Pumpkin Dip

With so many GOOOOD foods out there that call for cream cheese for the holidays, is there any wonder why so very much cream cheese is brought in caseload by caseload this time of the year???

8 ounces of softened cream cheese

2 cups powdered sugar

14 ounces of pumpkin (smooth)

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon orange extract

gingersnaps

In a medium mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese and powdered sugar together until no visible sugar remains. Add the pumpkin, cinnamon and orange extract. Blend very well.

Pour or spoon this pumpkin mixture into a nice serving bowl. Smooth out the top with a rubber spatula or tablespoon. Set aside.

Now, place several gingersnaps into a ziplock bag. Use a rolling pin to crush the gingersnaps. Sprinkle the crumbs over the top of the dip. They do NOT have to completely cover the pumpkin.

Put out whole gingersnaps for your guests to scoop the dip.

On a personal note, if you ever had the opportunity to watch the former MONK series, you'll remember what a germ phobe Mr. Monk was. Well, Folks, I am just as bad, if not worse! I drive my entire family NUTS!!! Because of that, I always place a serving spoon in my dips, etc so that guests can use that to move food from the serving dish onto their plates. After that, they can just dip their own cookies or chips, whatever, into the dips and put them in their mouths. Through the years, I have found other people out there who share my feelings about not wanting to "scoop our food from a container that others have scooped individual bites out of , either". LOL!!!

VLE-B