Cherry Tomato Tulips

A really easy and frugal appetizer or snack that is festive, cute and not to mention, tasty! 

Cherry Tomato Tulips 

Ingredients:

15 Large Cherry Tomatoes

16 stalks of chives

8 oz. cream cheese

1 cucumber

1 teaspoon dried basil

Salt and pepper

 Directions:

With stem side down, cut a cross in the top of each cherry tomato (about ¾ down the tomato).

Using a spoon (grapefruit spoon works very well) to gently scrape out the tomato seeds.

Take a grilling skewer or toothpick and make a hole where the stem currently is. You may need to twist the skewer in a circle a few times to make room for the chive to fit through.

Finely chop or grate cucumber.

Mix cream cheese, cucumber and basil in a bowl. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Add a teaspoon of cream cheese mixture into each tomato tulip (adjust depending on size of tomatoes).

Insert a chive into the hole at the bottom of each tomato.

Use a damp paper towel to clean any excess cream cheese filling from outside of tomatoes.

Prepare the tulip bouquet on a large plate or platter. Use the extra chive stalk to wrap around the tulip stems to complete the bouquet.

Keep chilled until ready to serve. It is best served the same day as they are made.