Alpine Village Cheese Houses

# What You'll Need:

01 - 7 oz firm cheese (cheddar, gouda, or swiss), cut into sixteen 3⁄4-inch cubes

02 - 32 sliced almonds (for roofs and garnish)

03 - 16 pale or white crackers (such as water or rice crackers)

04 - 2 tbsp cream cheese, softened

05 - Small bunch fresh chives, cut into 1⁄2-inch pieces

06 - 1 small red bell pepper, diced

07 - Poppy seeds or sesame seeds for detail

01 - Spread a thin layer of softened cream cheese evenly on each cracker to simulate snow.

02 - Place one cheese cube atop each cream cheese-coated cracker, pressing gently to secure.

03 - Arrange two almond slices on each cheese cube to form a pitched roof, slightly overlapping for effect.

04 - Use chive pieces and diced red bell pepper to simulate trees, doors, or windows on each house as desired.

05 - Optionally, sprinkle poppy or sesame seeds over the display for added detail.

06 - Arrange all assembled houses on a large platter for serving.

01 -

They look fancy enough to impress but honest enough that even kids can help build them without stress.
No cooking means you can throw them together while guests are arriving, and the whole platter comes together in under twenty minutes.

02 -

Soft cheese will crumble when you cut it; your knife needs to be sharp and clean, and a quick dip in hot water between cuts makes all the difference.
Make these no more than an hour or two before serving; crackers absorb moisture and go soft, which ruins the whole crispy-snowy-landscape effect.

03 -

Toast your crackers very lightly in a dry pan for two minutes on each side just before assembly; this seals the surface and makes them way more resistant to sogginess.
Keep a small damp cloth nearby while you're decorating so your hands stay clean and you're not dragging cream cheese and almond bits everywhere.