Bleu Cheese and Bacon Dip

What you’ll need:
- 7 bacon slices, chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
- 1/3 cup half-and-half
- 4 ounces crumbled bleu cheese
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives
- 3 tablespoons chopped walnuts, toasted
- Clusters of grapes - any kind
- Flatbread, assorted crackers, or baked pita chips

What to do:
1. Cook the chopped bacon in a skillet over medium-high heat for about 10 minutes or until crisp. Drain the bacon, and set aside. Add the minced garlic to skillet, and sauté for 1 minute.

2. Beat the cream cheese at medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth. Then, add the half-and-half, beating until combined. Stir in bacon, garlic, bleu cheese, and chives. Spoon mixture evenly into 4 (1-cup) individual baking dishes or into a 1-quart baking dish.

3. Bake the bleu cheese and bacon dip at 350° for 15 minutes or until golden and bubbly. Sprinkle evenly with chopped walnuts, and serve with grape clusters and your choice of crackers.

This delicious easy appetizer - rich and creamy - can also be made with less calorific ingredients and still, you will have a rich and creamy dip to serve. For example: Use turkey bacon. You can also substitute for the cream cheese by using the fat-free version OR use Light Laughing Cow cheese. Just unwrap 16 little Laughing Cow cheeses and use it in place of the cream cheese. And, last but not least, use lite sour cream or low-fat greek yogurt instead of the half-in-half.

For more great easy appetizer recipes, please visit Easy Appetizers (http://easy-appetizers.com) and
Easy Appetizer Recipes (http://www.easy-appetizer-recipes.com)