Stuffed Celery Bites (Italian Style) - cooking recipe

Ingredients

nonstick cooking spray
2 tablespoons pine nuts
1 garlic clove, minced
8 stalks celery
1 (8 ounce) container cream cheese (or cream cheese with sun-dried tomatoes)
1/4 cup shredded Italian cheese blend
2 tablespoons dry roasted sunflower seeds
celery leaves (optional)

Preparation

Lightly coat a skillet with nonstick cooking spray. Add pine nuts and minced garlic. Cook over medium heat for 3 to 5 minutes or until nuts are golden brown, stirring frequently. Set aside.
Remove tops and wide base from celery stalks.
In a small bowl stir together the creeam cheese and Italian cheese blend. Spread or spoon cheese mixture into celery.
Cut each filled stalk of celery into 2-inch pieces.
Sprinkle half the pieces with the pine nut mixture and half with the sunflower seeds.
If desired, top with celery leaves.