BH&G Snacks and Refreshments: Hearty Clam Delight

Hello, darlings! Did everyone have a happy Christmas? I hope that you were able to have a day off and spend some time with your families–or doing whatever you fancy. Brian and I are visiting Pittsburgh for a bit and are enjoying all of this wintry weather!

Earlier this month, back in Baltimore, I was invited to a cocktail party hosted by my friends Rick and Ronny (They are the owners of RetroFurn). They are two of my favorite party hosts–and it was their last shindig that I brought the Party Cheese Ball!

Their holiday party was especially full of cheer because they live right in the middle of the famous Christmas light display on 34th Street.

This is the vantage point from their porch. Just imagine hundreds of folks milling about and a street full of minivans with children dangling out of windows and sunroofs. MADNESS.

So I had to bring something extra-special for this soiree. Something festive and delightful. But what?

hearty clam delight
How can it be both hearty and delightful?

Way back when I started this project, one of the tenets that I wanted to adhere to was frugality (waste not want not, hunties!) and this dish is a good example of that.

You see, at my workplace, breakfast meetings and luncheons and receptions are regularly held; and there are always leftovers. Sometimes copious amounts of leftovers. Disgusting amounts of leftovers. So sometimes I loot the workplace fridge for food that’s just going to go bad.

This particular day there was a ridiculous amount of cream cheese in the fridge. Pounds of cream cheese. So I figured that no one would notice if I nabbed 8 oz to make some dip.

So I selected Hearty Clam Delight, from Better Homes & Gardens Snacks and Refreshments, as my party offering.

I had all of the ingredients on-hand with the exception of some canned minced clams, so this really was thrifty. And pretty easy with the stand mixer. I just did a little “set it and forget it” and let the KitchenAid do its magic.

Of course I can’t leave well enough alone so this is how I modified the recipe to my taste:

  • 6 oz cream cheese
  • 6 0z can minced clams
  • 1 tsp horseradish
  • 1/2 tsp garlic salt
  • 1 tbsp Worcestershire
  • 1 tsp hot sauce
  • 4 tbsp chopped green onion
  • 2 tbsp chopped parsley
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • TONS of Old Bay on top of mix

The result was good. Not particularly hearty, but indeed delightful. I mean, I put clam dip in a clam! Isn’t it precious?

DSCF4805

The dip wasn’t bland (it might have been, had I stayed with the original recipe), but it wasn’t overly clammy, either. It got pretty good reviews from the party-goers. A few said that there was something nostalgic about it–that the taste took them back to being a kid. I just love it when food does that.

 

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0 thoughts on “BH&G Snacks and Refreshments: Hearty Clam Delight

  1. Em,

    Just one observation. If you thought no one at work would notice that you “heisted” 8 oz. of cream cheese, they do now. Did I not teach you better? Don Corleone would be gravely disappointed.

  2. OK – when I move to Baltimore – and that could be any time from January the 1st 2013 – I am going to live on 34th Street.

    I have absolutely no understanding of how anything clam related can be edible but I DO love your serving of the clammy thing in a clammy dish. I’m not even sure that we can BUY clams here. But even if we can, I’m not going to. They give me the willies. canned – minced – clams – shivers…

    And there is that Old Bay whatever it is making an appearance again. It’s a shame they don’t do transatlantic foodie pen pals (after reading about it chez vous I have registered for the UK one) because if they did and I got you I would DEMAND some Old Bay (whatever it is).

    Very much looking forward to your 2013 adventures – love from Jenny your very British (and currently very drunk) correspondent.

    1. Jenny, I love it when you read me drunk.
      Email me your address and i will ship you some Old Bay ASAP.
      Also, what kind of clams do they have on your side of the Atlantic? Razor? I know very little about European mollusks.

  3. oooh that sounds tempting! Definitely the Bawlmer-inspired version w/ the Old Bay and all. I actually have a delish artery clogging hot clam dip made with ritz crackers and loads of butter that you’ve made me think of, I may just have to whip some up! (as if my arteries aren’t blocked solid from all the holiday eating :-))

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