Barefoot Bloggers and Smoked Salmon Dip

I have decided to join a cooking group that blogs the same recipe every fortnight for a bit of fun and company. There are a lot of great groups out there doing this sort of thing, some blogging together weekly, some fortnightly or monthly. Anyone interested just needs to pick a group that seems to fit the type of food they like to cook. The one I have picked is the Barefoot Bloggers, who are working their way through the recipes of Ina Garten, (aka the Barefoot Contessa) an American cook who makes really delicious do-able food.

While I have a couple of recipes to complete for the group in the next month, I decided to start with one they have all just posted: Smoked Salmon Dip from the "Barefoot Contessa Family Style" by Ina Garten. A friend was unexpectedly coming to visit from interstate and this seemed a perfect opportunity to hop into action as a Barefoot Blogger. The dip was easy and fantastic, and my daughter is even having it on her school sandwiches today. My one slip-up was forgetting to buy dill - I'm sure it would have tasted even better had I remembered.

Smoked Salmon Spread adapted from "Barfeoot Contessa Family Style" by Ina Garten

250g cream cheese, at room temperature 1/2 cup sour cream 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice 1 tablespoon minced fresh dill 1 teaspoon prepared horseradish -- drained 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 250g smoked salmon, minced (the original recipe only called for 125g but I love a stronger balance of salmon than cream cheese).

Cream the cheese in an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment until just smooth. Add the sour cream, lemon juice, dill, horseradish, salt, and pepper, and mix. Add the smoked salmon and mix well. Chill and serve with crudites or crackers.