I was afraid, that if I turned my back on a half of a block of cream cheese and some leftover black olives one more day, that I’d wake up to find one or both moldy. And if there’s one thing that I absolutely despise, it’s anything going to waste! So I whipped up a small batch of this ultra-creamy, Cream Cheese Garlic & Onion Black Olive Dip for a little snack for the hubs and I to enjoy while watching our new favorite show, “This Is Us”, and what a delicious treat it was!!

Super simple ingredients come together in a matter of minutes. Just cream cheese, a little sour cream, the olives, onions, and a few seasonings is all! And you’ve got yourself a nice little treat to watch a great show or favorite movie with! (Why are shows and movies even better when you have a munchie to go with?)

I normally let this chill in the fridge for at least an hour or more to firm back up, but we were all ready to watch TV and there was no time to chill it at all, so we just devoured this as it was…and it was DELICIOUS. A little soft-set, but ohhhhhh so creamy! And totally scoop-able. So you’re good to go either way, really.

My hubby’s favorite, and mine too, is Ritz crackers, so that’s what we enjoyed this dip with. But you could most certainly serve this with toasted baguette slices, bagel chips, fresh veggies, or even regular ole potato chips! I just used what we had on hand, and we always have a sleeve or two of Ritz hanging around! I also used my favorite black olives, Pearls Olives! They’re just right! Never mushy, always intact so they’re reliable, and the same olives I’ve used since I first learned how to cook!

You can also easily change this up by using green olives, (plain, or garlic or pimiento-stuffed, or even kalamata! The seasonings can also be adjusted to your own tastes, too, so play with it however you like! Want some chopped hot or sweet peppers in there? Add it! Have a leftover veggie that needs to be used? Carrots? Celery? Maybe a dab of cheddar? Chop it, shred it, and add that, too! Dips like this are just a wonderful and fun way to make sure that “this and thats” never end up being thrown away.

Other uses for this could also be a spread in a sandwich or wrap, a base for a retro-style chilled veggie pizza, or even a filling for some stuffed chicken breasts, burgers, or other appetizers! It’s uses are endless, really!

So if you’re looking for a super easy, incredibly creamy, and sinfully delicious way to use that “other half” of a block of cream cheese, and a few other things hanging out in the fridge, use this as a basic guide and just have fun! Play with your food! And, as always, enjoy!

Oh, and if watching tonight’s episode of “This Is Us”, too, don’t forget the bottle of wine and jumbo, COSTCO-sized box of kleenex to go with!!

*Though this isn’t a “sponsored post”, many thanks to Pearls Olives for choosing my Facebook comment as a winner! I won a nice amount of coupons for free olives! Thank you, Pearls! You really made my day!! 😀

Yield: 2 servings

Cream Cheese Garlic & Onion Black Olive Dip

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Ingredients

• 4 oz. cream cheese, softened
• 1/4 cup thick sour cream
• 18 quality medium (pitted) black olives, drained and chopped (I used Pearls Olives)
• 2 Tbl. very finely chopped onion
• 1/4 tsp. cajun seasoning such as Slap Ya Mama
• 1/8 tsp. garlic powder
• 1/8 tsp. regular salt
• 1/8 tsp. onion powder
• 1/16 tsp. cayenne
• Garnish with light dusting of paprika (or more cayenne for an extra kick of heat!)
• crackers, toasted baguette slices, and/or fresh veggies for serving and dipping

Instructions

In small to medium bowl, add dip ingredients. Combine until very well mixed. Chill for at least 20 - 30 minutes and keep chilled until ready to serve.

Serve with crackers or veggies for dipping. Garnish with a sprinkling of paprika (or cayenne) if desired.

Notes

*Tip: I slightly warm my cream cheese in the bowl I'm using in the microwave for a few seconds until just soft enough to stir, but not melty. Then add the rest of the ingredients for easy stirring and mixing. Once everything is mixed in, just chill.