Today is your lucky day. I am sharing my families absolute FAVORITE Thanksgiving appetizer. I stumbled upon this recipe about 8 years ago in a Taste of Home magazine and I have been making it for Thanksgiving ever since. It is, of course, also perfect as a Christmas appetizer. We are usually doing a lot of traveling at Christmas though, so I don't get to do much of the cooking. Enjoy!
Smoky Sesame Cheese Log
2-8 oz. packages Cream Cheese, softened (reduced-fat is fine, that is what I usually use)
1 c. (4 oz.) Monterey Jack cheese (I have also used Sharp Cheddar in a pinch and I think we might like that even better)
1/2 c. Bacon, cooked & crumbled
2 Tbsp. Sesame Seeds, toasted
2 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp. Liquid Smoke
Topping Ingredients:
1/2 c. Bacon, crumbled & cooked
1/2 c. Sesame Seeds, toasted
1 Tbsp. Chives, minced
Assorted Fresh Vegetables or Crackers
In a large bowl, beat the first five ingredients until blended. Add liquid smoke. Shape mixture into a log. Cover and refrigerate for 8 hours or overnight ( I sometimes speed up this process by just popping it in the freezer for 30 minutes or so before rolling it).
For topping, combine the bacon, sesame seeds, and chives; roll cheese log in topping. Serve with vegetables and/or crackers.
FYI: I usually use an entire 1 lb. package of bacon in this recipe (minus the couple slices that inevitably get stolen by my family while I am trying to cook;)
