This is it. For home cooks, December is the big show, the one we all train for. As someone once said, it’s the most wonderful time of the year, a sentiment I wholeheartedly agree with. One of the things I love best about December is that it gives me a reason to spend hours in the kitchen creating all my favorite things. On any given day this month, it is likely I will be in my kitchen baking cookies, dipping chocolates or waiting for bread to rise. I can’t think of anything better at the holidays than making gifts to feed the people I love with special sweet treats.

I also love to try new things, so in the last few years I’ve worked on expanding my repertoire of treats that aren’t so sugary. I love a classic spinach dip in a bread bowl or a slow cooker full of glazed meatballs, which are perfect when I host a gathering. Some years, though, I don’t get to host much and find that I am more often a guest looking for ways to show how much I love being included in a fun evening with friends rather than coming up with a menu.

Baked goods and candy are always a gift worth giving, but I especially love food gifts that can stand a little time in storage to be enjoyed after some of the hubbub has died down. Enter the cheese spread. Most spreads start with a block of cream cheese as a sort of canvas for all sorts of tasty mix ins. Add a box of buttery crackers (or more grown-up water crackers) and you’ve got the makings of some delicious hors d’oeuvres.

The recipe I’ve shared here is deceptively simple. Throw together a few ordinary ingredients and you’ve got a cheese spread that tastes like something special. It’s a horseradish-forward spread, so in addition to being a fun appetizer, it’s an excellent condiment if you happen to have prime rib or roast on your holiday menu. I also like to spread this on bread and put it under the broiler until it’s bubbly and pleasingly golden for fancy-pants cheese toast that makes a simple cup of soup feel like a complete and satisfying meal.

Packed into a pretty airtight container and tied with a holiday ribbon, this makes a nice gift that can be served right away or saved in the fridge for up to a month. If the flavor profile for this spread is not one that appeals to you, the same approach works for almost any recipe for a cheese ball or pub cheese. Wrapped up along with a box of fancy crackers, this is a gift that nearly anyone would be happy to get. It’s likely that this cheesy goodness will be long gone before the month is out, but if you happen to gift this to someone who finds themselves overwhelmed with holiday treats, this one will hold long enough to make an outstanding snack for a game day party or even to just liven up a dreary January afternoon.

So head into the kitchen and whirl up a batch of this spread to share with the people you love best. Whether they have been naughty or nice, this gift will be cheesy in the best way for everyone on your list.

 

Simple Horseradish Cheddar Cheese

This is delicious as a topper for crackers or crusty bread. For a festive touch, top it with chopped dried apricots or your favorite fruit preserves. If you like, add a splash of white wine or beer to the cheese mixture.

• 1 pound sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
• 8 ounces cream cheese at room temperature
• ¼ cup prepared horseradish
• ¼ tsp nutmeg
• Salt and pepper to taste

In a stand mixer, combine all listed ingredients. Chill for at least an hour before serving with crackers, bread or veggie dippers.

 

 

Article and photo by Lisa Crockett