Benedictine Dip Recipe 55

BENEDICTINE DIP

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine the cheeses, parsley, mayonnaise, salt, cayenne, pepper and food coloring if desired; beat until smooth. Stir in cucumber and onion. Chill until serving. Serve with crackers.

BENEDICTINE SPREAD OR DIP

Steps:

• 1. Peel cucumber; grate over a bowl, using a microplane or fine grater.
• 2. Pour pulp and juice into a coffee filter placed in a small strainer over small bowl; gather ends of filter and gently squeeze and press to release juice into bowl.
• 3. Measure 3 tablespoons cucumber juice into a small saucepan. Discard remaining juice and pulp.
• 4. Repeat process with onion for 1 tablespoon juice to add to cucumber juice in pan.
• 5. Place pan over high heat, bring to a boil, then immediately remove from heat. (This will tame the cucumber and make it friendlier to the tummy.)
• 6. To the warm juice, add 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon lemon juice and 5 drops of green food color gel; stir and mix well; set aside.
• 7. Unwrap cream cheese, place in mixing bowl. Use a hand mixer to beat cream cheese well.
• 8. Gradually add juice, mixing until well incorporated and smooth.
• 9. Spread may be used immediately or cover and refrigerate (for up to one week) until served.

BEST BENEDICTINE SPREAD

Steps:

• Process cucumber chunks in a food processor until finely chopped. Put chopped cucumber and white onion in a piece of cheesecloth and twist to squeeze into a bowl as much liquid as possible from the vegetables, reserving the liquid.
• Assure the food processor bowl is dry before returning cucumber and onion mixture to the food processor. Add cream cheese, dill, hot pepper sauce, green food coloring, and cayenne pepper. Process the mixture until smooth, scraping down the sides of the food processor bowl a few times to make sure everything is integrated. If too thick, add reserved liquid a teaspoon at a time.

BENEDICTINE

Steps:

• Grate the cucumber on the large holes of a box grater. Allow to drain in a layer of cheesecloth in a mesh strainer fitted over a bowl. Squeeze to remove excess liquid.
• Meanwhile, combine the cream cheese and mayonnaise in a large bowl and mix with a rubber spatula until smooth. Add the cucumber and onion and mix until combined. Season with salt and pepper. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour.

BENEDICTINE

Steps:

• Peel the cucumber, slice it in half lengthwise and scrape out the seeds with a spoon. Using the coarse side of a hand grater, shred the flesh. Place in a kitchen towel and squeeze out excess moisture.
• Place the grated cucumber and the cream cheese in the bowl of an electric mixer. Beat on medium speed until light and fluffy. Beat in two scallions, then season with Tabasco, salt and pepper. Taste and add more scallion if you like. Beat in the mayonnaise.
• Transfer to a covered bowl and chill for a half-hour to allow the flavors to blend. Serve with crudités, chips or crackers, or pipe into endive leaves or cocktail cream puffs, or use as a sandwich spread.

KENTUCKY DERBY BENEDICTINE DIP

Steps:

• Grate cucumber and drain in a fine mesh sieve. Combine cucumber, cream cheese, onion, salt, mayonnaise, sour cream and food coloring (if using) in a food processor.
• Transfer to a bowl and add chopped dillweed. Taste for seasoning.
• Serve with vegetable crudites as baby carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, celery, grape tomatoes, sugar snap peas; or white and blue con tortilla or pita bread chips.

BENEDICTINE DIP

Steps:

• Grate cucumber and drain in a fine mesh sieve. Combine cucumber, cream cheese, onion, salt, mayonnaise, sour cream and food coloring (if using) in a food processor. Transfer to a bowl and add chopped dill. Taste for seasoning. Serve with crudite.

BENEDICTINE DIP

Steps:

• Mix cream cheese, mayonnaise, onion, cucumber, and food coloring together in a bowl until well blended and food coloring is incorporated. Cover and chill, 8 hours to overnight. Serve.

KENTUCKY BENEDICTINE SANDWICHES

Steps:

• Stir together first 7 ingredients to create benedictine spread.
• Spread mixture on 24 slices of white bread and top with remining bread slices to create sandwiches.
• Trim away sandwich crusts and cut each sandwich into 4 triangles with a serrated knife to create tea sandwiches.