Herbal Spread

 This is so delicious. Think of it as a base for all your herbal dip imagination. I fresh picked the herbs from the garden. I had it on olive crackers from Trader Joe’s and an everything bagel. 

I made 1/4 this recipe and mixed it by hand. 

8 ounces plain cream cheese, at room temperature

1/2 cup fresh goat cheese, at room temperature

1/4 cup sour cream

2 tablespoons freshly grated pecorino cheese

1 garlic clove, finely minced

2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh dill

2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh mint

2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh basil

2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh chives

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

IN THE BOWL OF a stand mixer fitted with the paddle

attachment, combine the cream cheese,

goat cheese, and sour cream. Beat on

medium-high speed until the mixture is fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Add the pecorino and garlic and beat for 1 minute, just to combine. Add the dill, mint, basil, chives, and pepper and beat to combine.

Vietnamese Chicken Salad with Sweet Lime-Garlic Dressing (GOI GÀ)

 “The taster” took this photograph of dinner tonight. Green are all from the garden. They were meant to be edible decorations and we ate them all! I’m only missing the jalapeño and cilantro but it was fine. 

	INGREDIENTS
	1/3 CUP LIME JUICE, PLUS LIME WEDGES, TO SERVE
3.5	TABLESPOONS FISH SAUCE
1½	TEASPOONS WHITE SUGAR
2	MEDIUM GARLIC CLOVES, FINELY GRATED
1	SMALL RED ONION, QUARTERED LENGTHWISE AND THINLY SLICED
3	CUPS SHREDDED COOKED CHICKEN
	MEDIUM HEAD GREEN OR RED CABBAGE (14 OUNCES), CORED AND SHREDDED (ABOUT 4 CUPS)
4	MEDIUM CARROTS, PEELED AND SHREDDED ON THE LARGE HOLES OF A BOX GRATER (ABOUT 2 CUPS
3	MEDIUM JALAPEÑO CHILIES, STEMMED, HALVED LENGTHWISE AND THINLY SLICED
1	CUP LIGHTLY PACKED FRESH BASIL, TORN
1	CUP LIGHTLY PACKED FRESH CILANTRO LEAVES AND TENDER STEMS, ROUGHLY CHOPPED
1½2	Cups ROASTED, SALTED PEANUTS, ROUGHLY CHOPPED

DIRECTIONS

In a small bowl, stir together the lime juice, fish sauce, sugar and garlic, until the sugar dissolves. Add the onion and let stand for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

In a large bowl, toss together the chicken, cabbage, carrots, chilies, basil and cilantro. Pour on the red onion-dressing mixture and toss. Toss in half of the peanuts, then transfer to a serving bowl. Sprinkle with the remaining peanuts and serve with lime wedges on the side.