Welcome to Gaia! ::

This dip is just delightful. It's also my trade secret, so I am trusting it to you, my loveing guildmates.

Here is what you will require:

1 Block of cream cheese

1 strip of smoked salmon

1/2 of a red pepper

2 Large artichoke hearts, cut into pieces. A can of artichoke hearts in oil will suffice.

Olive oil

1 tbsp of Worchestershire sauce

1 clove freshly cut garliv

Preperation:

Begin by soaking your artichoke hearts in olive oil. If you have a can or jar of prepared artichoke hearts in oil, you may omit this step.

Add the chopped garlic to the hearts and oil, and put on a baking sheet with the sliced red pepper. Roast the pepper and hearts. This should be done on a low heat, approximately 150 degrees over a period of a few hours.

If you're pressed for time, you make bake them at a medium heat (~350 degrees) for about 15 minutes.

Take the sheet out of the over, and scrape the contents into a blender, first peeling the skins off the pepper.

Except for the excess oil residue which may be on the pan (Save that for cooking pasta heart )

Blend well wil the rest of the ingredients. You may add just a tbsp of sour cream, if it's a little too thick.

Serve with your favorite cracker, I find it best goes with New-York style flatbreads.

I'm trying to think of a good substitute for salmon... maybe steamed tofu + liquid smoke?

surprised

wow i have gotta try that! ahh sounds sooo good