Roasted Red Pepper and Herb Spread

from Jill Kramer

Ingredients:
1 medium red pepper
1 pkg. (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened
1/3 cup milk
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. coarsely ground black pepper
1 small garlic clove, coarsely chopped
1/2 c. loosely packed fresh parsely leaves, chopped
1/4 cup snipped chives or green onion
1 tsp. fresh thyme leaves

Preparation:
1. To roast pepper: Preheat broiler. Line broiling pan (without rack) with foil. Cut pepper lengthwise in half, discard stem and seeds. Arrange halves, cut side down, in broiling pan. Place broiling pan in broiler 5 to 6 inches from source of heat and broil pepper until it's blackened and blistered, about 6 to 8 minutes. Wrap foil around pepper and allow to steam at room temperature 15 minutes or until cool enough to handle.

2. Remove pepper from foil. Peel off skin and discard. Cut each pepper half into 4 pieces.

3. To prepare dip: In food processor with knife blade attached, blend roasted pepper with cream cheese, milk, salt, pepper, and garlic until smooth. Transfer mixture to medium bowl, stuil in parsley, chives, and thyme. Cover and refrigerate if not serving right away.

Serve with baguette slices toasted and butter.