# What You Need:
→ Cheese Spread
01 - 8 oz cream cheese, softened
02 - ½ cup sour cream
03 - 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
04 - 1 small garlic clove, minced
05 - ¼ teaspoon black pepper
06 - ¼ teaspoon paprika
07 - ½ teaspoon dried chives
08 - Salt, to taste
→ Decorations
09 - 12–16 mini sweet bell peppers (red, yellow, orange, green)
10 - ½ cup grape or cherry tomatoes, halved
11 - ½ cucumber, thinly sliced into 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 (carrot sticks, celery, etc.)
# Directions:
01 - Combine cream cheese, sour cream, cheddar, garlic, black pepper, paprika, dried 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 to resemble a string of lights.
03 - Place fresh chives or green onion strips across the spread in a winding, looping pattern to mimic a string of lights.
04 - Slice mini bell peppers lengthwise and remove seeds; place pepper halves, tomato halves, cucumber slices, and olives periodically along the chives to represent light bulbs, topping each with a small olive slice as the socket.
05 - Decorate with fresh parsley or dill sprigs for a festive finish.
06 - Serve immediately alongside gluten-free crackers or baguette slices and assorted vegetable dippers.
