Stuffed Bread Appetizers
Taste of Home's Holiday & Celebrations Cookbook
You may want to double the recipe for this hearty cold appetizer because I've found that folks just can't seem to stop eating it!
SERVINGS: 12
CATEGORY: Appetizer

METHOD: Chill
TIME: Prep/Total Time: 20 min. + chilling
Ingredients:
- 2 packages (one 8 ounces, one 3 ounces) cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup chopped celery
- 1 cup (4 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup chopped sweet red pepper
- 1/2 cup chopped water chestnuts
- 1 teaspoon garlic salt
- 1 loaf (26 inches) French bread, halved lengthwise
- Mayonnaise
- Dried parsley flakes
- 4 dill pickle spears
- 4 slices deli ham
Directions:
In a bowl, combine the first six ingredients. Hollow out top and bottom of bread, leaving a 1/2-in. shell (discard removed bread or save for another use). Spread thin layer of mayonnaise over bread; sprinkle with parsley. Fill each half with cheese mixture. Wrap pickle spears in ham; place lengthwise over cheese mixture on bottom half of loaf. Replace top; press together to seal. Wrap in foil; refrigerate overnight. Just before serving, cut into 1-in. slices. Yield: About 2 dozen.