Guest Gail Oust's Layered Crabmeat Spread

Hi Everyone,

I’m Gail Oust, author of the Bunco Babe Mysteries for NAL, and a first-time blogger.  I happened to meet Wendy recently at Malice Domestic, and she kindly invited me to be a guest at Mystery Lover’s Kitchen.  If any of you have ever played bunco (a simple, strictly social, dice game,) you know munchies and drinks are as important as the numbers we roll—sometimes even more so.  

I thought I’d share one my favorites with you for a spread that’s always a big hit.

LAYERED CRABMEAT SPREAD

1 (8 oz.) package of cream cheese

2 Tbs. lemon juice

1 Tbs. mayonnaise

½ tsp. seasoned salt

½ tsp. lemon pepper

¼ tsp. Worcestershire sauce

¾ cup cocktail sauce

1 (6 oz.) can crabmeat, drained

2 cups (8 oz.) shredded Monterey Jack cheese

3 green onions, chopped

½ green bell pepper, chopped

½ cup sliced ripe olives (optional)

Beat cream cheese at medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth; add lemon juice and next 4 ingredients, beating until blended.  Spoon mixture into a 9” serving dish.  Cover and chill at least 20 minutes.

Spread cocktail sauce evenly over cream cheese mixture.  Top with crabmeat; sprinkle with cheese, green onions, bell pepper, and ripe olives if desired.

Serve with assorted crackers or fresh vegetables. 

For fewer calories, I use 1/3 less fat cream cheese, light mayo, and 2% reduced fat cheese.

~~~~~

Once a mystery lover, always a mystery lover.  Former romance writer (historicals) Gail Oust turned to the dark side when a a golf buddy remarked that something smelled rotten in the underbrush.  "Maybe it's a dead body" comment became the basis for Bunco Babe Mysteries.  Shake, Murder, and Roll, released in May is the third of the series.  Be sure to visit Gail's website.