# Components:
→ Cheese Spread
01 - 8 oz cream cheese, softened
02 - ½ cup sour cream
03 - 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
04 - 1 small garlic clove, minced
05 - ¼ tsp black pepper
06 - ¼ tsp paprika
07 - ½ tsp dried chives
08 - Salt, to taste
→ Decorations
09 - 12–16 mini sweet bell peppers (red, yellow, orange, green)
10 - ½ cup grape or cherry tomatoes, halved
11 - ½ cucumber, sliced into thin rounds
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 such as carrot sticks and celery
# Directions:
01 - In a medium bowl, combine cream cheese, sour cream, cheddar, garlic, black pepper, paprika, dried chives, and salt. Stir until 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 - Arrange fresh chives or green onion strips across the spread in a winding, looping pattern to mimic a string of holiday lights.
04 - Slice mini bell peppers lengthwise and remove seeds. Place pepper halves, tomato halves, cucumber slices, and olive slices at intervals along the chive wires to represent Christmas bulbs and sockets.
05 - Garnish the arrangement with fresh parsley or dill sprigs. Serve immediately with gluten-free crackers and assorted vegetable dippers.
