Modern twists on vintage recipes is a fun way to create new favorites. This garlic and herb cream cheese spread is inspired by a bland vintage recipe and turned into something delicious. And this wonderful recipe was kindly sponsored by Back to Nature.
I don’t think it’s any secret that I have a thing for the 1950’s and 1960’s. I love the clothes, music, home decor, and so much more. I even live in a home built in 1963 and it’s still largely original, complete with a pink bathroom. One thing I don’t tend to like though is the vintage food.
Some of it is just so weird. Why does there have to be so much gelatin?! And if you want to see something of nightmares check out this “pineapple” made from liver. Why was that ever a thing?
I do collect vintage cookbooks though. They are fun to look at and there can be hidden gems. One of my favorite vintage cookbooks is the Better Homes and Garden cookbook my grandma gave me. I’m not sure what year it’s from but likely late 50’s or 60’s.
I love looking through my cookbooks and sometimes find inspiration. When looking at appetizers one thing I found is they really liked cream cheese. One of the spreads was simply a bowl rubbed with a clove of garlic and cream cheese. Nothing is wrong with that but it’s rather bland.
Another ingredient used a lot in appetizers was ham, often deviled ham. Deviled ham is ground ham with spices, mayo, and a few other ingredients. It varies a bit based on location and eras. You still see it from time to time in the south. It’s not something high on my list of foods to eat.
I decided to put my own spin on these ingredients and make a vintage inspired appetizer. I created a cream cheese spread with more favor and instead of the deviled ham I used prosciutto. Pair these things with some delicious crackers and you have a wonderful appetizer. My favorite crackers are from Back to Nature. They have several great varies that are perfect for appetizers.
For this recipe I used Back to Nature’s Classic Round, Crispy Wheat, and Stoneground Wheat. They have several other varies that would work well. If you want to bring back the classic cocktail parties another great food to set out for your guess is nuts. Back to Nature has some great options for those as well, including trail mixes. It makes for an easy and quick snack, throw them in some cute bowls and you are good to go.
For the cheese spread I like to put it in a vintage dish and put some crackers and rolled prosciutto on a nice platter. Put both together on a cutting board for a great presentation.
Garlic Herb Cream Cheese Spread
Now it’s time to get your cheese spread mixed up. It takes just a few minutes once you let your cream cheese soften and can be made ahead, just make sure to let it soften again before your guests arrive.
Garlic Herb Cream Cheese Spread
Ingredients
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder or 1 clove of garlic minced
- 1/2 teaspoon of dried parsley
- Salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
- Beat all of the ingredients together.
- Taste and add more seasoning if needed.
- Put in a nice bowl and serve with Back to Natural crackers and rolled prosciutto.
Joanna
Many years ago, Chock Full O’ Nuts in NYC used to serve a sandwich. It was cinnamon raison bread with cream cheese and walnuts. My dear friend Hannah told me about it, and I now call it the Hannah Sandwich. It’s really yummy and healthy, too.