Smeerkase

Servings:       6
Yield:             1 Cup

Preparation Time:   10 minutes
Cooking Time:          0

Start to finish:           10 minutes

Ingredients

8 Oz  Cottage Cheese, drained, as needed

3 T    Cream

2 T    Chives, chopped

1 T    Caraway Seed

Instructions

1.   Press the Cottage Cheese through a fine sieve.

2.   Add remaining items to the puree and mix well.

3.   Refrigerate one hour or longer until served.

-----Notes-----
This is a quite a common German appetizer and surprises guests not only with the simplicity but also the flavor of Caraway – so little used in American cooking.
---
Variations
Instead of the Caraway Seeds use grated onion or beets, finely diced smoked fish or shrimp, bacon, ham or other smoked meat are all good examples of what you can do with this appetizer to fit the occasion.
---
Service
With your favorite cracker or Melba Toast.   I like to use Table Water Crackers as they are light and have no real flavor themselves to mask the mild Caraway flavor.
---
History
As served by the now long defunct Heidelberg Inn.

---

Pepper Jelly Dip

Servings:                   6

Yield:                         1.5 Cups

Preparation Time:   5 minutes

Cooking Time:         0 minutes

Start to finish:          5 minutes

Ingredients

8 oz     Cream Cheese, at room temperature

4 oz     Pepper Jelly

Instructions

1.     Mix Cream Cheese and Pepper Jelly until well combined.

2.     Cover and chill until ready to serve.

-----Notes-----

I tend to stock up Harry & David’s, Pepper and Onion Jelly with Zinfendel, whenever I find it for sale!  Great appetizer for the Holiday Season and stores well!

---

Variations

There are many brands of pepper jellies on the market, some mild and pleasant – others which would kill me just to smell them!  You be the judge, its your tongue and friends!

---

Service

Great with vegetables, melba toast or table water crackers.

---

History

I have made this for decades – at the suggestion of a neighboring camper I met while camped on the California border one year.  Mighty good idea, from an unknown fellow camper.

---