Clams Casino Dip/spread

Total Time: 30 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 15 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 6
• 2 (6 1/2 ounce) cans minced clams, with juice
• 1 lb cream cheese, at room temperature (2 eight ounce boxes)
• 6 -8 slices bacon
• 1/2 tablespoon butter
• 1 jalapeno, minced (seeded and membrane removed)
• 1/2 cup small diced red bell pepper
• 1/3 cup small diced celery
• 2 minced garlic cloves
• 1/4 cup minced green onion, save tops for garnish
• 1/2 lemon, juice of
• hot sauce (a few drops)
• fresh ground black pepper
• ritz cracker, to serve

Recipe

• 1 cut bacon into 1/4-inch pieces and saute in a skillet with the butter over medium heat 'til completely crisp; drain the fat and reserve the bacon to a plate.
• 2 in same pan with about 1 teaspoon of the drippings saute the jalapeno, red bell pepper, celery, garlic and green onion over medium heat until just the veggies just barely start to soften (about 3 minutes); now add the juice from one can of clams and reduce over high heat until almost all the liquid has evaporated, about another three minutes. remove mixture to a plate and allow to cool to room temperature before adding to the cream cheese.
• 3 in a mixing bowl combine the cream cheese with the cooled mixture, and stir in the remaining ingredients.
• 4 transfer into your serving dish and garnish top with a tablespoon or so of the crisp bacon and the green onion tops.
• 5 serve warm or at room temperature with ritz crackers or a good bread.