# What you'll need:
→ Cheese Spread
01 - 8 oz cream cheese, softened
02 - 1/2 cup sour cream
03 - 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
04 - 1 small garlic clove, minced
05 - 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
06 - 1/4 tsp paprika
07 - 1/2 tsp dried chives
08 - Salt, to taste
→ Decorations
09 - 12 to 16 mini sweet bell peppers (red, yellow, orange, green)
10 - 1/2 cup grape or cherry tomatoes, halved
11 - 1/2 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
# How to make it:
01 - Combine cream cheese, sour cream, cheddar, garlic, black pepper, paprika, chives, and salt in a medium bowl. Mix until smooth and creamy.
02 - Evenly spread the cheese mixture on a large serving platter, shaping it into a wide oval or rectangle resembling a string of lights.
03 - Arrange strips of fresh chives or green onions across the spread in a winding, looping pattern to mimic a string of Christmas lights.
04 - Slice mini bell peppers lengthwise and remove seeds. Place pepper halves, tomato halves, cucumber slices, and olives at intervals along the chives to represent bulbs. Top each bulb with a small olive slice to simulate sockets.
05 - Decorate with fresh parsley or dill sprigs to add a festive touch.
06 - Present immediately with gluten-free crackers and assorted vegetable dippers.
