Toasted Almond Spread

Last night we celebrated my dad's 80th birthday. (He turned 80 on Sunday.) Almost all of my relatives that came to the open house/birthday party asked for a recipe for this yummy cheese spread. I'd like to claim it as one that I, with all my inspiration and talent, created. But I didn't. This recipe is a Christmas tradition of the Forsyth family, friends of ours who kindly shared it with us.

TOASTED ALMOND SPREAD

1 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese, softened
1 1/2 cups shredded Swiss cheese (6 oz.)
1/3 cup Miracle Whip
2 Tbsp. chopped green onions
1/8 tsp. ground nutmeg
1/8 tsp. pepper
1/3 cups sliced almonds, toasted *

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine all ingredients; mix well. Spread mixture into a 9-inch pie plate. Bake for 15 minutes, stirring after 8 minutes. [oops! I didn't stir after 8 minutes!] Garnish with additional toasted sliced almonds, if desired. Serve with assorted crackers or toasted bread.

*You can toast the almonds one or two tablespoons at a time in your hot-air popcorn popper. Just let it run for about 10 seconds. Otherwise just stir them in a hot frying pan on the stove. Be careful! They are nasty if they burn. But they are so much more delicious toasted than raw!

Yum!