonstick baking sheet. Firmly press seams and perforations together to seal. Reserve remaining dough for decorative garnish.
• Cut block of cream cheese horizontally in half. Spread pesto onto bottom half of cream cheese; cover with tomatoes. Top with remaining cream cheese to form sandwich. Place in center of dough. Bring up ends of dough around all sides of cream cheese to enclose completely; pinch ends of dough together to seal. Place, seam-side down, on baking sheet. Cut remaining crescent dough into small fun shapes, such as leaves or fruit. Arrange on top of dough.
• Bake 20 min. Serve warm with assorted crackers and fresh vegetables.

SUN-DRIED TOMATO & GREEN ONION APPETIZER

Steps:

• Spread crackers with reduced-fat cream cheese.
• Top with tomatoes and onions.

CREAM CHEESE SPREAD WITH OLIVES AND SUN-DRIED TOMATOES

Steps:

• Place sun-dried tomatoes in small bowl. Pour enough boiling water over tomatoes to cover. Let tomatoes stand until soft, about 10 minutes. Drain. Pat tomatoes dry and chop finely.
• Mix cream cheese and sour cream in medium bowl until smooth. Mix in olives, onion and sun-dried tomatoes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. (Can be prepared 2 days ahead. Cover and refrigerate. Let stand at room temperature 1 hour before serving.)

SUN-DRIED TOMATO CREAM CHEESE

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients and stir together.

SUN-DRIED TOMATO AND PESTO TORTA

Steps:

• Finely chop garlic in processor. Add basil, 1/4 cup pine nuts, oil and lemon juice. Process until well blended. Add 1/3 cup cream cheese and 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese. Using on/off turns, process just until blended. Transfer pesto to medium bowl.
• Coarsely chop tomatoes in processor. Add tomato paste and process until mixture is almost smooth. Add 1/3 cup cream cheese and blend well.
• Using electric mixer, beat 2 cups cream cheese and butter in large bowl until fluffy. Season with salt and pepper.
• Spray 6-cup soufflé dish with nonstick spray. Line with plastic wrap, extending plastic over sides. Spread 3/4 cup cream cheese-butter mixture evenly over bottom of prepared dish. Top with half of tomato mixture, then 1/2 cup cream cheese-butter mixture, then half of pesto mixture. Repeat layering with 1/2 cup cream cheese-butter mixture, remaining tomato mixture, 1/2 cup cream cheese-butter mixture and remaining pesto. Top with remaining cream cheese-butter mixture. Cover and chill overnight. (Can be made 3 days ahead. Keep refrigerated.)
• Invert torta onto platter. Peel off plastic. Garnish with basil sprigs and toasted pine nuts. Serve with baguette slices.

SUN-DRIED TOMATO AND BASIL CHEESECAKE APPETIZER

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• In a food processor, blend the bread, 1/2 cup softened butter and 3 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese. Spray cooking oil in the bottom of a nonstick 91/2-inch springform pan. Cut a piece of parchment to fit the bottom of the pan. Press crumb mixture into pan, going up 1/4 inch on sides. Refrigerate.
• Beat the cream cheese until smooth in a sturdy electric mixer. Add chopped onion, 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, 1/4 cup melted and cooled butter, 1 tablespoon oil and herbs from the tomato jar, and the basil. Add eggs, 7 tablespoons chopped sun-dried tomatoes and sour cream, blending until smooth.
• Pour a third of the filling into the refrigerated crust. Add a layer of about 15 coarsely chopped sun-dried tomatoes, followed by another third of the filling. Add a thin layer of pesto (don't go too close to the edge with this) and remaining third of filling.
• Bake 50-60 minutes on second-to-lowest rack of oven, placing a foil sheet underneath to catch drippings. When set in center, turn off oven and let the cheesecake sit 20 more minutes. Cool and refrigerate for a day.
• Remove sides of pan and place cheesecake on a serving platter. Garnish with fresh basil leaves and pieces of sundried tomato. Enjoy with crackers or rustic breads.

SUN-DRIED TOMATO AND ARTICHOKE APPETIZER

Steps:

• Pour boiling water over tomatoes in small bowl; let stand 10 min.
• Drain tomatoes, reserving liquid. Place reserved liquid, Neufchatel and pesto in blender; blend until smooth. Add tomatoes; blend just until combined. (A few chunks can remain.) Spoon into bowl.
• Refrigerate 1 hour.
• Top each cracker with 1 tsp. Neufchatel mixture and 1 artichoke piece just before serving.

SUN-DRIED TOMATO DIP

Steps:

• In a food processor, mix the sun-dried tomatoes, cream cheese, sour cream, mayonnaise, garlic, hot pepper sauce, salt, and pepper. Process until well-blended. Add basil, and continue processing until smooth. Chill at least 1 hour in the refrigerator before serving.

GOAT CHEESE BALSAMIC SUN DRIED TOMATO DIP

Steps:

• In small bowl, stir together sun-dried tomatoes, balsamic vinegar, olive oil, sugar, salt and pepper.
• In separate bowl, blend cream cheese with goat cheese. Scrape into shallow serving dish, smoothing top.
• Stir basil into sun-dried tomato mixture; spread over cheese.

GOAT CHEESE PESTO SUN-DRIED TOMATO SPREAD (MAKE AHEAD)

Steps:

• Line an 8 x 4 loaf pan with plastic wrap.
• Process the first five ingredients in a food processor until smooth.
• Spread one-third of the cheese mixture in the lined pan.
• Top with the pesto.
• Spread one-third of the cheese mixture over pesto.
• Spread the chopped, drained sun dried tomatoes next.
• Top with the remaining cheese mixture.
• Cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 8 hours (or up to 2 days).
• Invert spread onto serving plate. Garnish, if desired, with tomato slivers and/or herb leaves.
• Serve with french bread slices (or crackers).