By Gloria Christmas Day was quiet in the best way. Just her and Destiny and me in the morning, before I went to Tyler family in the afternoon. Gloria and I made her full Christmas menu, the one that has not changed since before I was born. Ham with brown sugar glaze. Sweet potatoes with butter and a little orange juice. Collard greens. Deviled eggs that Destiny helped with, which meant the filling went in slightly crooked and one had too much paprika and they were perfect.
Destiny got a doll for Christmas and a set of colored pencils and a book about animals. She carried all three around the house all morning. She is doing so well. I keep being surprised by how well she is doing and then I remember that she has Gloria, which means she has the best possible thing.
In the afternoon at Tyler, Marcus pulled me aside in the kitchen and said welcome to the family like it was official. I said I was not officially family yet. He said that does not matter to us, you been family since Tyler brought you over that first time two years ago and stopped looking lost. I did not know Tyler had looked lost before me. That broke something open in me. We both need someone. That is the ordinary miracle of it. We both just needed someone and we found each other at the right time.
That afternoon at Tyler’s, when Marcus pulled me into the kitchen and said I was already family, I kept thinking about how food was everywhere in that moment — Gloria’s ham still in my memory, the smell of other people’s kitchens, everyone moving around plates and trays and passing things across tables. If I’d had something to bring, I would have wanted it to be easy and a little sweet and the kind of thing that disappears fast because people keep coming back for more. This chutney-topped cream cheese spread is exactly that — a five-minute appetizer that looks like you thought ahead, perfect for the kind of afternoon where you realize halfway through that you’re exactly where you’re supposed to be.
Chutney-Topped Cream Cheese Spread
Prep Time: 5 minutes | Cook Time: 0 minutes | Total Time: 5 minutes | Servings: 10
Ingredients
- 1 block (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup mango chutney
- 2 tablespoons sliced green onions
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- Assorted crackers, for serving
Instructions
- Set out the cream cheese. Place the softened block of cream cheese on a serving plate or shallow dish, leaving it whole or pressing it into a smooth round shape.
- Add the chutney. Spoon the mango chutney evenly over the top of the cream cheese, letting it drape down the sides a little for a generous, layered look.
- Finish and garnish. Scatter the sliced green onions over the chutney. If you like a little heat, sprinkle the red pepper flakes on top as well.
- Serve immediately. Arrange crackers around the spread and set it out right away, or cover and refrigerate for up to 2 hours before serving.
Nutrition (per serving)
Calories: 110 | Protein: 2g | Fat: 8g | Carbs: 9g | Fiber: 0g | Sodium: 115mg