What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? Graze or Gobble: Olive Cheese Spread! Olives aren’t just for martinis, you know. In fact, their slightly sea salt flavor seduces the tongue with the spicy sweetness of a pimento hidden inside. The buttery cream cheese embraces everything like a barefoot hug that sways to the music. Sounds a little bit like a party, doesn’t it? Permission granted. 

OLIVE CHEESE SPREAD

Ingredients:

8-ounces cream cheese, softened 

2 tablespoons butter, room temperature

1/2 cup finely chopped pimento-stuffed Spanish olives

1/2 cup pecans, chopped 

1 tablespoon fresh chives, chopped 

Instructions:

Combine softened cream cheese and butter. Mix well until smooth. Fold in finely chopped olives. On a sheet of waxed paper, form cream cheese mixture into a log. Twist ends to secure. Chill 30 minutes in the refrigerator. Roll cream cheese log in chopped pecans. Garnish with olive slices and fresh chives. Serve.