MANILA, Philippines — Now that the holidays are here, expect family, friends and relatives to come a-calling unannounced. So you need to have some visitor-friendly food in the refrigerator ready for just-in-case moments like these.
If you have a versatile dip, such as the Mera Cream Cheese, Dried Fruit and Walnut Ball created by Chef Jill Sandique for Innobake, you can serve cookies with it and your visitors will totally enjoy it.
Here is how to make one.
Mera Cream Cheese, Dried Fruit and Walnut Ball
Ingredients:
225 grams (1 cup) Mera Cream Cheese, softened
3/4 cup minced dried fruits (apricots, raisins, dates, figs, cranberries, mangoes, pineapple, cherries, melon etc.)
Confectioners’ sugar, as needed
Toasted walnuts, pecans, almonds or pistachios
Cookies, more dried fruits and nuts
Procedure:
1. Put cream cheese in a small bowl and mix until smooth.
2. Add dried fruits and stir to combine. Taste and add some confectioners’ sugar if the mixture is too bland. Cover bowl with plastic film and chill until needed.
3. When ready to serve, chop toasted nuts until medium-fine. Roll the dried fruit-cream cheese mixture into a ball (about the size of a tennis ball) and coat with the chopped nuts.
4. Place on a serving platter and serve with cookies, more dried fruits and nuts.
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