Goat Cheese Spread

Photo: flickr user fonticulus

Ingredients

2 ounces pkt cream cheese - (8 ea) softened

8 ounces goat cheese

2 garlic cloves minced

4 teaspoons chopped fresh

teaspoon (or 1 ¼ dried oregano)

1/8 teaspoon freshly-ground black pepper

1/4 cup basil pesto

1/2 cup dried tomatoes in oil

Dried tomato slivers for garnish

Fresh oregano sprigs for garnish

French bread slices or crackers for serving

Preparation

Process first 5 ingredients in a food processor until smooth. Spread one-third of cheese mixture in bottom of a plastic wrap-lined 8- by 4-inch loafpan. Top with pesto; spread one-third cheese mixture over pesto. Sprinkle with dried tomatoes; top with remaining cheese mixture. Cover and chill 8 hours.

Invert spread onto a serving plate, discarding plastic wrap. Garnish, if desired. Serve with French bread slices or crackers.

To garnish, cut one dried tomato into slivers. Gently press fresh oregano sprigs and tomato slivers in a decorative pattern over the top of the cheese after it is inverted.

This recipe yields 12 to 16 appetizer servings.