Supper Club Grub ~ Cheese Spread

If you’re a Tipsy follower then you may or may not know that I have a Wisconsin Supper Club Obsession. If you don’t know what a Wisconsin Supper Club is, then you can read about the history of it  HERE. Of course everyone who knows about Supper Clubs knows that they are known for their Brandy Old Fashioned Cocktail. In fact I wrote a whole blog post about the Old Fashioned called “A Waitress Named Diane”. They are also known for having delicious Midwestern Fare like Prime Rib, Fresh Fried Fish Fry’s and Broasted Chicken. I of course love all of these things but there are two other things I REALLY love about Supper Clubs. One is the cheese spread that most offer complimentary while you wait for your table. Typically the cheese spread is either Swiss Almond or Cheddar and they are always served with buttery crackers. The second is the classic salad bar. You know the kind, a plethora of Iceberg Lettuce, Cheddar Cheese, Cottage Cheese, Canned Peaches, Bacon Bits and Tangy French Dressing. There is something delightful about a salad that combines all the salty sweet flavors from that salad bar. Perfection. Last night my family and I decided to dine at a Land O’ Lakes, Wisconsin favorite, The Gateway Lodge. The Gateway has been around since 1938. The Gateway has that salad bar I speak of and that perfect Old Fashioned but they also offer diners a delicious Salmon Spread on the table while you wait for your meal.This spread was delicious and it was more cheesy than it was fishy, which was just fine by me. It was hard not to fill up on this while waiting for our dinner. But I managed to eat it and still enjoyed a lovely dinner with family. All of this had me thinking up a new recipe. Tasked with creating some snacks for my family over the Fourth of July holiday week, and my recent obsession with creating dips and spreads, (See My Doritos Chip Dip Recipe) I decided to try to create a cheese spread at home that combined my love of the complimentary cheese spread and the salad bar delights of the classic Wisconsin Supper Club.  I wanted something tangy and sweet, yet savory and spreadable. A light bulb went off and I started to gather ingredients. Bacon, French Dressing and Cheddar Cheese were a MUST. I think I created a unique recipe that is a testimony to my beloved Supper Club, but is a also fun new appetizer that you can bring to parties. Here is what you will need:

• 1 Package of Cream Cheese Softened
• 1 8ox Package of Shredded Cheddar, I used Sharp Cheddar
• 1/4 C of Tangy French Dressing (you can add more to taste)
• 1 T of Garlic Powder
• 1 Package of Ranch Salad Dressing Mix
• 1 C of Sour Cream
• 1 Cup Chopped Bacon, I used the pre-cooked kind. You can use Bacon Bits or Fresh Bacon too.
• 1/2 C of thinly sliced green onions, make sure you save a few for the top.

Simple ingredients that do not cost a lot of money. The steps are simple too:

1. Use a whisk to combine the cream cheese, french dressing and the sour cream until smooth.
2. Add in the garlic powder and ranch salad dressing mix.
3. Fold in the chopped bacon and the cheddar cheese with a spoon.
4. Finally combine the green onions, and reserve a few for the garnish.
5. Refrigerate overnight so that the flavors can combine.
6. When you are ready to serve, display on a plate with some buttery crackers like Ritz or Townhouse. Top with the green onions.

This spread couldn’t have turned out better in my personal opinion. It had the all of the flavors I had hoped and it was super easy to make.If you make it, be sure to post a picture and tag me on Facebook at @tipsywife or on Instagram @thetipsyhousewifeEnjoy!For another great dip recipe, check out my recipe for Doritos Chip Dip