# What you'll need:
→ Cheese Spread
01 - 8 oz cream cheese, softened
02 - 1/2 cup sour cream
03 - 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
04 - 1 small garlic clove, minced
05 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
06 - 1/4 teaspoon paprika
07 - 1/2 teaspoon dried chives
08 - Salt, to taste
→ Decorations
09 - 12 to 16 mini sweet bell peppers (red, yellow, orange, green)
10 - 1/2 cup grape or cherry tomatoes, halved
11 - 1/2 cucumber, sliced thin
12 - Fresh parsley or dill sprigs
13 - Black olives, sliced
14 - 1 bunch fresh chives or green onions
→ To Serve
15 - Gluten-free crackers or baguette slices
16 - Assorted vegetable dippers (carrot sticks, celery, etc.)
# Method:
01 - In a medium bowl, combine cream cheese, sour cream, cheddar, garlic, black pepper, paprika, dried chives, and salt. Whisk until mixture is smooth and creamy.
02 - Evenly spread the cheese mixture on a large serving platter, shaping it into a wide oval or rectangle to resemble a string of lights.
03 - Lay fresh chives or green onion strips across the spread in winding loops to simulate light strings.
04 - Slice mini bell peppers lengthwise, removing seeds. Arrange pepper halves, tomato halves, cucumber slices, and olives along the chive wires to imitate Christmas bulbs. Place small olive slices atop each bulb to represent sockets.
05 - Decorate with fresh parsley or dill sprigs and serve immediately alongside gluten-free crackers and assorted vegetable dippers.
