LAYERED PESTO CREAM CHEESE SPREAD

INGREDIENTS:

1 8-ounce package plain cream cheese, softened
8 ounces of store bought basil pesto sauce in oil
(or homemade if you're feeling ambitious)
2 cloves of garlic, minced
2 medium tomatoes, diced (plum tomatoes are best for this)

DIRECTIONS:

Spread softened cream cheese over entire bottom of a shallow serving platter or pie plate. Evenly spread pesto sauce over the cream cheese. Sprinkle garlic over pesto and top with the chopped tomato. Place a spreader or small spoon in the dish for topping on toasted French bread.

Serving Suggestions: This is great spread over toasted French bread slices, your favorite crackers, toasted bagels or pita chips cut into wedges, or that packaged cocktail rye bread.


*** FROM SCRATCH PESTO SAUCE RECIPE ***

This most aromatic basil and garlic sauce is terrific tossed with any type of pasta, spread over grilled fish, with tomatoes, and many other foods. You can buy it at the store but here's how you can make it at home in the food processor too.

INGREDIENTS:
4 cups fresh basil,
8 cloves garlic,
1/2 cup pine nuts,
2/3 cup extra virgin olive oil,
1/2 cup parmesan cheese,
1 teaspoon salt,
1 teaspoon pepper

DIRECTIONS:

Add basil, garlic and pine nuts to the food processor and pulse until finely chopped. Stir in oil, parmesan cheese, salt and pepper and mix on low just until blended.

Courtesy of Clarissa