Appetizers, Dips and Snacks: Dips and Spreads: Celery with Apricot Blue Cheese Spread

Filled with dried fruit and nuts, this spread tops crunchy sweet celery as a versatile snack food.

Author: Fruits & Veggies More Matters (courtesy of Duda Farm Fresh Foods)
Date: December 13, 2012

Serves: 8 person(s)
Yield: 8 x 3-stick servings (spread: 1.5 cups; about 1 Tbsp per stick)

Preparation Time: 15 mins
Cooking Time: 0 mins

Ingredients:

4 dried apricot halves
4 dried figs, pitted
1/4 cup pecans
2 Tbsp crumbled blue cheese, unpacked
3 Tbsp fat-free plain cream cheese
1/2 cup nonfat plain yogurt
8 stalks large celery (about 10 - 12 inches long)

Directions:

FOOD PROCESSOR METHOD: Place all ingredients in food processor. Pulse just until fruit and nuts are chopped. Refrigerate spread until ready for use. Slice celery stalks into 3- to 4-inch sticks (about 3 sticks per stalk). Fill celery pieces with spread.

ALTERNATE METHOD WITHOUT FOOD PROCESSOR: Chop dried apricots, dried figs, and pecans. With a fork and hand mixer, mix blue cheese, cream cheese, and yogurt until smooth. Stir in chopped dried fruit and pecans. Refrigerate spread until ready for use. Slice celery stalks into 3- to 4-inch sticks (about 3 sticks per stalk). Fill celery pieces with spread.

Variations:

Dried figs can be replaced with pitted dates.

Suggestion is not included in the nutritional analysis.