A hollowed baguette obviously makes a perfect shell for any filling you are in the mood for. And once stuffed and properly chilled, it becomes a neat appetizer.

This particular one is filled with all my favorite things: goat cheese/cream cheese, sun dried tomatoes, olives, spicy salami, crunchy bell pepper, and fresh herbs.

Makes one 12-inch long baguette; about 24 slices

Ingredients:

Baguette about 14-inch long

8 oz cream cheese, at room temperature

4 oz fresh goat cheese

1 large garlic clove, minced

½ cup finely chopped red bell pepper (about 1 medium)

½ cup finely chopped sun dried tomatoes in olive oil

¼ cup finely chopped Kalamata olives

2 oz finely chopped spicy salami

About 2 tbsp minced Italian parsley

About 1 tsp minced fresh thyme

Freshly ground black pepper

Salt to taste (very unlikely since there’re plenty of salty ingredients)

Preparation:

Slice off both ends of the baguette. Using a long thin knife and working from the both ends, hollow the baguette out leaving about ½-inch thick crust all around.

Using an electric mixer beat the cream cheese until smooth and lump-free. Beat in the goat cheese and garlic. Stir in the rest of the ingredients.

Working again from the both ends, fill the baguette with the cheese mixture. Pack the filling tight. I like to use a slender tequila shot glass for pressing the filling in. Wrap the stuffed baguette very well in plastic and refrigerate for at least two hours and up to two days. Right before serving, slice the baguette into ½-inch thick slices and serve. For the most neat looking slices, treat it as a cheesecake – each time slice it with a hot dry knife.