Everyone in Tori’s family has a passion for cooking. So when they get together, they enjoy spending time in the kitchen cooking together. Fortunately, we found out in book one that Ben has a few culinary tricks up his sleeve as well, making him an ideal partner for Tori as well as a worthy ‘son’ in the Cooper family.
Here’s another one of Ben’s specialties, which happens to also be one of Tori’s favorites!
Guardians of the Chosen, Chapter 9 “…Tori smiled when she saw the large platter in the center of the table with her favorite assortment of smoked trout, capers, red onion, fresh dill and sliced breads. Then she saw the bowl beside the platter. “Oh! You made your Creamy Pesto Cheese Spread! I love that stuff! This looks wonderful,” she exclaimed, now realizing how hungry she actually was.
“Thanks! I was hoping you hadn’t had dinner yet,” he replied.
“No. We didn’t have time,” Tori admitted, taking a seat at the table.
Ben poured the wine while Tori slathered several slices of bread with the spread and set them on the plate in front of her. She took a bite from one of the slices and closed her eyes, contentedly. “Oh my gosh, this is so good!”
Ben laughed, handing her a glass. “Thanks! Here’s your wine.”
“Yum, thank you,” she sang happily, taking another bite….”
Ben’s Creamy Pesto Cheese Spread
Ingredients:
1 block reduced fat cream cheese
1/3 cup finely shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup light mayonnaise
½ teaspoon kosher salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
3 cloves garlic, minced
½ cup fresh pesto
1 sprig basil leaves
1 loaf Italian or other fresh baked bread, sliced diagonally
1 cup marinara sauce
Directions:
1) Combine the first six ingredients in a large bowl or food processor and beat until smooth.
2) Line a small bowl with plastic wrap. Spread one-third of the cheese mixture in the bottom of the bowl and then layer half of the pesto on top of the cheese mixture.
3) Repeat step 2 with remaining cheese, pesto where your final layer is the cheese mixture.
4) Gently tap the bowl on a counter/table to compact the layers and remove any air.
5) Cover bowl with plastic wrap and chill 8 hours (until firm) or overnight.
6) Remove plastic wrap from bowl and invert onto serving plate, removing the plastic wrap liner.
7) Garnish spread with sprig of basil leaves.
8) Serve dip with bread and marinara sauce.
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