Cheddar Cheese-Bacon Dip

Ingredients

• 1 slices apple crackers assorted
• 7 slices bacon chopped
• 16 oz cream cheese softened
• 2 tablespoons parsley fresh chopped
• 2  garlic cloves minced
• 0.3 cup half-and-half 
• 3 tablespoons pecans chopped
• 4 ounces sharp cheddar cheese shredded

Equipment

• frying pan
• paper towels
• oven
• baking pan
• hand mixer

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 35
2. Bake pecans in single layer in a shallow pan 6 to 8 minutes or until toasted and fragrant, stirring after 3 minutes.
3. Cook bacon in a skillet over medium-high heat, stirring often, 10 minutes or until crisp.
4. Remove bacon, and drain on paper towels, reserving 1 Tbsp. drippings in skillet.
5. Add minced garlic to hot drippings, and saut 1 minute.
6. Beat cream cheese at medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth.
7. Add half-and-half, beating until combined. Stir in bacon, garlic, Cheddar cheese, and parsley. Spoon mixture into 4 (1-cup) baking dishes or 1 (1-qt.) baking dish.
8. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes or until golden and bubbly.
9. Sprinkle with pecans; serve with apple slices and assorted crackers.