Olive trees, olive oil, black olives, green olives, kalamata olives, stuffed olives…you name it and we love them!
As we prepare for the holiday season we thought we might share a few recipes that include olives or olive oil for your enjoyment.
And this recipe is truly for your enjoyment and NOT for your health…or your waistline…or your motivation to exercise.
Extra Virgin Olive Oil has amazing health properties but this dip, even with olives, not so much.
But it tastes amazing. Warm, rich, and full of cheesy goodness and with a little bit of olives on top. Who can resist? It is easy and perfect for holiday parties or as a Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, or Christmas appetizer.
I am pretty sure you could make it a Southwestern Star of David dip if you were feeling particular festive and creative. And because it is so delicious you might want to double your recipe if you are serving a large crowd.
The original recipe appeared in Taste of Home and includes:
2 cups (8 oz) shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1 cup mayonnaise (sometimes we use ½ cup mayo and 4 oz. of cream cheese)
1 4.5 oz can of chopped ripe olives, drained, divided (or more! if you love olives as much as we do)
1 4 oz can chopped green chilis, undrained
¼ tsp. garlic powder
1/8 tsp hot pepper sauce
1 medium tomato chopped
¼ cup chopped green onions
Tortilla chips
Instructions:
In a bowl, combine cheese, mayonnaise (and cream cheese if you are using it), 1/3 cup olives, chilies, garlic powder and hot pepper sauce. Transfer to an ungreased 9-in. pie plate. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 20 minutes or until hot and bubbly.
Sprinkle tomato on top in the shape of a star; outline with remaining olives. Sprinkle onions around the star. Yield: 2-2/3 cups.
Our Mission
Our mission is to create a partnership between the Evangelical community and the nation of Israel; this partnership will produce employment, income, and revenue for humanitarian aid projects in Israel. We envision the planting of one-million olive trees over the next seven years. This relationship was prophesied in the Bible centuries ago, that the foreigners and strangers (those not of Jewish descent) would help rebuild the walls of Israel and cause the desert to bloom (Isa 35:1). Among other things, this reforestation is an environmental blessing for the entire region. May all who participate in this project be blessed body, soul and spirit; it is time for you to take root in Israel!