Warm Blue Cheese Dip With Garlic And Bacon - cooking recipe

Ingredients

7 slices bacon, diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
1/4 cup half-and-half
4 ounces blue cheese, crumbled
2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives
3 tablespoons chopped smoked almonds (about 1 oz.)

Preparation

Cook bacon in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat until almost crisp, about 7 minutes;drain excess fat from skillet.
Add garlic and cook until bacon is crisp, about 3 minutes.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Using electric mixer, beat cream cheese until smooth; add half and half and beat until combined.
Stir in bacon mixture, blue cheese and chives.
Transfer to 2-cup ovenproof baking dish; cover with foil.
(Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Bring to room temperature before continuing.).
Bake until heated through, about 30 minutes.
Sprinkle with chopped almonds and serve.