Buttery Blue Cheese Spread with Walnuts

Yield: about 5 cups (24 appetizer servings)

Ingredients

• 3  (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
• 1/2  cup  butter, softened
• 1  (4-ounce) package crumbled blue cheese
• 1/2  cup  diced walnuts, toasted
• 1/2  cup  chopped fresh chives
• 1/4  cup  cream sherry (optional)
• 1  (16-ounce) round bread loaf
• Garnishes: toasted diced walnuts, chopped fresh chives, rosemary sprigs

Preparation

Stir together first 5 ingredients and, if desired, sherry in a large bowl; cover and chill mixture 8 hours. Let stand at room temperature to soften; or freeze spread up to 1 month, and thaw in the refrigerator for 8 hours.

Hollow out bread loaf, leaving a 1-inch-thick shell; reserve inside of loaf for other uses. Spoon softened cheese spread into shell. Garnish, if desired. Serve with sliced apples and pears or with toasted French baguette slices.