Christmas Cheer (or Any Time Of Year) Cheese & Shrimp Spread

Total Time: 15 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 cups cheddar cheese (about 10 oz, finely shredded)
• 1 (12 ounce) carton cottage cheese
• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese (softened)
• 2 (4 1/2 ounce) cans shrimp (deveined, drained & finely chopped)
• 2 tablespoons dried onion flakes
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon ground red pepper
• 4 tablespoons chili sauce
• 4 tablespoons green peppers (finely diced)
• 4 tablespoons red peppers (finely diced)

Recipe

• 1 use your food processor or immersion blender to combine all ingredients (except the shrimp & diced peppers) till the mixture is smooth.
• 2 then, stir in the diced shrimp & peppers.
• 3 decide your presentation, prepare for it accordingly & chill for at least 1 hr before removing to garnish as desired & serve (with crackers, bread or choice of vegetables/crudites).
• 4 presentation #1: use the christmas mold of your choice or bowl and line with plastic wrap.
• 5 form into a log or ball wrapped in plastic wrap - use a 1-qt round tube mold lined w/plastic wrap (meant to resemble a holiday wreath).
• 6 presentation #2: prepare as bread or tortilla pinwheels and chill as directed above.
• 7 in iceland, bread pinwheels are called brauðterta. they are very popular & are made w/an already cooked, flattened & rolled bread product from the freezer section.
• 8 it has a durable plastic sheet w/it to help you get a compact roll after you apply the filling.
• 9 i do not believe this product is available in the u.s., but i suppose you could get creative & make your own.
• 10 to garnish: the recipe suggested using a combination of finely diced green & red peppers, cucumber, pimento or parsley.
• 11 i happen to think that plumped dried cranberries would be good for this & even added to the shrimp & cheese mix.
• 12 bottom line: use whatever suits your fancy to create your own desired holiday look.
• 13 regarding pictures: i posted pictures of the brauðterta & tortilla version as it is a little late to go for a holiday look. in the tortilla pic, i made a stacker & cut wedges. i also got 7 2" tortilla rounds from each 8" tortilla using my cookie cutter.