Glady's Warm Blue Cheese Dip

April 2010

Ingredients

• 8 slices hickory-smoked bacon, fried crisp, then diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 8 oz. cream cheese, softened
• 1/4 cup heavy cream
• 4 oz. crumbled blue cheese
• 2 Tbsp. chopped chives (chopped with a knife)
• 2 Tbsp. chopped almonds
• crackers, sliced baguette, or veggies for serving

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350.
2. In a nonstick skillet (or use some Pam), fry bacon in batches until crispy. Drain bacon on paper towels, and pour off the excess fat.
3. Add chopped garlic to the pan, and cook until fragrant and softened. ( I use a small food processor to chop all these ingredients except chives.)
4. Beat cream cheese until smooth. Add cream; beat well.
5. Chop bacon in batches in the small food processor, or use rolling pin to mince it.
6. Mix in bacon, garlic, blue cheese, and chives.
7. Transfer to a 2 cup baking dish.
8. Chop almonds in the same small food processor, and spread on top of mixture.
9. Bake about 30 minutes or until heated through. If taking it to another location, heat early 20 minutes to brown the almonds, cool enough to carry, and heat in the microwave at the party.
10. Serves 8 to 10.