Bacon Blue Cheese Dip

I love blue cheese.  So does Connie.  One of our favorite dishes is Chicken Elegante.  We still laugh over the fact that my ex, when served Chicken Elegante for dinner, got up from the table and fixed himself a pb and j.  Connie's taste, however, is so similar to mine as to be uncanny.  On one of our early dates, we went out for pizza.  I was gazing longingly at the description of one with gobs of anchovies.  He rather tentatively asked if I like anchovies.  Like???  I love the things.  The same is true of olives and capers and pickles and bacon and salami and ......  You get the idea.  There's not much we don't like.  When I saw this recipe with the bacon and the blue cheese, it had to go on the list for Judy's not-surprise birthday party.  Since it had to bake, it came out of the oven after most of the party guests had already gorged themselves on baked goat cheese, garlic shrimp toasts and all the goodies Carl (Judy's husband) had put out.  Consequently, we took about half home.  But, let me tell you, the half that was devoured got RAVE reviews!

On Sunday, I got home from the office just before kickoff of the Colts game.  There was no way I was going to miss that and spend the late afternoon and early evening in the kitchen.  I figured I'd give Connie some of the leftover dip to munch on and I'd fix something light later.  My bad.  I gave him the casserole dish and the bag of leftover baguette slices.  I took a little bit for myself with a few Triscuits.  Now, because I don't sit still during games, he watches in the living room and I watch in the family room.  That way I can use the computer, read the paper, clip recipes, pace...  and not disturb him.  The only time we meet in the middle - the entry hall - is when the Colts score.  At halftime I went in the living room and found an empty casserole dish.  I commented that he'd obviously just had dinner and such a healthy - NOT - dinner it was.  He was one happy camper!!!  I guess it's ok every once in a while to have something like that for dinner!! 

A couple of notes here.  This is much better warm than cold.  I upped the amount of walnuts considerably so they'd form a crust on top.  And, I used lowfat cream cheese and milk instead of the full fat and half and half.  It was still wonderful and decadent.  Many thanks to Rachel at Our Blissfully Delicious Life for this fantastic recipe. 


Bacon Blue Cheese Dip

Ingredients:
7 bacon slices, chopped
2 cloves garlic, finely minced
2 8 oz packages cream cheese (I used lowfat)
1/3 c half and half or milk (I used 25 milk)
4 oz crumbled blue cheese
2 T chives
1/2 c walnuts, chopped and toasted

Directions:
Brown the bacon in a medium skillet. 

Remove the bacon and drain it.  Briefly saute the garlic in the bacon drippings.  Remove the garlic.  Beat the cream cheese until fluffy.  Add the milk and continue beating.  Fold in the bacon, garlic, blue cheese and chives.  Spoon into an oven-proof baking dish. 

Top with the walnuts.  Bake at 350 for about 15-20 minutes or until the dip is bubbling.  Serve with very thin slices of baguette or crackers or flatbread.