Crackers and Cheese (Sweet and Savory)

No. of servings:  4
Preparation Time:  10 mins	Cook Time:  None/5 mins

This snack is fun, both to make as well as to eat.  Once assembled, it will disappear from the plate in no time! (Note:  There is no cook time if bell peppers are not being used.)

 

Ingredients:

• Crackers - 1 large pack
• Cottage cheese - 1 cups
• Butter - 1 tsp (optional)
• Orange marmalade - 4 tsp
• Fruit jam - 2 tsp (optional)
• Blueberries - 0.25 cup
• Strawberries - 0.25 cup
• Pumpkin seeds - 4 tsps
• Rose syrup - 2 tsp
• Honey - 2 tsp
• Cherry tomatoes - 6
• Onion - 1 small
• Cucumber - 1 small
• Colored bell peppers - 2 fistfuls
• Olives - fistful (optional)
• Basil - 2 stalks (optional)
• Salt
• Black pepper powder - 0.25 tsp
• Red chili flakes - 0.25 tsp
• Lemon chili flakes - 0.25 tsp (optional)

Method:

• Slit the bell peppers into long strips
• In a tsp of oil, roast them well and set aside to cool
• All other veggies can be used raw
• Spread out the crackers individually on two trays
• Glaze the butter on each cracker (if using)
• Spoon out the cottage cheese generously on all the crackers
• Garnish the crackers and cheese in one tray with sweet toppings (marmalade, jam, blueberries, strawberries)
• Scatter pumpkin seeds on all
• Drizzle the rose syrup on a few and honey on the others 
• On the crackers and cheese in the other tray, top with any preferred savory toppings (tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, roasted bell peppers, basil, olives)
• Sprinkle the salt on everything
• Dust a few with each of the spice powders (red chili, black pepper or lemon chili powders)
• Enjoy straight up! 

Tips and Tricks:

• Get creative with the toppings as per choice
• Have to work quickly with the toppings as the cottage cheese starts making the cracker soggy
• The initial glaze of butter protects the crackers against the moisture from the cheese to some extent

Pictures: 

Final Outcome:

Sweet

Savory